The Department of Environment of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment announces that, in accordance with the Packaging and Packaging Waste (Reduction of Thin Plastic Bag Transport Consumption) Regulations 2022 (K.Decree 68/2022), from 18 February 2023 the disposal of thin plastic carrier bags by product sellers at points of sale is prohibited. Thin plastic carrier bags are plastic carrier bags with a wall thickness of less than 50 microns (μm).
The ban on the provision of thin plastic carrier bags by retailers to customers applies nationwide to all points of sale of products, where there is a commercial transaction, for the purpose of transporting or distributing the products sold. Indicative points of sale of products are the following.
Only thin plastic carrier bags, less than 50 microns thick, required for hygiene reasons or provided as primary bulk food packaging or where their use helps to avoid food wastage, i.e. where the food comes into direct contact with the primary bag, are exempted from the ban. These bags are mainly used in restaurants, butchers, butchers, fish markets, and refer to the first bag of product placement. If a second bag needs to be used, it is prohibited, as required by law.
The ban will not apply to thin plastic carrier bags with a thickness equal to or greater than 50 microns.
In addition, the ban also applies to biodegradable/compostable thin carrier bags with a wall thickness of less than 50 microns (μm) at the point of sale, since for the most part these bags contain a small percentage of plastic and the legislation does not provide for their exemption.
(BG/EXP)
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