Abu Dhabi:

The manufacture of biodegradable plastic bags has expanded considerably, according to Mohammad Al Mulla, the Director of Metrology Department at Emirates Standardization and Metrology Authority (ESMA).

This rise, seen in 2011, comes amidst strict procedures to prevent manufacturing or handling plastic bags which are not biodegradable and which do not comply with the mandatory Emirati standards issued by the UAE Council of Ministers in 2009.

In his statement at a press conference marking the joining of a new company, Inner Plastics, to the list of companies which were granted the Emirati Quality Mark, Al Mullah said ESMA had finished certain studies to assess this technology and the Company’s production systems.

ESMA also assessed the company’s technology in accordance with the requirements of ISO 9001:2000 of quality management systems.

Inner Plastics specialises in technology designed for decomposing plastic products and making them eco-friendly.

Al Mulla said: “Inner Plastics is the first company to get the Emirati Quality Mark in the field of biodegradable plastic products,” pointing out that ESMA has granted this mark to 5 companies from outside the country.

He added that ESMA has co-ordinated with the Ministry of Environment and Water to define factories as per Emirati specifications in order to set up plants to move smoothly into manufacturing biodegradables.

He called on the factories concerned which produce biodegradable plastic bags to register with the Emirati Conformity Assessment System (ECAS), pointing out that the authority has started, as of early 2010, registration procedures for national factories producing plastic bags in ECAS, which aims to ensure biodegradable plastic bags comply with the mandatory Emirati standards.

He explained that ECAS measures entail a visit by ESMA’s technicians and experts to the plants, making sure production process and taking samples from the bags to check the contents of chemical elements.

He pointed out that plastic bags and the overuse of these products in homes may lead to a significant burden on waste disposal.

He added that the Emirati Quality Mark has become a strong marketing advantage for products at national and external markets as well as giving confidence to the consumer in the quality of these products.