On March 5, the Milan Local Police seized more than 100 million non-compliant plastic bags, weighing more than 1,000 tons, and reported two Chinese traders for the distribution and sale of false products, counterfeit goods and receiving stolen goods. The operation, emphasizes Assobioplastiche, the Italian association of bioplastics and biodegradable and compostable materials, reveals how strong and articulated the phenomenon of illegality is in the sector of the production and marketing of carrier bags.
Along with the possible environmental and health damage to citizens, the ‘intervention of the Milan Local Police also brought to light a series of criminal actions ranging from illegal importation to counterfeiting and fencing, precisely.
” A picture that confirms what we have always known: the shopping bag market is populated by individuals and organizations whose behavior can have harmful effects on the ‘environment and on the entire Italian economic system. In fact, importing bags that are outlawed, produced in markets where there are no controls, harmful to the ‘environment and resold illegally means taking economic resources away from our country and preventing the development of a sector – that of the bioeconomy – which creates jobs and is at the center of European policy.” , said Marco Versari, president of Assobioplastics.
The outcome of the action conducted in Milan follows just a few weeks after Legambiente’s monitoring of compliance with the law on plastic bags in large organized distribution, which had brought to light a phenomenon of violation of significant dimensions, also attesting to the responsibility of some operators in this sector.
“We can only express all our gratitude to the Milan Local Police and the relevant departments. Compliance with a state law, protecting citizens and those operators who have chosen the path of legality, can only take place through incisive control and sanctioning actions, such as the one carried out yesterday.” , Versari concluded.
Taken from : MPonline
