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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Mauritania bans plastic bag use | Mauritania bans plastic bag use |
| (2 days later) | |
| Mauritania has banned the use of plastic bags to protect the environment and the lives of land and sea animals. | |
| More than 70% of cattle and sheep that die in the capital, Nouakchott, are killed by eating plastic bags, environment ministry official Mohamed Yahya told BBC Afrique. | |
| Plastic bag manufacturers could be jailed for up to a year. | Plastic bag manufacturers could be jailed for up to a year. |
| Plastic makes up a quarter of 56,000 tonnes of waste produced annually in Nouakchott, official statistics show. | Plastic makes up a quarter of 56,000 tonnes of waste produced annually in Nouakchott, official statistics show. |
| Mauritania's Organization of Consumer Protection head Moctar Ould Tauf said he welcomed the ban, Efe news agency reports. | Mauritania's Organization of Consumer Protection head Moctar Ould Tauf said he welcomed the ban, Efe news agency reports. |
| It was of "particular importance" given the negative impact of plastic bags on the environment, animals and marine species, he said. | It was of "particular importance" given the negative impact of plastic bags on the environment, animals and marine species, he said. |
| Environment Minister Amedi Camara said that nearly all of the plastic package waste is not "collected and is found in the natural environment - land and sea - where they are sometimes ingested by marine species and livestock, causing their death". | Environment Minister Amedi Camara said that nearly all of the plastic package waste is not "collected and is found in the natural environment - land and sea - where they are sometimes ingested by marine species and livestock, causing their death". |
| The government, local non-governmental organisations and the UN Programme for Development (UNDP) have been promoting the use of new biodegradable bags, the Mauritanian Information Agency reports. | The government, local non-governmental organisations and the UN Programme for Development (UNDP) have been promoting the use of new biodegradable bags, the Mauritanian Information Agency reports. |
| Anyone using, manufacturing or importing plastic bags could be fined or sentenced to a year in prison, Mr Camara said. | Anyone using, manufacturing or importing plastic bags could be fined or sentenced to a year in prison, Mr Camara said. |
| Several African countries, including Rwanda, have already banned the use of plastic bags. | Several African countries, including Rwanda, have already banned the use of plastic bags. |