Tunisian lawmakers have introduced a legislative proposal to implement a nationwide ban on single-use plastic bags as part of a strategic effort to combat pollution and improve public health. The bill intends to prohibit the distribution and sale of such bags at retail checkouts, providing a one-year transition period for manufacturers and importers to phase out current production and adopt environmentally friendly alternatives. 

To ensure the efficacy of this transition, the proposed legislation mandates strict standards for replacements, requiring them to be either highly durable for repeated use or fully biodegradable within specified timeframes without the formation of microplastics. 

The government plans to support this shift through an industrial program that includes tax incentives and subsidized loans, while also enforcing the principle of Extended Producer Responsibility, which holds companies financially accountable for the entire life cycle of their products. Non-compliance with the new regulations would face strict enforcement, including heavy fines, product confiscation, potential business closures, and even criminal liability for illegal production or importation, as reported by TV BRICS.