Food Ministry puts blanket ban on single use plastic products from 15 Sept

Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution has announced a blanket ban on all types of single use plastic products in various departments of Ministry and all its Public Sector Units (PSUs) including Food Corporation of India (FCI) starting from 15 September 2019.

Key Highlights

The decision on this ban on use of single-use plastic products was taken in a high level meeting held by Union Minister of Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan. Union Minister has asked officials to make alternate arrangements to ensure that the ban is effective.

The high level meeting was held with Secretaries of both Departments i.e. Consumer Affairs and Food, CMD FCI, DG Bureau of India Standards (BIS), MD of central warehousing corporation (CWC), Director Legal Metrology along with other senior officials of Ministry.

Moreover, the department has distributed cloth bags to employees to reduce consumption of single use plastics.

Steps taken by Ministry so far:

During the Swachhata Pakhwada and Swachhata Hi Sewa campaign, department of fertilizers has distributed cloth bags produced by Women’s Self help Group (SHG) Laxmi Devi Swasya Group of village Maragondanahalli Grama Panchayat Ramohalli district, Karnataka to its employees to reduce consumption of single use plastics. As per the department, it is a small step to reduce single-use plastic usage and, to make people aware of viable alternative, while at the same time to improve income and livelihood of rural women of India.

Month: Current Affairs - September, 2019