Remember the controversy on biodegradable bags? Those who at the beginning of the year raised unprecedented popular indignation, even reaching the front pages of newspapers?
The law which – transposing a 2015 EU directive – requires that they be used compostable and biodegradable bags suitable for food contact to replace plastic bags, it entered into force in Italy on 1 January 2018. The law establishes that each merchant, from the smallest to large-scale distribution, sells individual bags to a price between 1 and 5 cents (indicated separately on each receipt), also providing that, for hygienic reasons, consumers could not bring their own bag from home.
An obligation that had led many to even speak of “hidden tax imposed by the Government”., complete with fake news about the manufacturer "friend of Renzi" which forced the former secretary of the PD to even have to make an official denial.
On the question the Council of State intervened which, when asked by the Ministry of Health, to the delight of many consumers decided on a "partial about-face".
The organ of administrative justice has in fact ruled that the biodegradable bags used by users for fruit and vegetable shopping can also be brought from home and they don't necessarily have to be purchased in stores. In fact, according to the Council, given that the bags have an economic value, they cannot be removed from the logic of the market. The consumer therefore has every right to choose where and whether to buy them, exactly as he does with all other goods.
The trader will have to check that the customer really uses an ecological bag, who will have the possibility to forbid the use of containers or bags that do not comply with the law.
Be careful of singing victory though, because sometimes bringing the bag from home can involve a greater expense compared to the price you would pay by taking it directly "on site".
The law that came into force in January requires merchants to put the now famous biodegradable bags on sale at a price between 1 and 5 cents. By purchasing the bio bags on your own – the packs can vary from around 1,5 to 2,5 euros – the unit cost easily reaches 10-15 cents per bag. So much more than in the supermarket.
