Key points:

1. From 1st June 2019 all plastic carrier bags, regardless of their thickness will be prohibited from being imported, exported, manufactured, sold, stored, supplied and used in mainland Tanzania.
2. The government was going to set up a special desk at entry points to enforce the measure.
3. Fines up to TZS 20,000,000 or imprisonment or both.
4. Plastic or plastic packaging for medical services, industrial products, construction industry, agricultural sector, foodstuff, sanitary and waste management is not prohibited.

“All plastic carrier bags, regardless of their thickness, will be prohibited from being imported, exported, manufactured, sold, stored, supplied, and used in mainland Tanzania,” January Makamba, Tanzania’s Minister of State in the Vice President’s Office (Union Affairs and Environment), posted in a statement on Twitter.
Tanzania is among the very few African countries to ban the use of plastic bags and the government fights against plastic pollution. Tanzania will join more than 60 other countries that have banned, partly banned or taxed single-use plastic bags, including China, France, Kenya, Rwanda and Italy. The Ban on plastic bags in Tanzania came after announcement which was made in parliament by prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa during winding up of his office budget for financial year 2018/2019. The Ban on plastic bags in Tanzania will mean no manufacturer or importers of plastic bags, other plastic material which produce plastic bags, will be allowed to do so by June 2019.
The ban is effected by the The Environmental Management (prohibition of plastic carrier Bags) Regulations 2019 made under the environment management Act of 2004.The law sought to prohibit the use of plastic carrier, plastic wrappings and issuance of new licenses (as per regulation 5,6 and 7 respectively).
Punishments:
 The importation of plastic bags is Tshs 20 million;
 Export of plastic bags is Tshs. 20 million;
 Production, storage and distribution of plastic bags is TZS 10 million;
 Sale of plastic bags is 10,000 shillings; and
 The use of plastic bags is 30,000 shillings.

Alternative plastic bags are bags such as paper, clothes, baskets, sack etc. These bags are the ones that are friendly to the environment as they end their time in the environment. These bags are not harmful to human health and the environment.

ADHABU
Adhabu mbalimbali ikiwemo faini au kifungo gerezani zitahusika kwa atakayekiuka katazo hili kulingana na Kanuni za “Marufuku ya matumizi ya mifuko ya plastiki za Mwaka 2019” zilizoandaliwa chini ya Sheria ya Mazingira ya Mwaka 2004.
Mchanganuo wa faini kwa atakayekiuka katazo ni kama ifuatavyo:
 Uingizaji nchini wa mifuko ya plastiki ni shilingi Milioni 20;
 Usafirishaji nje ya nchi wa mifuko ya plastiki ni shilingi Milioni 20;
 Uzalishaji, uhifadhi na usambazaji wa mifuko ya plastiki ni Shilingi Milioni 10;
 Uuzaji wa mifuko ya plastiki ni shilingi 10,000; na
 Utumiaji wa mifuko ya plastiki ni shilingi 30,000.
Mbadala wa mifuko ya plastiki ni mifuko kama vile karatasi, nguo, vikapu, gunia n.k. Mifuko hii ni ile ambayo ni rafiki kwa mazingira kwani inapoisha muda wake huoza katika mazingira. Mifuko hii haina madhara kwa afya ya binadamu na mazingira.