Page 43 - Plastics News June 2019

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Tanzania bans entry of all plastic Council of Ministers adopts

effective June 1, 2019 Directive to restrict single-use

plastics
he Tanzanian government
Thas officially announced
a ban on the entry of all he EU Council of Ministers has adopted a Directive
plastic carrier bags according Taimed at reducing the impact of certain plastic
to a press statement from products on the environment. Adopted on 21 May, it
the Vice President’s office. has been amended in line with suggestions put forward
“The Government of Tanzania in the same month by the European Parliament. These
wishes to make an official include an amendment calling for manufacturers to
note to travelers planning to avoid using hazardous chemical substances in sanitary
travel to Tanzania that from towels, tampons and tampon applicators, in the
1st June 2019 all plastic carrier bags, regardless of interest of women’s health. The framework of the
their thickness will be prohibited from being imported, restrictions process, under the REACH Regulation, says
exported, manufactured, sold, stored, supplied and "it is appropriate for the Commission to assess further
used in mainland Tanzania.” Tanzania joined hands with restrictions on such substances". The Directive is part
33 African countries in banning plastic carry bags. The of the EU’s plastic strategy and builds on existing waste
Plastics Carrier Bags Regulations 2019, which prevents legislation. It introduces restrictions on certain single-
import, export, manufacturing, sale, storage, supply, and use plastic products, including plastic plates, cutlery,
use of plastic carrier bags regardless of their thickness, straws, balloon sticks and cotton buds. These will be
came into effect from June 1, 2019. banned in the EU by 2021.

The regulations published under the Tanzania government’s The approval of the
notice prohibit people from selling commodities wrapped Directive follows
in plastics unless the nature of such commodities requires a pr o v is io nal
plastic wrapping. Under the regulation, all plastic carry agr eement
bags regardless of their thickness are prohibited from reached by the
being imported, exported, manufactured, sold, stored, Parliament and
supplied and used in Mainland Tanzania. In case any person the Council in
violates the rules, they shall be fined up to 20 million December 2018
Tanzanian shillings. Simultaneously, production and use on the proposal,
of alternative carrier bags shall be promoted. However, presented by the Commission in May of the same year.
there are exceptions for medical, industrial, construction, It will be signed by the president of the Council of
agricultural and waste management packaging. Tanzania’s the EU and the president of the European Parliament
Minister of State for Environment can periodically at the beginning of June, and published in the EU’s
issue guidelines, orders or directives to facilitate Official Journal. It will enter into force 20 days later.
the implementation of these regulations. A group of The EU is cracking down on plastic pollution. The
authorities, including municipal councils, environmental, Council has adopted a directive which introduces new
trade, airport, food and drugs, immigration department restrictions on certain single-use plastic products. The
among others shall exercise statutory mandates to single-use plastics directive builds on the EU's existing
ensure compliance and monitoring of these regulations. waste legislation but goes further by setting stricter
The plastic ban has been gaining momentum in the rules for those types of products and packaging which
African continent for quite some time now. So much are among the top ten most frequently found items
that it’s leading the world in bag regulation — 31 of the polluting European beaches. The new rules ban the
33 countries adopting taxes or bans on plastic are in use of certain throwaway plastic products for which
sub-Saharan Africa. Appreciating the move, Shedrack alternatives exist. In addition, specific measures are
Maximillian, waste management officer, City Council of introduced to reduce the use of the most frequently
Dar Es Salaam, said, “This is an extremely positive move.” littered plastic products.

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