French prohibited the use of plastic bags in trade from July

The ban, once introduced, will apply to small shops and supermarkets alike. Only reusable thicker plastic bags and paper bags may thenceforth be used. These may be given free of charge or be charged to consumers as part of their shopping needs.

After a ten-year dispute, the law was voted last summer and was originally supposed to take effect on 1 January, but the decree only appeared in the Official Gazette on Thursday.

In practice, however, no plastic bags are used in the stores in France since the beginning of the year. (MTI)