Search

3.72. Furthermore, the EU introduced a proposal for a single-use plastics directive in 2018. This Directive was adopted on 5 June 2019. Member States must transpose the Directive into law by 3 July 2021. The Directive would restrict certain plastic products, e.g. plates, cutlery, beverage containers, from being placed on the EU market, and impose an extended producer responsibility for the cost of clean-up activities on a list of similar plastic products used mainly in the food and beverage sector, as well as tobacco products, fishing gear, and balloons. [117]

[117] European Commission, Annex to the Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment. Viewed at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/circular-economy/pdf/single-use_plastics_proposal_annex.pdf.

3.107. Regulation (EC) No. 1013/2006 lays down rules on the export of waste from the EU. They are based on the provisions of the Basel Convention for the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Waste and their Disposal, but are stricter in a number of instances. At the 14th Conference of the Parties of the Basel Convention in May 2019, new rules were adopted with regard to international trade in plastic waste, which will enter into force in 2021. For the EU, this means that, from 2021, the export of plastic waste to non-OECD countries will be banned, except for plastic wastes which are easy to recycle.

4.155. The full implementation of the circular economy approach is also critical for decarbonizing the EU's economy, notably in energy-intensive sectors such as steel, cement and glass, while keeping or increasing its competitiveness. Reuse and recycling of raw materials lead to lower emissions, and reduce dependency on raw material supplies. In December 2018, the Commission launched the Circular Plastics Alliance, consisting of key industry stakeholders, covering the full plastics value chain, as part of its continued efforts to reduce plastics littering, increase the share of recycled plastics, and stimulate market innovation.

4.177. In September 2017, a renewed EU Industrial Policy Strategy, "Investing in a smart, innovative and sustainable industry", was outlined to bring together all existing and new horizontal and sector specific initiatives into a comprehensive strategy. Some of its main elements include :
(...)
• a new series of actions on circular economy, including a strategy on plastics and measures to improve the production of renewable biological resources and their conversion into bio based products and bio-energy;
(...)
• extension of the skills agenda to new key industry sectors, such as construction, steel, paper, green technologies and renewable energies, manufacturing and maritime shipping;
• a strategy on sustainable finance to better orient private capital flows to more sustainable investments (Section 4.4.1.2.3.4);
(...)
• a revised list of critical raw materials where the Commission will continue to help ensure the secure, sustainable and affordable supply for the EU manufacturing industry; and
• new proposals for clean, competitive and connected mobility, including tightened CO2 emissions standards for cars and vans, an Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Action Plan to support the deployment of charging infrastructure, and foster autonomous driving (see below).

Table 3.10 Goods subject to import controls and/or licensing, November 2019
Description/HS Chapter; Legal reference Type of licence/permit; Issuing agency, conditions and requirements
Plastic bags of polymers classified under headings 3920, 3921 and 3923 of the customs tariff; plastic packaging other than biodegradable; or plastic bread packaging and cling film; S.I. 126/14, S.I.122/17; Free (OGIL) since 2018

3.16. Protection of the environment is another fundamental in cultivating the MSAR as a more liveable city under the Development Plan. In recent years, waste management and improvement of air quality are the two main areas of concern of the MSAR Government. With respect to treatment of waste, the MSAR Government promotes the "polluter pays" principle, encourages the reduction and recycling of plastics as well as other wastes, optimizes the recycling facilities and other environmental protection infrastructures. Placing great emphasis upon waste reduction at source, the MSAR Government introduced a levy on plastic bags in November 2019, and launched a new recycling program in January 2020 for electronic and electrical devices. On improvement of air quality, the MSAR Government has raised the vehicle emission standards intending to reduce exhaust emissions from motor vehicles.

2.30. From the inception of the CEPA until end-May 2020, the Macao Economic Bureau (DSE) received 6,475 applications for CEPA certificates of origin, and issued 6,349 such certificates, of which 5,627 were used to export goods to China, including: (...) recycled plastics (...).

4.80. During the review period, forestry policy objectives included: promotion of forest product exports and added value through foreign market penetration; increase of production of timber and non-timber forest products, plants and wildlife; new business configuration and industrial clusters; enhancement of the management of natural resources through rehabilitation of forests and lands, prevention of forest and land fires, reduction of the deforestation rate, promotion of waste management and reduction of plastic use; circular economy; reduction of mercury use; environmental pollution control; improvement of sustainable forest management smart practices based on 4.0 technology; and improvement of the conservation management strategy by involving local community, including customary community and stakeholder engagement. Since 2019, ministerial strategies have also included: strengthening protected areas; strengthening sustainable production forest management; accelerating the provision of local community access to land and forests; providing entrepreneurship training and facilities for local communities; conserving water and the ecosystem; supporting the development of new capital; improving the environmental quality index; improving resilience to disaster and climate change; and implementing low-carbon development.

In order to reduce pollution and encourage recycling, in 2011 Ecuador introduced a redeemable tax on plastic bottles (IRBP). (...)

Samoa maintains restrictions on the importation of arms and ammunition, chemicals and pesticides , and ozone-depleting substances ; to be imported, they require licences issued by designated public bodies. Under the Plastic Bag Prohibition on Importation Regulations, 2006, imports of non-biodegradable plastic bags are restricted, with a view to protecting the environment.