The authorities in Bosnia's Federation (FBiH) region, which covers over a little over one half of the country's territory, might soon introduce the full ban on plastic bags but customers in this part of Bosnia won't get paid back for returned plastic bottles, as many European countries do.

The Ministry for Environment and Tourism said it would follow the global trends and introduce the full ban on plastic bags within a one-year period. Until then, the ministry prepares a regulation on fees for plastic bags in pharmacies, stores, bakeries and green markets.

According to a European Commission's decision, all plastic-made plates, glasses, straws and similar products are to be banned as of 2021 and the Federation will follow the practice, the ministry said.

“This directive will help us to abandon the single-use plastic products and turn to reduced consumption, well-designed products for multiple-use, to innovations and clean environment,” said the ministry.

“Mass and single-use of plastic bags as well as a slow decomposition pose a threat to the environment in the years to come. These bags are mostly free which leads to the annual use of over billion plastic bags that usually end up as waste in nature,” the ministry warned.

As for remuneration for returned plastic bottles, the Federation's authorities will not introduce this practice like many European countries did because the ministry explained, the segment of plastic waste recycling is regulated by the Regulation on the Packaging and Packaging Waste Management.