Francesca Vella’s article (Yes minister, it exists, TMID 20 February) is 100 per cent correct.

For some reason only known to the ministry or perhaps the minister himself, it is being said, that “there are no standards for biodegradable bags”. However in one of the newspapers Chris Ciantar (Resources Ministry Permanent Secretary) did admit that standards exist. Obviously there must be some other reason coming from the ministry to make such deceiving statements.

One thing we are sure of is that there was intensive lobbying, which has been going on for the past two years, to tax all carrier bags. This came from a certain section of retailers, with the entire help of their union, who as soon as the law is enforced, with the e0.15 tax, will save thousands of euros for bags being today given free.

Lobbying is now going on between this section of retailers to have these eco-taxed bags sold at e0.25, when their present cost without tax is approximately e0.02. Perhaps, I might ask: could this be the reason? For anyone clever enough to know whether the ministry is talking nonsense, just log on google – European Standards EN 13432 and that gives you the whole truth.

To tax a biodegradable bag rather than encourage it, is suicide, because there isn’t any better eco friendly alternative, which even supersedes paper.

R.D. Pace Bonello

Mosta