Implement consumer-friendly initiatives in Oman related to plastic bag ban: CPA

Muscat: The Chairman of the Consumer Protection Authority has urged commercial centers in the Governorate of Muscat to implement initiatives that serve the consumer regarding the single-use plastic ban.

A statement issued online by Consumer Protection Authority (CPA), said :" His Excellency Sulayem bin Ali Al Hikmani, Chairman of the Consumer Protection Authority, held a meeting with a number of major suppliers and owners of commercial centers in the Governorate of Muscat, as part of a continuous follow-up to the local market conditions and consumer-related topics, including the provision of alternatives to plastic bags in stores and commercial centers after receiving many observations from consumers in this regard, with the entry into force of the decision to ban the use of single-use plastic bags."

CPA also said: "During the meeting, Al-Hakmani discussed with the attendees the implementation of the decision to ban single-use plastic bags and its repercussions on the consumer, stressing that consumers must be taken into account in terms of providing them with alternatives as well as prices, explaining that this decision should not be an excuse for indirect gain from the consumer.He thanked them for their permanent efforts in implementing projects that serve the consumer within their societal responsibility, urging them to implement initiatives that serve the consumer in this aspect and encourage them to use environmentally friendly bags."

CPA confirmed that :"This was welcomed by suppliers and some commercial centers responded to it by presenting perceptions of initiatives that serve the interest of the consumer, including the initiative to distribute environmentally friendly bags free of charge for every purchase exceeding OMR 3  and above, and an initiative based on the consumer obtaining environmentally friendly bags in case the minimum purchase value is  OMR 5. Other initiatives have also come to distribute the bags free of charge regardless of the purchase value, as one commercial center has allocated a total of one million environmentally friendly and reusable bags that will be distributed as of the coming days, while another mall will distribute 50 thousand bags during the year 2021 and other initiatives that will be announced in due course."

"On the other hand, Al-Hakmani emphasised that providing environmentally friendly bags in stores and commercial centers for free requires that the shift towards sustainable consumption go along with it, so that the consumer adopts a positive consumer culture towards the environment by using the same bags in every shopping process that he does, even if the bags requires replacement, it will be replaced for free, which will lead to a reduction in the use of raw materials and natural resources in consumer goods and thus preserving the environment and its components," the statement added.