Importation de Singapour vers Maurice

05/10/2022 - Maurice

As per communiqué issued in February 2021, all plastic 'bags' are to be labelled so as to indicate the the name and contact address of the manufacturer or importer and (b) the type of exempt plastic bag. Since the manufacturer could not print the client's/importer's/buyer's name and address on these liners, we asked them if they could print their name and address to which they agreed instantly. To note that they could not print the name of the consignee/buyer/client/importer for the simple reason that they do not have a 'mould' for that. Hence the manufacturer sent an artwork to show how the plastic liner would look like with their name, address and type of plastic bag. The artwork was presented to MOE and one person confirmed that it is in line with the regulations and we can proceed with the importation - however the person called and hence we asked for a written confirmation. BUT the next day someone else from MOE called to say that it is NOT in line with the regulations and that the manufacturer's name and address are not acceptable and they need to print the name and address of the importer/buyer. Thus we produced the communiqué issued In February 2021 AND the one issued in December 2021 which clearly states the following: Quote: (i) exempt non-biodegradable plastic bags: (a) the name and contact address of the manufacturer or importer and (b) the type of exempt plastic bag set out in Part II of the First Schedule of the Regulations; Unquote: The communiqué CLEARLY states that it is EITHER the name and address of the MANUFACTURER OR IMPORTER. When we asked the officer how can she say something different from the communiqué, she explained we should not read this line as it is but to INTERPRETE it differently. She even explained that the communiqué is there as a GUIDE LINE only and it is what she says which should be considered. So two communiqués have been issued and we, general public, are to read them as guidelines and not as rules and regulations and the rules and regulations are what the officer says. Which is which at the end of the day? It is black on white that it is EITHER OR....and we are not in compliance since the manufacturer sent an artwork showing his name in FULL with ADDRESS and showing the type of exempted bag. So why this refusal when we are FULLY IN COMPLIANCE with the rules and regulations?

Non

• Autres obstacles (merci de préciser dans la partie information supplémentaire)

Un règlement national

Environment Protection (Banning of Plastic Bags) Regulations 2020

• Autres produits

These liners as we call them are fragranced/scented and anti-microbial. These liners are not sold and cannot be sold to the general public or any other parties for they can only be used in the special bins as explained above. Also, these liners are handled by the importer/service provider only. Our staff place the liners in the bin and once the bin is full, it is the impoter/service provider who collects these liners for incineration in specific places. As mentioned above, these scented/fragranced anti-microbial liners are used to collect the disposal of sanitary wastes/pads of women and also medical wastes like cottons/gauze and hence normal plastic cannot be used for same purpose.

If we are in compliance with the regulations of Environment Protection (Banning of Plastic Bags) Regulations 2020, why are we not being allowed to import our cargo which we already imported two times already this year? Why being in compliance with the WRITTEN regulations, that officer still maintain we are not allowed to put the manufacturer's name and we should read the communiqué as a guideline?