At today's government meeting, the Minister of Environment Hakob Simidyan presented details about the legislative regulation prohibiting the sale of plastic bags, which came into force on January 1 of this year.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan noted the importance of the environmental significance of this law, adding that over time all plastic bags should be forced out of our lives.
Plastic bags thrown into the environment are stored for a long time and are not biodegradable, as a result of which they cause persistent pollution, causing irreparable damage to both our environment-flora and fauna, and human health.
Back on April 17, 2020, the law "On Amendments to the law "On Trade and Services" was adopted, according to which, from January 1, 2022, the sale of plastic bags and bags up to 50 microns thick will be prohibited at retail facilities and places of trade, in mobile trade points.
Within the framework of legislative regulations, the exception is bags and bags made of secondary raw materials, as well as bags for weighing, necessary to ensure the sanitary and hygienic safety of goods. Their sale and sale will not be prohibited.
The businesses had enough time to consume the stocks of finished products already produced, to adapt the production capacities to work with new, more harmless raw materials.
The control over the application of the law is placed on the local self-government bodies.
Everyone, from the manufacturer to the end user, should approach the problem with full responsibility and strictly observe this restriction, enshrined in the legislation of the Republic of Armenia, for the sake of our common goal of having a clean environment.