By The Pulseline News Desk
Consumers may no longer be handed the polythene shopping bags, popularly known as “sili-sili”, free of charge when purchasing goods, with the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) warning traders that legal action will be taken against businesses that fail to comply with the applicable regulations.
The CAA has said the requirement is set out under Direction No. 95, published through Extraordinary Gazette No. 2456/41 on October 1, 2025, and effective from November 1, 2025.
The Direction specifically covers shopping bags made of Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) with handles, commonly referred to as “sili-sili” bags.
Under the regulation, traders who provide such bags to customers must charge a price for them. The price cannot be hidden within the cost of the goods and must be clearly displayed at the business premises.
The CAA has further stressed that any charge imposed for the bag must be separately indicated on the consumer’s bill, allowing customers to identify exactly how much they have been charged for the polythene bag.
The move places greater responsibility on retailers, supermarkets, shops and other businesses to ensure that their billing practices comply with the direction, while also giving consumers a clearer basis to question unexplained charges.
The Authority has advised traders to maintain purchase invoices, bills and other relevant records obtained from suppliers in relation to the bags. Such documentation could be required when verifying compliance with the regulation.
Consumers, meanwhile, have been urged to check whether the price of the bag is prominently displayed and whether the amount charged appears separately on their receipts.
The CAA has warned that legal action would be taken against traders who violate Direction No. 95, signalling that businesses cannot treat the provision of polythene bags and the associated charges as an informal or undisclosed cost.
The regulation also comes amid wider efforts to reduce the use of single-use plastics and encourage more environmentally sustainable consumer practices.
For consumers, the message is increasingly straightforward: if a “sili-sili” bag is provided, it should not be assumed to be free. The price should be visible, and the charge should be clearly reflected on the bill.
The CAA has therefore encouraged shoppers to carry and use reusable shopping bags wherever possible, reducing both unnecessary expenditure and dependence on single-use polythene.
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