On August 31st, 2020, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) published a notice [1], pledging intensified efforts taken in the arena of commerce to address plastic pollution.
In line with the Notice on Further Enhancing Treatment of Plastic Pollution [2] and the Notice on Making Solid Progress in Treatment of Plastic Pollution [3], which were rolled out by several central authorities in the first half of this year, the MOFCOM timetabled the phase-out of three types of single-use plastics in the field of commerce, including non-biodegradable plastic bags, disposable plastic tableware and disposable plastic items provided at hotels.
Take non-biodegradable plastic bags as an example:
l By the end of 2020, the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags will be banned in shopping malls, supermarkets, etc. in built-up areas in municipalities directly under the central government, provincial capitals and municipalities with independent planning status;
l By the end of 2022, it will be regulated and restricted in peddlers’ markets in built-up areas in all cities at the prefectural level and above and coastal counties;
l By the end of 2025, it will be banned in peddlers’ markets in all cities at the prefectural level and above and coastal counties.
The MOFCOM also made arrangements to facilitate the realization of these scheduled goals. For instance, as the newly revised Law on Prevention and Treatment of Environmental Pollution Caused by Solid Wastes [4] stipulates that retailers, e-commerce platforms and food delivery platform should report to the administrations of commerce on the use and recovery of single-use plastics like plastic bags, the MOFCOM will formulate regulations on the reporting obligations and establish information reporting platforms.
Initiatives from Local Authorities
To keep aligned with the national commitment of phasing out single-use plastics, local authorities have also ramped up endeavors in this regard.
In August alone, seven provincial-level jurisdictions, including Guangdong and Jiangsu, launched their own campaigns to gradually restrict or ban certain plastics, a response to the central government requirement that provincial-level action plans be introduced before mid-August this year to further break down the tasks. The timetable they laid out are basically in line with the two Notices mentioned above.
As the first deadline, namely the end of 2020, approaches, more concrete and even rigorous measures are expected to come out, especially if the work does not progress as scheduled. Businesses should stay alert to relevant regulatory changes and strive to comply with the established regulations.
