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1.
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Notifying Member: Seychelles
If applicable, name of local government
involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):
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2.
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Agency responsible:
Department of Environment
Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate
Change
Botanical Garden
P.O. Box 445
Mont Fleuri
Mahe
Republic of Seychelles
Tel: +2484670500
Fax: +2484610648
Name and
address (including telephone and fax numbers, email and website addresses, if
available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the
notification shall be indicated if
different from above:
Trade Division
Ministry of Finance, Trade and The Blue Economy
P.O. Box 313, Liberty House
Victoria
Tel: +248 4382056
Email: enquirywto@finance.gov.sc
website: http://www.seychellestradeportal.gov.sc
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3.
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Notified under Article 2.9.2 [ ], 2.10.1 [X], 5.6.2
[ ], 5.7.1 [ ], other:
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4.
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Products covered (HS or CCCN where
applicable, otherwise national tariff
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): Vest type plastic bags (3923.2120); Vest
type plastic bags (3923.2920). Articles
for the conveyance or packing of goods, of plastics; stoppers, lids, caps and
other closures, of plastics (HS: 3923)
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5.
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Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Environment
Protection Act. (Act 9 of 1994) Environment Protection (Restriction on
Plastic Bags) (Amendment) Regulations, 2015 (1 page, in English).
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6.
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Description of content: The regulation is an amendment of the Statutory Instrument (S.I)
39 of 2008. The Environment Protection (Restrictions on Plastic Bags)
Regulations 2008, is hereby amended by repealing in regulation 3(1), the
figure "30" and substituting therefore the figure "50".
The
manufacture, trade and commercial distribution of domestically produced and
imported plastic below 50 microns, for use within the Republic of Seychelles,
are hereby restricted.
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7.
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Objective and rationale, including the
nature of urgent problems where applicable: In its efforts to promote a clean environment, the department of
environment within the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change
joined the campaign to phase out lightweight plastic bags in the Seychelles.
However, due to the common use and dependency on plastic bags to carry goods
by the Seychellois people, the environment department saw the need to
gradually phase out the use of plastic bag in various stages. As an immediate
measure, the environment department amended its Environment Protection
(Restrictions on Plastic Bags) Regulations 2008, by increasing the micron
limit of plastic bags used in the Seychelles from 30 microns to 50 microns,
which is in line with the European Union standards. This is aimed at deterring
the general use of light weight plastic bags in the country and to eventually
minimize the accessibility of such plastic bags in the country. The
department is now looking for various alternatives for lightweight plastic
bags, for example, biodegradable plastic bags and promotes the use of other
local alternatives.
Protection of the environment.
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8.
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Relevant documents: Supplement
to Official Gazette, page 341-S.I.50 of 2015, Environment Protection Act (Act
9 of 1994) "Environment Protection (Restriction on Plastic Bags)
(Amendment) Regulation, 2015, published on 14th October 2015.
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9.
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Proposed date of adoption: 6 October 2015
Proposed date of entry into force: 6 October 2015
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10.
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Final date for comments: 60 days from notification
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11.
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Texts available from: National enquiry point [X]
or address, telephone and fax numbers and email and website addresses, if
available, of other body:
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