Government has warned all the manufacturers, distributors and importers of thin plastic bags that they will face the law.

Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Natural resources, Energy and Mining Patrick Matanda issued the warning in a statement on Wednesday.

On June 14, 2018, the High Court in Blantyre ruled in favour of government to resume implementing the ban after the private sector obtained a stay order on the ban, arguing it infringed on their business rights.

However, Matanda said that despite the ruling, some companies are still producing the banned thin plastic bags of 60 micrometers.

Government’s ban on plastic bags of less than 60 microns came into effect on June 30, 2015.

However, in 2016, manufacturers under the Plastic Manufacturers Association of Malawi (PMAM) obtained a court order at the High Court stopping the enforcement of the ban.

Environmentalists promote the use thick plastics which are environmental friendly as they can be re-used.