A notification of Forestry, Environment and Wildlife Department Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa issued here said that in the rules a non-biodegradable plastic product means the product that is not oxo-biodegradable and made of polymer containing a pro-degrading additive, supplied by an additive supplier, registered with the agency and result in oxidative and cell mediated phenomena, either simultaneously or successively.
After commencement of the rule, a complete ban will be imposed on the manufacturing of non-biodegradable plastic products and no one will import, manufacture, stockpile, trade, supply, distribute, sell or use any non-biodegradable plastic products; provided that the existing stocks of non-biodegradable plastic products shall be disposed of by the wholesale dealers and retailers within a period of three months, after the commencements of these rules.
It further said that any license or permit, issued to any person for the manufacture, sale, distribution or import, as the case may be, of non-biodegradable plastic products, under any law, for the time being in force, before the commencement of these rules, shall cease to be effective and the holder of any such license or permit shall not commence or carry a business of the manufacturing, selling, distribution or import, as the case may be, of non-biodegradable plastic products.
It further said that no oxo-biodegradable plastic product, except for garbage sacks shall be made in black colour and no oxo-biodegradable plastic products, be of less than fifty (50) micron thickness, adding that the oxo-biodegradable plastic products ad recycled shall be marked as "Recycled Plastic Unsafe for Contact with Food".
The notification said the Director General may proceed against the violator whosoever contravenes, infringes or violates the rules as per provisions of section 17 of the Act.
The Director General from time to time would seek certificate, records and information or any other relevant documents for inspection.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017