Brussels, 15/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is to study the possibility of measures for bringing in a total EU ban on plastic bags. Janez Potoènik, Environment Commissioner, announced to the press on Monday 14 March that the European Commission planned to begin reflection on this subject and to carry out an impact assessment.
The commissioner thus meets the request of the environment ministers who recommend a European approach to the question. They had voiced concern at the exponential growth in the number of individual plastic bags that come into circulation every year (some 800,000 tonnes), bags which are often then thrown into the sea becoming “plastic soup” for marine life.
This subject was tackled on Monday by the Environment Council at the request of the Austrian delegation, backed by a large number of countries. Informal discussion allowed the ministers to share experience and compare the different approaches adopted by the different member states. Such approaches vary from voluntary measures for reducing the use of individual plastic bags to a ban on such bags, or a high and deterrent price for the bags that would be passed on to consumers. Janez Potoènik said that, in examining the text, the Commission would look at how appropriate it is to revise the directive on packaging waste in order to come more into line with the framework directive on waste, or even bring in a ban throughout the EU on any bags that are not biodegradable. There will be a thorough impact study duly taking into account a more detailed analysis of member states' experience in this matter. (A.N./transl.jl)