Press release, 16 June 2016
The Seimas adopted amendments to the Law on the Management of Packaging and Packaging Waste, prohibiting the free distribution lightweight plastic carrier bags to customers at the point of sale by sellers and distributors of packaging, as from 31 December 2018. The provisions were adopted by 81 votes in favour, none against, and 9 abstentions.
The amendments are aimed to transpose the EU requirement to reduce the use of lightweight plastic carrier bags with a wall thickness ranging from 15 to 50 microns. This prohibition will not apply to very lightweight plastic carrier bags with a wall thickness below 15 microns that are used as primary packaging for loose food, are indispensable for hygiene purposes, and help to prevent food wastage. “Public education programmes will be launched to reduce the consumption of very lightweight plastic carrier bags. Currently, there is no economically and environmentally equivalent packaging that could replace very lightweight plastic carrier bags,” the explanatory note to the document says.
A part of the trading venues in Lithuania charge a fee for lightweight plastic carrier bags.
Rimas Rudaitis, Senior Specialist, Press Office, Information and Communication Department, tel. +370 5 239 6132, e-mail: rimas.rudaitis@lrs.lt