Customs to halt non-biodegradable plastic smuggling at borders

Officials and partners of the Ministry of the Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development, MINEPDED have adopted the measure of reinforcing custom’s checks at the borders of the country in order to fight against the smuggled entry of non biodegradable plastic bags.

This was one of the measures adopted on July 8, at the end of the first evaluation meeting on the ongoing campaign against non biodegradable plastics in the country after its ban in April.

Speaking at the meeting, the Minister of Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development Hele Pierre, said over 2015 tons of non biodegradable plastic packages have been seized all over the ten regions.

According to Hele Pierre, the 2015 tonnes seized signifies a success in the campaign. “The quantity seized makes up 28 percent of the 6,000 tons targeted in the country,” he said, adding that these seized plastics will be perforated and recycled.

While acknowledging that the biodegradable plastics in the market are not sufficient, Hele Pierre said his Ministry and partners are working hard to ensure that the required plastics are sufficient in the market, as soon as possible.

Others measures adopted at the end of the ceremony were; to ensure that customs packages are banned in the national territory. This measure will not apply only if the packages are in accordance with the regulation. Again, an information network will be created to uncover clandestine plastic holders that make supplies to various markets in the country.

Another measure adopted was that the Ministry of Trade must work with MINEPED. The last objective was the sensitisation against unscrupulous producers of biodegradable plastics that go about deceiving the population.

Presenting the reports from various regions on the number of tons seized so far, the Centre Region had 52.5 tons seized, East Region 1.1 ton, Adamawa 3.1 tons, littoral was the highest with 145 tons seized.

Partners from the Ministry of Trade, Customs Department and other companies were represented during the evaluation meeting.