CAIRO - 7 November 2022: The Egyptian law regulating waste management defines the penalty to be imposed on anyone who manufactures, imports or exports single-use plastic bags without complying with the controls, requirements and technical specifications issued by the Minister of Trade and Industry.
According to the law, the violators will be fined by no less than one thousand pounds and not more than five hundred thousand pounds. In all cases, the court shall order the confiscation of the seized items.
Article 27 of the law states the following:
(A) The manufacture, import or export of single-use plastic bags shall be in accordance with the controls, requirements and technical specifications issued by a decision of the Minister of Trade and Industry in agreement with the competent minister. The decision may include a ban on the manufacture, import or export of the aforementioned bags if their components include inputs or materials that seriously harm the environment.
(B) The sale, circulation, storage, free distribution or disposal of single-use plastic bags is not allowed, except in accordance with the controls, conditions, and technical specifications specified by the executive regulations of this law.
(C) The Minister of Finance, after coordination with the Competent Minister and the Minister of Trade and Industry, shall issue a system of financial and economic incentives and tax and customs exemptions to encourage the import, production and manufacture of safe, environmentally friendly alternatives to single-use plastic bags.
The advantages and conditions stipulated in the applicable laws and resolutions, especially those related to investment, customs, industry, cooperatives and others, should be taken into account when drafting this system.
(D) Establishments, persons and producers of these bags are given a grace period to reconcile the situation, provided that a decision is issued by the competent minister in agreement with the Minister of Commerce and Industry.
Comments
Leave a Comment