The High Court has temporarily stop the ban of non-woven carrier bags pending hearing of an application by importers and small traders Association.
This comes after the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) had vow to move to implement the ban on non-woven carrier bags.
Non-woven carrier bags were a stop-gap measure to help in the absence of plastic bags but Nema now says their quality has been compromised.
The bags will be replaced with carrier bags made from reed, cotton, sisal, recycled plastic material, recycled paper, papyrus, woven plastic bags, hyacinth, and hard plastic.
According to the regulator, anyone found making, selling or importing no-woven bags will face arrest and a possible jail term.
“In a public notice, NEMA banned manufacture, importation, supply, distribution and use of non-woven polypropylene bags in Kenya markets effective March 31, 2019.
According to the regulator, anyone found making, selling or importing no-woven bags will face arrest and a possible jail term.
“In a public notice, NEMA banned manufacture, importation, supply, distribution and use of non-woven polypropylene bags in Kenya markets effective March 31, 2019. The authority has begun implementing the ban from today.
You risk arrest for carrying non-woven bags,” Nema tweeted.NEMA had previously set March 31st, as deadline for shoppers and retail outlets to come up with appropriate bags after the regulator announced a ban on non-woven bags.
The regulator changed its approach to what it had approved to be safe carrier bags, after the manufacturers took advantage of the rising demand for non-woven bags in the market to produce low-quality bags that cannot be used by consumers multiple times as was intended.
“The authority directs that all manufacturers, importers, suppliers and users of these non-woven polypropylene bags should stop their manufacture, importation, supply and use in the Kenyan market effective March 31, 2019,” the notice read.