MOZAMBIQUE WILL LIMIT USE OF PLASTIC BAGS

The Mozambican government has passed a decree regulating the use of plastic bags, in order to reduce the environmental problems associated with the proliferation of plastic bags.Explaining the measure to reporters on Tuesday, after the weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers (Cabinet), the government spokesperson, Deputy Health Minister Mouzinho Saide, said that plastic bags “have caused a multiplicity of problems, such as the clogging up of drainage channels”.  Plastic bags swept out to sea have damaging effects on wild life, he added. Animals that accidentally ingest them can choke to death. Some countries, such as Rwanda, have imposed a blanket ban on the use of plastic bags, Saide said. Mozambique will not go that far – at least not yet. The decree bans the use of plastic bags made of recycled materials for containing foodstuffs. This is the type of thin, black plastic bag found almost universally in Maputo shops. The government decree says this type of plastic is a threat to public health, and so must not be used to hold food. The government wants to control the import or production of plastic bags that are less than 30 micrometres thick, and to end the usual practice of shops and supermarkets giving their customers plastic bags free of charge. In future, shops must charge for them, as a measure that should discourage consumers from using them. “Our country will control the production of plastic bags and will charge fees”, said Saide. As an alternative, the government will promote the use of bags and baskets made of paper, cardboard and other biodegradable materials.The new decree will take effect 180 days after it has been published in the official gazette, the “Boletim da Republica”.