Filenews 3 February 2022
Regulations passed by the Parliament will now prohibit the sale of thin plastic carrier bags at points of sale, while a transitional period of one year is given for the implementation of the legislation. 37 MPs voted in favour and two ELAM MPs voted against.
The regulations introduce a ban on the disposal of a thin plastic transport bag by sellers of products at points of sale, a ban on the production, distribution, sale, supply and use of the oxo-degradable plastic transport bag and the introduction of an obligation on individual sellers of products and organised groups of sellers of products to take actions to inform and raise public awareness of the reduction of its use.
Also with the agreement of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, the regulations enter into force one year after their publication in the Official Gazette of the Republic.
The President of ecologists Charalambos Theopempou welcomed the passage of the regulations, expressing the hope that soon a bill will come to plenary prohibiting the use of other single-use plastics.
DIPA MP Michalis Giakoumi said that the implementation of the measure is in the right direction, although the pandemic has taken us back to environmental issues.
ELAM MP Linos Papagiannis said they voted against not because they disagree but because it was not known where the money saved from the abolition of the free plastic bag went. At the same time, he said that there would be more intense controls and cleaning plans throughout Cyprus.
AKEL MP Nikos Kettiros said that since the passage of the legislation in 2017 for the abolition of the free plastic bag, there has been an 80% reduction in its use. He added that the Environment Committee tried to use the money saved for enlightenment on the matter but the relevant ministry did not give permission to create a special fund.
Disy MP Prodromos Alampritis stressed the very good work done in the Environment Committee on the issue of reducing the use of plastics and said that it is very important to provide in the regulations to raise awareness about the issue.
CNA
