Since its implementation last July and operating under law 77-15, the “Zero Mika” campaign is already bringing in revenue. According to Moulay Hafid Alami, Morocco’s Minister of Trade, Industry, Investment and Digital Economy, Morocco has been able to “obtain MAD 2.7 million from the fine payments of 139 factories illegally manufacturing plastic bags.”

Ahead of the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (COP 22), which took place last November in Marrakech, Morocco’s Ministry of Environment launched ‘Zero Mika.’ A campaign to ban the import, sale and production of toxic bags in order to raise awareness about the environmental risks Morocco is facing due to the accumulation of plastics, ‘Zero Mika’ was launched approximately six months ago, in July.

During a press conference held Monday in Casablanca, Alami explained that “the officials who work under the auspices of the Interior Ministry and the Ministry of Industry and Trade have stepped up the surveillance operations that have targeted approximately 262,000 informal productions as well as the smuggling of bags from abroad.”

He went on to say that, since the launch,  “[the officials] have managed to surveil 1,536 plastic bags manufacturers, prosecute 1,076 cases, seize 19 tons and confiscate 135 tons of plastic bags produced illegally.”

Alami went on to note that “the paper bags market has improved by 28 manufactures that produce annually 4.6 billion paper bags, in addition to the production of 100 million cloth bags and 120 million bags subject to the legal control of the Moroccan market.”

Regarding the smuggling of plastic bags that vendors import from neighboring countries, Alami said that “Morocco has confiscated 19 tons,” noting that “Morocco managed to outperform France and Spain in the fight against plastic bags – we should be proud of this achievement.”

Source :Morocco World News