Manufacturers, distributers have until March 31 hold, sell substandard non-woven bags – NEMA.
The following is a
press notice as sent by National Environment Management Authority (NEMA)
banning the use, manufacture and importation of substandard non-woven bags
👇👇
The Cabinet
Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources through a Gazette
Notice No.2334 & 2356 banned the use, manufacture and importation of
plastic bags used for commercial and household packaging.
As the Ban on plastic bags came into effect on the 28th of August 2017, the National
Environment Management Authority (NEMA) made great strides in providing
clarifications on acceptable alternative options to the plastic carrier bags
which were affected by the Ban. It was during this period that the Kenyan
market was flooded with Non-woven Polypropylene bags to replace the carrier
bags in various retail outlets/stores/shops. The Non-woven bags are known to
bear positive characteristics in terms of reusability and durability as opposed
to the conventional plastic carrier bags.
However, due to the rising need of the non-woven bags
in the market, it has been noted over time that Manufacturers of these bags are
producing very ‘low gauge’ poor quality non-woven bags which cannot be used
multiple times but are disposed of after single use. This single-usage of these
bags will eventually lead to heavy environmental consequences due to poor
disposal practices currently being experienced in the country coupled with the
lack of requisite infrastructure to sustainably manage these bags.
In view of the above, the Authority directs that ALL
manufacturers, importers, suppliers/distributors and users of these Non-woven
polypropylene bags should STOP further manufacture, importation, supply
and use of these bags in the Kenyan market effective 31ST MARCH 2019 until
the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KeBs) gazettes a standard that will inform the
quality of non-woven bags needed in the Kenyan market.
You are therefore advised to comply accordingly,
failure to which the Authority will instigate Enforcement Action pursuant to
the provisions of the Environmental Management and Coordination Act, Cap 387 of
the Laws of Kenya.
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