Bulgaria proposes to introduce planned tax on plastic bags

10-Jan-11

With effect from July 1, 2011, Bulgaria's environment ministry proposes to introduce a planned tax on plastic bags. The move is aimed at limiting the use of polyethylene bags in the country. Tax will be increased gradually each year, with the price of one bag to be raised to 55 stotinki in 2014 from the current 15 stotinki. According to local businesses, however, the proposed term is too short for manufacturers and retailers to adjust their operations. Retailers will most likely cease the use of plastic bags by July and add the tax to the price of their products, which would be passed on to end users, as per the local association Polymers.