Eight Tonnes of Plastic Bags Seized

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Eight Tonnes of Plastic Bags Seized

8:59 CAT | 19 Feb 2016

Mozambican government brigades have so far collected about eight tonnes of plastic bags with a thickness of less than 30 micrometres.

Except for packaging waste, these bags are now illegal and cannot be used to hold foodstuffs. Starting on 8 February, brigades containing staff from such bodies as the Ministry of Land, Environment and Rural Development (MITADER), the National Inspectorate of Economic Activities and the Customs Service have been visiting companies that make, import or sell plastic bags, to remove the illegal items.

MITADER General Inspector Emilia Fumo, cited in Thursday’s issue of the Maputo daily “Noticias”, said that the companies affected are collaborating with the brigades, and in the near future an announcement will be made about the final destination of the bags that have been confiscated.

At this stage, no fines are being imposed. It is assumed that the bags collected were in stock. But any future manufacture or import of thin plastic bags can be punished by heavy fines of between 25 and 80 times the monthly minimum wage.

According to government data, there are about 50 producers of plastic material in Mozambique, most of whom use imported materials. Under the new regulations all plastic bags manufactured or imported must be more than 30 micrometres thick, and, for health reasons, must not contain more than 40 per cent of recycled material.

The government is attempting to discourage the use of all plastic bags. Thus shops and other establishments are no longer allowed to give away plastic bags, even those of the appropriate thickness. Instead, if clients wish the goods they purchase to be placed in plastic bags, they must purchase them, and the bags must appear separately in the receipt.

This provision is allowing shops to charge their customers extortionate prices for bags. In some places a plain and flimsy bag that was free a fortnight ago now costs two meticais (4.2 US cents).

Source: AIM