CONSULTATION BRIEF
Start date: 28 October 2020
Closing date: 26 November 2020
Title of the Public Consultation: Restrictions on Placing on the Market of Lightweight Plastic Carrier Bags Regulations, 2020
Ministry: Ministry for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning
Entity: Environment & Resources Authority
- Background
As part of the 2020 Budget speech, the Government announced a new measure whereby the importation and production of plastic bags will be prohibited as from 1st January 2021, whilst their selling and distribution will be prohibited as from 1st January 2022.
Article 4(1a) of Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste requires that Member States take appropriate measures to achieve a sustained reduction in the annual consumption of lightweight plastic carrier bags. The Directive indicates that those measures may include the use of marketing restrictions, provided that these restrictions are proportionate and non-discriminatory.
The draft Restrictions on Placing on the Market of Lightweight Plastic Carrier Bags Regulations, 2020 implement part of the said Budget measure while also bringing into effect the aforementioned provisions of Directive 94/62/EC.
The Regulations in question will be enacted under both the Supplies and Services Act (Chapter 117 of the Laws of Malta) and the Environment Protection Act (Chapter 549 of the Laws of Malta) to ensure joint cooperation in enforcement of the regulations by the Customs Department and the Environment and Resources Authority.
These Regulations will prohibit:
- The importation, intra-Community acquisition, and manufacturing for the circulation on the market in Malta, in the course of a commercial activity, of any lightweight plastic carrier bags as from 1st January 2021;
- Any supply of lightweight plastic carrier bags for distribution, consumption or use on the market in Malta, in the course of a commercial activity as from 1st January 2022.
Reusable plastic carrier bags, biodegradable and compostable plastic carrier bags as well as very lightweight plastic carrier bags are exempt from the above-mentioned prohibitions.
- Consultation
In line with Article 55 of the Environment Protection Act (Cap. 549) the public is invited to make submissions to ERA with their comments as to why and how these regulations could be amended.
- Documents
Restrictions on Placing on the Market of Lightweight Plastic Carrier Bags Regulations, 2020
Regolamenti tal-2020 dwar Restrizzjonijiet fuq it-Tqegħid fis-Suq tal-Basktijiet tal-Plastik Ħfief
Public Submissions and Responses
- Submission of feedback
Comments will be received by email on [email protected].
- Further notes
Please be informed that comments submitted, together with the identity of the contributor, may be published online at the end of the public consultation, unless the contributor objects to the publication of his/her personal data. In this case, the contribution may be published in anonymous form.
