Sale of plastic bags to be banned in Armenia from 2023

ArmInfo. Public discussions on the package of laws developed by the Ministry aimed at prohibiting the use of plastic bags were held at the Ministry of Nature  Protection of the Republic of Armenia.

According to the press service of the Ministry of Nature Protection  of the Republic of Armenia, on the basis of the presented draft, from  July 1, 2019, in particular, the free provision of plastic bags is  prohibited.  Moreover, it is planned to introduce a special tax on  this product from January 1, 2020, and from 2023 to completely ban  their sale.

First Deputy Minister of Nature Protection Irina Ghaplanyan noted  that plastic bags are one of the main elements of environmental  pollution, and the problem needs to be addressed as a matter of  urgency.  Discussion participants emphasized that the development of  draft laws was the result of long-term research, environmental  observations, and numerous discussions. Representatives of companies,  manufacturers and importers of plastic bags, proposed a phased ban,  as well as a more long-term period of application of this ban, which  is necessary for repurposing products.  In turn, representatives of  public organizations who attended the meeting reported on the results  of many years of research on the existing and growing threats of  plastic bags and their experience in dealing with it.