The House of Representatives passed a law to harmonize with an EU directive on reducing the impact of plastic products on the environment and bans, among other things, the sale of certain single-use plastics. 30 MPs voted in favour and 3 ELAM MPs voted against.
At the same time, it voted for an amendment giving an extension of three months from 30 April 2022 to 30 September 2022 to the period within which the availability of single-use plastic products on the market is allowed, provided that they were placed on the market before 3 July 2021, in order to allow time to exhaust the stocks of importers who have already ordered them but have not yet received them due to delays in the transport of goods caused by the pandemic. The DIKO amendment was narrowly passed, with 17 votes in favour and 16 against.
The law passed provides, among other things, for a ban on the placing on the market of certain single-use plastic products, such as cutlery, straws and cotton buds, as well as products made of degradable plastic.
There is also an obligation to take measures to reduce the consumption of certain single-use plastic products for which no alternatives exist.
It is also envisaged to impose specific requirements in relation to these plastics, such as specific percentages of recycled material content in them, as well as requirements in relation to their labelling and/or design.
There is also an obligation to participate in extended producer responsibility schemes in relation to these plastics and to take measures to inform and raise consumer awareness.
The Environment Committee, in an amendment to the bill, stipulated that the availability of the stock of single-use plastic products whose placing on the market is prohibited from 3 July 2021 shall be allowed until 30 April 2022, provided that the placing of these products on the market took place before 3 July 2021.
The President of the Ecologists' Movement - Citizens' Co-operation, Haralambos Theopepembou, after noting that under the directive Cyprus had an obligation to harmonise by July 2021, said that if any extension is given with amendments, Cyprus will be in trouble with the EU. On importers' stocks, he said that there were assurances from the government before the deadline and if they presented the relevant evidence they would have no problem.
Regarding the law, he said that it would bring about tremendous changes in the lives of citizens, with new products in the Cypriot market and an opportunity for smart and new business actions.
He also noted that this war on plastics by the EU is because there are appalling amounts of plastics in nature, residues were found in blood tests, in rivers and in fish, as many of these plastics end up in the sea. He added that even Cyprus' neighbouring countries dump their plastics into the sea and many end up on Cyprus' beaches via sea currents. He also noted that the government should look at the plastics that enter the market from Cypriot producers and many of them are not recycled.
AKEL MP Niko Ketteros noted that the Environment Committee was not responsible for the delay, as while the law was supposed to be implemented on 3 July 2021, the government tabled the relevant bill on 3 December 2021.
Because of the delay, he said, some people had already placed orders and stocked up. He backed the DIKO amendment to give time for the plants to sell their products and to take advantage of the tourist season.
DIKO MP Chrysanthos Savvidis said that for the umpteenth time they are facing a harmonisation bill with a delay, not the responsibility of the Parliament. He added that considering the bad economic environment due to the pandemic, they allow three months to exhaust the stocks of importers who are still waiting for them to arrive, while they do not talk about new orders.
DISY MP Prodromos Alabritis spoke of a very important bill and said that harmonization is of great importance, aiming to prevent and reduce some plastics and transition to the circular economy. He disagreed with the amendment stating that there has been information for a year, there have already been delays and there are likely to be consequences if there are further ones.
DPA - Co-operation of Democratic Forces MP Michael Yakoomi said that the law is not only about our obligation to the EU but also about our moral obligation to protect the planet that hosts us. He stated the party's readiness to contribute and strengthen the effort and spoke in favour of the bill and against the amendment.
ELAM MP Linos Papagiannis said that he does not believe that the state is ready to adopt this strict directive and the "bride" will be paid by the consumer and those involved in the profession. He said that the state does not have the appropriate services to implement the directive and in many areas has not provided for recycling. He added that they would vote against it so that citizens would not be punished at a time when the purpose of the law would not be achieved.
Source: CNA
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