Brussels, 18/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - To determine the target for reducing marine litter to be set by the European Union, the European Commission opened a public consultation on Friday 18 October. The consultation will run until 18 December 2013. All interested parties are invited to submit their views on a range of options - phasing out single usage plastic bags and bottles, raising awareness of the problem, cleaning up the seas, and setting national and local reduction targets - and additional initiatives to be undertaken by companies, consumers, retailers, the plastics industry, the maritime transport and fishing sectors, NGOs, local and national authorities and EU decision-makers. Approximately 10 million tonnes of litter end up in the world's oceans and seas each year, with plastic waste forming 80 % of this scourge. (AN/transl.fl)