What Is It?

State Council Notice on the Restriction of the Production, Sale & Usage of Plastic Shopping Bags
Includes: Annotated Text of the Legislation in English and Chinese

    * Page Size: A4
    * File size: 3.6 mb
    * Extent: 32 pp

EXCLUSIVELY available to PackWebasia.com readers

On 1st January 2008 the Chinese Government announced severe restrictions on the Production, Sale and Distribution of Plastic Shopping Bags.

The international media headlines highlight less than ONE CLAUSE of this wide restriction on the use of plastic shopping bags throughout the entire country.

Analysed by our publisher, and checked by our external legal expert, this 20 page report gives a concise detailed analysis of

-what the law is
-what it means
-who will enforce it and how

This authoritative and Executive Commentary and Analysis has been brought to market in less than 17 days after the law was issued by the State Council.

In addition to our Commentary, this report contains The Full Text of the Law in both English and Chinese

Consumption 

In 2007, China’s supermarkets used approximately 50 billion plastic bags, with the average cost being 0.2% of the total annual sales revenue of US$110 billion (RMB800) generated by the Chinese domestic supermarket sector.
The total annual cost to the retail industry is in the region of US$220 million
Production
By mid 2006, China had a total of 12,423 ‘large scale’ enterprises in the plastic manufacturing industry, generating a total of RMB 276.38 billion (US$1,712.53 billion) in revenue - an increase of 24.98% from 2005.
In 2006, the total cost of China’s plastic imports topped US$31 billion – this includes all plastic: plastic product, resin and recovered scrap plastic.
Imports
In 2005 China spent US$1.92 billion on scrap plastic imports - a 300% increase over the US$527 million imported in 2001.
Of this in 2005, PE accounted for 30% of the total material import value, or US$578.4 million.

This is plastic waste, which having been discarded by the world’s developed countries, is collected, sold and shipped to China.
 

Who is Affected?

Restrictions on Manufacturers:

• Will NOT be permitted to manufacture bags of 0.025mm or less
• They must obtain certification from General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ),
• Adhere to new industrial manufacturing standards issued by Standardization Technology Committee of National Plastic Products (STCNPP).
• They must print certification symbols which will be designed by STCNPP.

Restrictions on Retail:

• Are NOT permitted to sell bags of 0.025mm or less
• MUST charge consumers for the bags
• MUST fix a price sticker to individual bags
• MUST NOT give the bags away in promotions or offer discounts

Enforcement

Implemenation 

National and Local Government Agencies will administer and enforce the law:

• AQSIQ
• Ministry of Commerce
• Department of Transport
• Department of Technology

Penalties for Infringement
Penalties for breach are harsh, including:-

• Stop  Work orders
• Confiscation of profits from offending production/sale
• Business closure
• Criminal Action