Shopkeepers have two more months to use up plastic bags stock

Shopkeepers have been given up to the end of April to use up their existing stocks of plastic bags although the regulations through which bags have to be charged eco and value added taxation will start applying on Sunday.

Resources Minister George Pullicino said this afternoon that following consultation with the GRTU, shopkeepers were being given an extra two months to utilise their stocks. Any remaining stock then could be given to the government up to mid-May, for a refund of the eco-tax paid against the original receipt.

According to the new regulations announced in the last budget, plastic bags have to be charged an eco-tax of 15c plus value added tax. The cost of the bag has to be punched on the fiscal receipt.

March 1 new regulations will start applying. Bags 15c Eco tax + Vat, punched on fiscal receipt.

Mr Pullicino said that the eco tax on bags introduced in 2004 had reduced use by 50 per cent but then producers found loop holes which resulted in an influx of plastic bags.

Replying to criticism, including by the Labour Party, the minister said that a total ban on plastic bags would not have made any sense because since the EU wasone market, if plastic bags were available in Italy, they had to be available in Malta.

GRTU director general Vince Farrugia said the chamger was all in favour of the initiative. Shops spent around 3.5 million euros a year to distribute free plastic bags, a cost which consumers were paying for through products.

The aim of hte transition period, he said, was for consumers not to expect free plastic bags, not buy such bags and go for alternative bags.