Non-biodegradable plastic bags could be taxed

An amendment submitted to the National Assembly calls for a tax on plastic bags for fruits and vegetables, but professionals are threatening to raise prices by 5%.

The Nouveau Centre political party has introduced an amendment to tax the bags available on the shelves of fruit and vegetables if these bags are not biodegradable. The draft stipulates that the bags must be made from more than ??40% plant material from 1 January 2014. 

The project has angered retailers and the Federation of Commercial and distribution (FCD) commented that the bags are essential to the purchase of fruits and vegetables and that the adoption of biodegradable bags would triple or quadruple the price of each bag. It added tgat this increase, passed on to consumers, will be equivalent to a rise in prices of fruits and vegetables of 5%.

source : le figaro, romandie