Today, in the premises of the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, the Minister of Environment and Physical Planning, Kaja Shukova, held a working meeting with representatives from the industry of producers of plastic bags for carrying goods and representatives of the Chamber of Commerce of Republic of North Macedonia.
The meeting discussed the new legal obligations that will enter into force on July 1, 2023, more specifically the ban on placing on the market in our country plastic bags and oxobiodegradable bags for carrying goods.
Namely, the companies presented that the material for making the biodegradable bags, according to the biodegradability standard, is hardly available for the Macedonian market and that the producers face difficulties in the continuous production of these bags. At the same time, they presented proposals to revise the legislation and make greater efforts to ensure equal conditions in the market, that is, to prevent unfair competition by offering free plastic bags. In addition, industry representatives are proposing to reduce the fee for biodegradable plastic bags, which would be sold after July 1, 2023.
Minister Shukova, after listening to the demands of the plastic bag manufacturers, informed them that their proposals will be carefully and thoroughly considered in coordination with the relevant state authorities. In addition, she decisively indicated to her interlocutors that the cancellation or reversal of the initiated procedure to reduce the use of single-use plastic bags will not happen, because these are obligations undertaken by our country, for compliance with EU legislation.