Portuguese consumers will start paying €0.10 for all light plastic bags from 15 February, as the result of the so-called "green taxation" reform.
The directive, proposed by Portugal's Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy, entered into force on 1 January.
However, 30-day transitional period is foreseen "for adaptation to the new rules by the whole chain of production, distribution and marketing of plastic bags, as well as to enable the flow of stocks and raw materials, in line with the requests of the industry", explains the Ministry.
After the expiry of the 30 days, producers and importers have to start collecting the contribution for light plastic bags from retailers and traders, which will be delivered to the Tax and Customs Authority (AT). These bags, already subject to contribution, may only be available to consumers 45 days after publication of the regulatory ordinance.
Portuguese consumers association DECO does not consider reasonable the proposed €0.10 charge per plastic bag, believing that the outcome will be, solely to overload the Portuguese taxpayers with another tax.
It points out that the proposed value, rather than to gradually discourage the consumption of plastic bags, will only serve to secure new sources of revenue for the state, with no real benefits to the consumer.
According to DECO, the promotion of reuse must be accompanied by legal measures defining criteria for strength and durability of the bags, which are not ensured in this proposal.
In other words, consumers will continue to pay for dubious reuse bags, DECO has argued that measures of this kind should be implemented gradually, with a starting price between €0.02 and €0.03 and possible annual adjustments. The gradual decrease in the use of plastic bags, over a period of four years, could also include the reduction of the number of cash registers that provide paid bags.
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