EU and single-use plastics to reduce marine plastic litter

摘要

The Council of the EU in late May 2019 adopted the ambitious measures proposed by the Commission to tackle marine litter coming from the 10 single-use plastic products most often found on European beaches,as well as abandoned fishing gear and oxo-degradable plastics.The rules on Single-Use Plastics items and fishing gear envisage different measures to apply to different product and place the EU at the forefront of the global fight against marine litter.Where alternatives are easily available and affordable,single-use plastic products will be banned from the market,such as cutlery,plates and straws.For other products,the focus is on limiting their use through a national reduction in consumption;on design and labelling requirements;and waste management/clean-up obligations for producers.First Vice-President Frans Timmermans,responsible for sustainable development said: “There is a growing sense of urgency in European society to do whatever it takes to stop plastic pollution in our oceans.The European Union is responding to this clear call of our citizens.We have taken ambitious steps by introducing concrete measures to reduce the use of single-use plastics.The new rules adopted today will help us to protect the health of our people and safeguard our natural environment,while promoting more sustainable production and consumption.We can all be proud that Europe is setting new and ambitious standards,paving the way for the rest of the world”.