Regulations passed by Parliament will ban 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 establish a ban on the supply of thin plastic carrier bags by product sellers at points of sale, a ban on the production, distribution, sale, supply and use of the flat plastic carrier bag and an obligation for individual product sellers and organised groups of product sellers to undertake actions to inform and raise public awareness about the reduction of its use.
Also with the consent of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, the regulations shall enter into force one year after their publication in the Official Gazette of the Republic.
The President of the Ecologists Charalambos Theopepembou welcomed the passing of the regulations, expressing the hope that a bill banning the use of other single-use plastics will soon come to the plenary session.
DPA MP Michalis Yakoomi said that the implementation of the measure is in the right direction, although the pandemic has taken us backwards on environmental issues.
ELAM MP Linos Papagiannis said that they voted against it not because they disagree but because it was not known where the money saved from the abolition of free plastic bags went. At the same time, he said there should be more intensive inspections and cleanliness plans throughout Cyprus.
AKEL MP Nikos Kettiros said that since the passing of the legislation in 2017 to abolish 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 to educate on the issue but the ministry in charge did not give permission for the creation of a special fund.
DISY MP Prodromos Alabritis stressed the very good work done in the Environment Committee on the issue of reducing the use of plastics and said that the provision in the regulations for raising awareness on the issue is very important.
Source: CNA
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