Muscat: The Sultanate’s Consumer Protection Authority (CPA) is monitoring the market to check if suppliers are overcharging consumers for reusable bags – but how much should consumers really pay?
“25bzs per bag” reads a label by the checkout counter in a grocery store in Baushar. The newly-added price, which has been set for a reusable plastic bag above 50 microns, comes after Oman implemented a nationwide ban on single-use plastic bags.
While 25bzs may seem like a fair ask for a thicker, long-lasting, and multi-use plastic bag, many others say that the prices of bags vary depending on the vendor.
Lamiya al Amri, an HR professional tells us that she had to dish out 150bzs for a plastic bag in a shop in Azaiba.
Speaking to BusinessLiveME, she says: “I am completely on board the single-use plastic ban. But, I must ask the question – why should I pay 150bzs for what is just a thick plastic bag (?) Put a fabric or paper bag in place of that and people would be more inclined towards shelling out that kind of money.”
The regulatory body, CPA, also issued an additional statement today [Sunday, January 3], stating that local markets have stocks of bags made of paper, cloth, cotton, and others made of organic materials.
As per the Environment Authority (EA), environmentally-friendly bags can be used 100s of times before being disposed of because they are “not less than 50 microns thick”.
A quick investigation in shops revealed that customers can purchase paper and fabric bags from established retailers for prices roughly between 100 and 250bzs. Meanwhile, we’ve learned that some convenience stores in petrol stations and grocery stores have completely absorbed the cost of the thicker plastic bags.
Mundhir Al Maskary, a shopkeeper in Ghubra, says: “I used to purchase plastic bags for RO9 before. I would receive enough bags for one month’s use and maybe a few more days too. But, my vendor is now charging RO18 – double – for the thicker plastic bags.
Despite the added cost, Mundhir says he will not charge his customers for the plastic bags.
“I am completely on board the government’s decision,” he adds, before saying, “I would not mind completely eradicating plastic from the country’s stores – but that won’t be feasible right now. Still, I think the authorities really need to keep an eye out for vendors who are milking this situation now.
“Just last week, I was told by my vendor that I would have to wait until the second week of January 2021 to receive the plastic bags. But, when I expressed desperation, he asked me to shell out RO23, before negotiating the price down to RO18.”
The CPA had anticipated a scope for overcharging, which is why the authorities say that they will constantly monitor the market for discrepancies. Their statement added: “We want to ensure that the prices of environmentally-friendly bags are not raised.”
While CPA hasn’t disclosed the punishments it will dole out to offenders, it is known that consumers can file reports of unfair pricing and overcharging by heading to this website.
Meanwhile, stores that are still offering consumers single-use plastic bags could receive fines of up to RO2,000.
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Omani musician Fahad Al Abri sings a song denouncing single-use plastics.
