Summary.
The law prohibits the use of polyethylene bags to carry goods in supermarkets, self-service stores, department stores, and other businesses. It governs their replacement with reusable bags and charges for those bags.
What it covers.
- The use of polyethylene bags by businesses.
- Deadlines for replacing those bags.
- Charges for reusable bags.
- Enforcement and penalties for violations.
Who it applies to.
- Supermarkets, pharmacies, and retailers.
- Department stores and wholesalers.
- Merchants offering reusable bags.
- Consumers purchasing reusable bags.
Key points.
- Prohibits the use of polyethylene bags to carry products or goods in supermarkets, self-service stores, department stores, and businesses generally.Art. 1
- Sets a period of 18 months from promulgation for supermarkets, pharmacies, and retailers, and 24 months for department stores and wholesalers, to replace the bags progressively.Art. 2
- Exempts polyethylene bags used for sanitary reasons to hold prepared or partly prepared wet foods or supplies when a substitute compatible with minimizing environmental impact is not feasible.Art. 3
- Assigns enforcement of the law and oversight of bag replacement to the Consumer Protection and Competition Defense Authority (Autoridad de Protección al Consumidor y Defensa de la Competencia).Art. 4
- Assigns the Ministry of Environment (Ministerio de Ambiente) public awareness campaigns and activities to bring other businesses that sell products within the law’s requirements.Art. 5
- Allows merchants to charge for reusable bags or provide them free of charge; when they charge, the Authority oversees cost pricing, and merchants report the declared cost at the start of each year.Art. 6
- The Authority determines penalties under Law 45 of 2007 and allocates fine revenue to a fund for recycling and education programs concerning polluting materials.Arts. 7-8