Law that regulates the consumption of plastic bags will govern since July

Asunción, IP Agency.- As of July 1, the law that regulates the consumption of single -use polyethylene bags in all businesses in the country will enter into force, announced the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MIC).

Law 5414/2015 aims.

In that sense, the beginning of the application of the regulations as of July 1, 2021 is planned, and for this purpose, an adjustment and transition process is contemplated, in order that all the reusable bags producing reusable bags can obtainThe necessary certification before the National Institute of, Standardization and Metrology (INTN).

This transition period will be included from July 1 to October 31 of this year under MIC monitoring, where all reusable bag -producing industries must be in the process of certification, being able to use the entire stock of single -use bagsuntil it is exhausted.

So as of November 1, all businesses must have reusable bags, that is, virgin material or high recycled content, certified by the INTN, and establishing random controls to guarantee compliance with the regulations, contemplating finesplanned between 10 to 500 minimum wages for offending businesses from said date.

The announcement of the regulations was held on Thursday, June 24 during a press conference, where the Vice Minister of Commerce and Services of the MIC, Pedro Mancuello participated;the director of the INTN, Lira Giménez;the president of the Paraguayan Supermarkets Chamber (Capasu), Alberto Sborovsky;the representative of the Paraguayan Chamber of Plastic Industries (CPIP), Claudia González;and technical teams in charge of the aforementioned areas.

Cuidado del medio ambiente y responsabilidad en el uso de bolsas de plástico

"In this first stage of the implementation, we will have the collaboration of both consumers and producers and users, in the reuse of the bags, whose cost will be 200 Guaraníes, so that it is applicable in all businesses and services", said the vice minister of MIC, Pedro Mancuello.

He also argued that this will depend, on evolution, to dispose and the possibility of having the biodegradable and bio comfortable bags, which become fertilizers."We are working to have a Paraguayan standard in that regard, and develop the certification capacity that has a cost and will take a longer time," he said.

For his part, the president of the Capasu, Alberto Sborovsky, mentioned that after several years, and after a joint work between the institutions, he could take the initial kick.

“This will mark a before and after what has to do with care of the environment and responsibility for the use of plastic bags, mainly.From supermarket we are going to lead this movement of responsibility with the environment, ”he said.

The director of the INTN, Lira Giménez, in turn, stressed that for the implementation of this process, the institution in charge acquired new equipment, to be able to support the private sector, and have a more efficient service.

“The certification process lasts approximately one month, and currently there are 18 companies that are in that process.It seems little, but in volume of productivity it is very important, and it is a really positive jump for what our industry and commerce is, ”he added.