New legislation passed by the European Parliament will restrict consumption of lightweight plastic carrier bags with a thickness of 15 to 50 microns to 90 per inhabitant by the end of 2019 and to 40 per inhabitant by the end of 2025.

After 2018, the bags may no longer be handed out free of charge at retailers. By 2017, biodegradable and compostable bags will have to be clearly labeled.

The regulations, which are the first binding rules for packaging waste at EU level, are expected to result in cost savings of €740 million.

At the same time, the European Commission will be required to assess the environmental impact of oxo-degradable plastic materials that can fragment into small particles and endanger in particular marine life.

The parliamentary bill authored by Danish Green party member Margrete Auken argued that although the Commission initially intended for plastic bag restrictions to be the prerogative of member states, not all countries have imposed restrictions.

The list of countries that have regulated bag consumption includes Ireland - one of the pioneers - Italy and France as well as the UK countries Scotland, Wales and England, which have implemented rules at different times. Germany, where thin plastic bags are seldom used to transport groceries, has not implemented legislation.

While plastics manufacturers represented by the industry association PlasticsEurope did not initially comment on the new legislation, the European plastic converters' association EuPC called the new EU directive "overly prescriptive on member states," adding that "better regulation can be achieved through market instruments such as pricing measures."