Plastic bag ban inplace: Minister

The ban on the import of non-biodegradable plastic shopping bags is very much in place and supported through th e enactment of the Environment Regulation 2011, according to Environment, Conservation and Climate Change Minister John Pundari.
Responding to a query by The National on what became of the ban announced earlier, he said: “Prospecting companies intending to import plastic shopping bags are required to import only biodegradable plastic shopping bags.”
A total ban under the Environment (Ban on Non-Biodegradable Plastic Shopping Bags) Policy came into force on Aug 4, 2009.
Non-biodegradable bags have also been listed as prohibited imports under Customs legislation as of the August 4, 2009 and biodegradable bags as imports requiring permits in July 2011.
The Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (Cepa) has fully established an import/export control system for biodegradable bags.
Amendments were also made to the Environment (prescribed activities) Regulation 2002 which now lists the imports of those bags under the Act as a “prescribed activity” as it is of national interest and has the potential to cause harm to environment.