Traders risk losing licences as new jute use deadline nears

The government has moved to cancel import and export licences if traders fail to use jute sacks for packaging paddy, wheat, maize, rice, sugar and fertiliser from November 30, officials said.
The move comes as part of its ongoing campaign to implement the Mandatory Jute Packaging Law, an attempt the government made earlier, but it didn't yield any satisfactory outcome.
The Mandatory Jute Packaging Act 2010 was enacted to ensure use of jute bags in packaging foodstuff and farm produce, but it couldn't be enforced properly even five years after its enactment.
The government will, however, conduct mobile court drives across the country from Nov 30.
The law states that manufacturers have to use packaging materials made of at least 75 per cent of jute fibres.
As per the provision, if anyone violates the law, he/she will be fined Tk 50,000 or be jailed for one year. The offenders have to face both punishments for a second offence.
Jute is considered more durable and environment-friendly than polythene that poses serious environmental hazards and health risks.
The Mandatory Jute Packaging Act 2010 came into being to help survive jute millers and growers to bring back the past glory of jute. The Ministry of Textiles and Jute (MoTJ) formulated the rules of the act in 2013.
"We will implement it (the law) through joint efforts of different ministries, departments and law enforcement agencies," a high official of the ministry told the FE.
The Chief Controller of Imports and Exports in a letter sent to the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) on October 7, 2015 said that they would cancel Import Registration Certificate  (IRC) and Export Registration Certificate (ERC) from November 30, 2015 if the traders violate the decision.   
 The MoTJ is now set to carry out a weeklong combing operation across the country from the end of the current month to implement the act properly.
"We are now ready to carry out a weeklong combing operation across the country from November 30 to implement Mandatory Jute Packaging Act 2010," a high official of the MoTJ told the FE.  
He said Textiles and Jute Minister Muhammad Imaj Uddin Pramanik will brief the media today (Sunday) on it at Jute Diversification Promotion Centre (JDPC) in the capital.
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