Tanzania to ban use of plastic bags on January 1

According to media reports, Tanzania will impose a ban on usage of plastics bags as of January 1 2017 as part of the government’s efforts to avoid pollution and protect the environment. The manufacturers will have a transition period of up to two years to close their facilities, lay off their workers or convert their technologies to produce biodegradable bags.

However, some application areas including medical services, industrial packaging and the construction industry, the agriculture sector, sanitation and for waste management will be exempted from the new regulation.

The Tanzanian government has also imposed a ban on plastic bag imports since 2013, although up to 70% of the country’s plastics need is illegally met from imports, especially from UAE, China and Kenya, according to media reports.