The prohibition on identified single use plastic items was notified on 12^th August 2021 and it came into effect from 1^st July 2022. Transition time was provided to units manufacturing banned single use plastic to shift to alternatives. The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises has schemes to provide support to MSME units, which include support to such units earlier involved in manufacturing of banned single use plastic items for switching over to alternatives / other products. These schemes provide support in respect of technology upgradation, creating awareness, marketing support, infrastructural support, as per scheme guidelines. The manufacturing of alternatives will create new job opportunities and business models.GST Council secretariat has been suggested to adjust the GST rates in order to increase adoption of alternatives to banned single use items.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

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HS/SSV