The Gazette that was issued preventing traders from charging consumers for single-use polythene bags provided when buying goods, is to be withdrawn.
The Consumer Affairs Authority’s (CAA) decision to withdraw the said Gazette was informed to the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka by the Attorney General (AG) on Thursday.
In 2008, the CAA issued a Gazette preventing traders from charging consumers for single-use polythene bags provided when buying goods.
The Gazette was challenged via a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition that was filed by the Centre for Environmental Justice.
The petitioners had requested the court to direct relevant authorities to take every possible step to minimise the manufacturing, distribution and use of single-use polythene bags by manufacturers, traders and consumers respectively considering the severe pollution caused to the environment by these products.
However, the hearing of the petition was concluded by the court yesterday following an agreement between the two parties. (NewsWire)