Officials from the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) are under an exercise to act on individuals/companies that are defying the thin plastics ban. Recently, the DEA confiscated machinery from Chinese company Qingdao.

DEA Senior Environmental Officer Chifundo Chinyama outlined that the machinery will be eventually auctioned off.

In March 2020, Qingdao Plastic Limited was ordered to close after it was found to be producing thin plastics of less than 60 micron, which is contrary to environmental management regulations on plastics. The company pleaded guilty to the charge and Lilongwe Magistrates’ Court convicted him on August 5 2020. “The dismantling of the machines is part of the punishment [to the company] for not adhering to the court order.” emphasized Chinyama.