Member states must either meet targets to reduce the number of single-use plastic bags or introduce a charge for them, legislators have agreed.

The deal struck by MEPs and member state negotiators on Monday will require governments to cut annual use of lightweight plastic bags to 90 per person by the end of 2019.

This must fall again to 40 bags per person by the end of 2025. These levels translate to reductions of roughly 50% by 2019 and 80% by 2025.

As an alternative to meeting the reduction targets, governments will have the option to introduce a charge on the bags from the end of 2017, unless they have implemented “equally effective” instruments.

Very lightweight bags used for fruits and vegetables can be exempted from both obligations, but the European Commission may table a proposal to reduce their use within two years.

A ban on oxo-biodegradable bags was removed from the text in the face of opposition led by the UK.

In line with industry demands, the European Commission has been tasked with assessing the environmental impact of these conventional plastic bags with additives that the industry says will allow them to biodegrade quickly.

The Commission may also table legislation within two years to limit the use of these bags, whose biodegradability has been questioned by some studies.

The deal updates the EU’s directive on packaging waste to reduce the use of lightweight plastic bags. It is still subject to approval by a member state representatives’ committee on Friday and the Parliament’s environment committee next Monday.

Going into the talks, MEPs had wanted an 80% target for 2019. Margrete Auken, MEP leading the Parliament’s negotiating team, had told the Council that member states would have to accept either a target or pricing to get a deal.

Commission vice-president for better regulation Frans Timmermans last week told journalists that the Commission is not sure whether the negotiated result “is still what we intended at the outset”, indicating that it might withdraw the proposal.

But Parliament sources said that with a deal now reached between the co-legislators, the Commission is likely to accept the decision.

Source: endseurope.com