DECISION

TO APPROVE THE PROJECT ON ENHANCING THE CONTROL OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION DUE TO THE USE OF NON-BIODEGRADABLE PLASTIC BAGS BY 2020

THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Government organization dated December 25^th 2001;

Pursuant to the Law on Environment protection dated November 29^th 2005;

Pursuant to the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 2149/QD-TTg dated September 17^th 2009 to approve the National Strategy for the management of solid waste by 2025 and the orientation towards 2050;

At the request of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment,

DECIDES:

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I. Viewpoints

1. Aim for sustainable production and consumption, contribute to the success of the National Strategy for the management of solid waste by 2025 and the orientation towards 2050.

2. Step by step replace non-biodegradable plastic bags with eco-friendly products

3. Comprehensively implement solutions. Economic solutions among which are the epicenter in association with propagating awareness and implementing technological/scientific solutions.

II. Targets

1. General targets:

a) Gradually decrease the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags;

b) Enhance the collection and recycling of dumped non-biodegradable plastic bags.

2. Specific targets:

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- Reduce the amount of non-biodegradable plastic bags in supermarkets and shopping malls by 40% in comparison to that it 2010;

- Reduce the amount of non-biodegradable plastic bags in markets by 20% in comparison to that in 2010;

- Collect and recycle 25% of dumped non-biodegradable plastic bags.

a) By 2020:

- Reduce the amount of non-biodegradable plastic bags in supermarkets and shopping malls by 65% in comparison to that in 2010;

- Reduce the amount of non-biodegradable plastic bags in markets by 50% in comparison to that in 2010;

- Collect and recycle 50% of dumped non-biodegradable plastic bags.

III. Objectives

1. Propagate public awareness

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b) Integrate the education about the harmful effects of dumped non-biodegradable plastic bags on the environment into school programs at all levels.

2. Minimize the amount of dumped non-biodegradable plastic bags.

a) Assess the effectiveness of the Law on Environmental protection tax in the production and import of non-biodegradable plastic bags; gradually increase the tax rates to suit the socio-economic condition of Vietnam in each stage.

b) Review and adjust the fees for waste treatment applicable to non-biodegradable plastic bags in order to emphasize the responsibility of users.

c) Prohibit the production of non-biodegradable plastic bags of which a layer is thinner than 30 micron; facilitate their collection and recycling.

3. Enhance the production and use of eco-friendly bags and packages to replace non-biodegradable plastic bags

a) Review and amend the policies on encouraging the investment, research, technology transfer, and production of eco-friendly packages and bags that replace non-biodegradable plastic bags.

b) Formulate and complete policies on supporting the introduction and sale of eco-friendly packages and bags

c) Formulate and issue technical regulations and standards of eco-friendly packages.

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a) Develop the infrastructure and services of collecting and recycling dumped non-biodegradable plastic bags.

b) Intensify the research and transfer of advanced technologies for recycling non-biodegradable plastic bags into useful and eco-friendly products.

c) Take measures for sorting waste at its sources, collecting and recycling dumped non-biodegradable plastic bags.

d) Encourage the use of products made from recycled non-biodegradable plastic bags, especially in the construction of public works.

IV. Solution

1. Formulate and complete mechanism, policies, and laws on controlling the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags

a) Enhance the use of economic instruments (taxes and fees) to gradually decrease the production, import, and use of non-biodegradable plastic bags.

b) Provide a mechanism for supporting the production and use of eco-friendly bags and packages to replace non-biodegradable plastic bags

c) Formulate policies encouraging the sorting of non-biodegradable plastic bags at their sources; facilitate their collection and recycling.

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a) Enhance and diversify investment sources from the State budget, domestic and foreign organizations and enterprises in order to accomplish the objectives of this Project.

The funding for the implementation of this Project is provided by the State budget based on each sub-project of the Project. The Ministries and agencies in charge shall make and send detailed budget estimates to the Ministry of Finance for consideration and allocation. Funding for implementing the Project locally shall be provided by local budget.

b) Provide training to improve the capability of managers of managing and researching organizations to adapt to advanced technologies for producing and recycling eco-friendly packages and bags.

3. Scientific research and technology transfers

a) Diversify the resources serving the study, application of scientific advances, and transfer of technologies for producing eco-friendly packages and bags that replace non-biodegradable plastic bags.

b) Focus on the study and application of scientific advances and transfer of technologies for recycling dumped non-biodegradable plastic bags into useful and eco-friendly products.

c) Make investments and upgrade some laboratory equipment belonging to training institutions and research institutions capable of testing and assessing substitute products made from recycled dumped plastic bags.

4. International cooperation

a) Enhance the exchange of experience of the management and control of environmental pollution due to the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags.

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V. Implementation

1. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall cooperate with relevant Ministries, agencies, and People’s Committees of central-affiliated cities and provinces to accomplish the objectives of this Project on schedule; regularly inspect and supervise the implementation of this Project of Ministries, agencies and local governments, summarize the accomplishments and send reports to the Prime Minister every year.

2. The Ministry of Finance shall cooperate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and relevant Ministries in completing the polices on taxes and fees for the ex and use of non-biodegradable plastic bags; support the research and transfer of advanced technologies of producing and selling eco-friendly products, collecting and recycling dumped non-biodegradable plastic bags.

3. Ministries, agencies and People’s Committees of central-affiliated cities and provinces shall provide funding and implement this Project within their competence, and accomplish the objectives in the Appendix to this Decision; report the result to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment every year for summarization.

4. Request Vietnamese Fatherland Front, member organizations, and socio-professional organizations to make plans and cooperate in the implementation of this Project; send annual reports on the result to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall then summarize them and send reports to the Prime Minister.

Article 2. This Decision comes into force from the day on which it is signed.

Article 3. The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, other Ministries, Heads of ministerial agencies, Heads of Governmental agencies, the Presidents of People’s Committees of central-affiliated cities and provinces, relevant organizations and individuals are responsible for the implementation of this Decision./.

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APPENDIX

LIST OF SUB-PROJECTS
(to the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 582/QD-TTg dated April 11^th 2013)

Project 1: Completing the mechanism, policies, and laws on restricting the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags, encouraging the production and sale of eco-friendly products.

- Presiding agency: The Ministry of Finance

- Cooperating agencies: The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, The Ministry of Industry and Trade, relevant Ministries and agencies

- Period: 2013 – 2015.

Project 2: Enhance scientific research, application and transfer of technologies for producing eco-friendly products that replace non-biodegradable plastic bags.

- Presiding agency: The Ministry of Industry and Trade

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- Period: 2013 – 2018.

Project 3: Enhance the scientific research,  application and transfer of technologies for recycling non-biodegradable plastic bags.

- Presiding agency: The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment

- Cooperating agencies: The Ministry of Science and Technology, other Ministries, agencies, local governments, research institutions, universities, and relevant enterprises.

- Period: 2013 – 2018.

Project 4: Investments in raising the capability of key laboratories to meet demands of researching, testing and assessing substitute products and products made from recycled dumped plastic bags.

- Presiding agency: The Ministry of Science and Technology

- Cooperating agencies: The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, other Ministries, agencies, research institutions, and universities.

- Period: 2013 – 2018.

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- Presiding agency: the Ministry of Information and Communications.

- Cooperating agencies: The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, other Ministries, agencies, and local governments.

- Period: 2013 – 2020.

Project 6: Integrating the education about the harmful effects of dumped non-biodegradable plastic bags on the environment into school programs.

- Presiding agency: The Ministry of Education and Training

- Cooperating agencies: The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, other Ministries, agencies, and local governments.

- Period: 2013 – 2020.