Summary.
The bill seeks to amend Article 7 of Law 187 of December 2, 2020, which governs the gradual reduction and replacement of single-use plastics. The article targeted for amendment addresses natural and legal persons engaged in commerce and sets out duties associated with that activity. The proposal adds two numbered provisions to that article. Both concern biodegradable bags and their availability to people making purchases at commercial establishments.
The first proposed provision requires biodegradable bags to be supplied to consumers free of charge when they make a purchase. It applies to commercial establishments throughout the country and expressly includes large, medium-sized and small establishments. The proposed supply of bags is tied to the consumer’s purchase: at that point, the establishment would provide biodegradable bags without charging for their delivery. This duty would be placed in Article 7, whose heading identifies natural and legal persons engaged in commerce as the persons subject to its requirements.
The second proposed provision allows supermarkets to sell biodegradable bags in rolls. The stated purpose is to enable people who operate small businesses to acquire those bags and, in turn, provide them to their consumers. The provision therefore covers the acquisition of bags in rolls by those businesses and their subsequent delivery to the people who buy from them. It would sit alongside the duty to provide bags to consumers free of charge, within the same Article 7 of Law 187 of December 2, 2020.
The bill then specifies that its amendment concerns Article 7 of that law. The proposed legislative change is the addition of numbered provisions 7 and 8 to that article; its operative provisions make no other amendment. Finally, the bill provides that the proposed law would take effect on the day following its promulgation. It contains no repeal provision.
The proposal thus concerns Law 187 of December 2, 2020 and its rules on the gradual reduction and replacement of single-use plastics. The sectors it would reach include large, medium-sized and small commercial establishments, supermarkets, small businesses and their consumers. Its provisions address the supply of biodegradable bags during purchases and their sale in rolls so that small businesses can acquire them and provide them to the people who buy from those businesses.
What it proposes.
- Free provision of biodegradable bags when consumers make a purchase.
- Sale of biodegradable bags in rolls at supermarkets.
- Addition of duties to Article 7 of Law 187 of December 2, 2020.
Who it would affect.
- Natural and legal persons engaged in commerce.
- Large, medium-sized and small commercial establishments.
- Supermarkets and small businesses.
- Consumers.
Key points.
- The bill seeks to amend Article 7 of Law 187 of December 2, 2020.Art. 1
- It adds a duty to provide biodegradable bags to consumers free of charge when they make a purchase.Art. 2
- The proposed duty covers large, medium-sized and small commercial establishments throughout the country.Art. 2
- It allows supermarkets to sell biodegradable bags in rolls so that small businesses can acquire them and provide them to their consumers.Art. 2
- It specifies that the legislative amendment concerns Article 7 of Law 187 of December 2, 2020.Art. 3
- It provides that the proposed law would take effect on the day following its promulgation.Art. 4