Notice of the General Office of State Council on Restricting the Production, Sale and Use of Plastic Shopping Bags.

Excessive use of plastic shopping bags, recycling is not in place and other reasons, have caused a serious waste of energy resources and environmental pollution in China. In particular, ultra-thin plastic shopping bags become the main source of white pollution. The purpose of this Notice is to urge enterprises to produce durable, easy to recycle plastic shopping bags, guide and encourages the consumers to rationally use plastic shopping bags, promote the comprehensive utilization of resources, protect ecological environment, and promote energy-saving emission reduction.
From June 1, 2008, ban on the production, sale, use of plastic shopping bags with thickness less than 0.025 mm (ultra-thin plastic shopping bags) nationwide; all supermarkets, shopping malls, markets and other retail establishments may not allowed to provide plastic shopping bags for free. The Notice further provides for the measures to be taken for recycling of waste plastics, supervision and inspection, etc.