UAE takes action to ban shopping bag logos

Supermarkets in the UAE will soon be banned from printing their logos on non-biodegradable plastic carrier bags, it was reported on Tuesday.

The logo ban, which has been approved by the UAE Cabinet, is expected to come into effect this year and is part of a drive for complete ban on the bags from 2013.

However, the details, including when it would come into force, are still being worked out, according to Hunaida Qayed, the manager of the Ministry of Environment and Water’s awareness department told UAE daily The National.

The ministry will start a public education campaign next month about the environmental harm done by plastic bags, and the alternatives available.

Mrs Qayed said the logo ban would be the first step of a plan by the ministry to phase out all plastic bags.

“The campaign will be active for a period of two years until a law is issued at 2013 to regulate the use of plastic bags,” she told the paper.

About 8,000 tonnes of plastic film – the material used to make bags and wrapping – are produced in the UAE every month.

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