By Lesnat Kenan

Lilongwe, June 2, Mana: Following the ban on the use of thin plastics in the country, Malawi Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) Director Generalm Wilfred Kadewa, has said the authority has strengthened the regulations and penalties to deter companies from manufacturing thin plastics.

According to Kadewa thin plastics ban was issued to address issues of pollution in water bodies, soils and landscape, and its impact to wildlife and livestock.

He made the remarks during a press briefing on the status of enforcement of the regulations on the ban of thin plastics in Malawi.

Since the ban on manufacturing and use of thin plastics on February 10, 2025, MEPA has been conducting inspections to companies to ensure that they comply with the rules.

"When we conduct our inspections in Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Blantyre cities, we want to check compliance on manufacturing and we have found that majority of manufacturing companies are complying because they understand what the ban means," he added.

He also said there is still al ot of plastics on the market which he said some are imported from neighboring countries.

He further explained that the authority has engaged officials from Mchinji border to check on what is happening to ensure that there is no importation of plastics into our country.

Concurring with Kadewa, MEPA Board Chair, Dr. Robert Kafakoma, appealed to manufactures, retailers and every citizen to support and respect the laws designed to preserve the environment.

He added that the authority encourages the public to use environmentally friendly alternative packaging materials, reusable, recyclable and biodegradable materials such as baskets.

Malawi developed the environment management (plastic regulations) in 2015, in response to the environmental and health problems associated with plastics.

Meanwhile, Malawi will join the globe in commemorating the World Environmental Day on June 5, 2025, and the event will take place in Nkhotakota under the theme "Ending plastic pollution".