In a recent release, the African country of Tanzania has announced a plan to prohibit the import, production, sale, and use of single-use, non-biodegradable plastic bags by July 2019. By doing this, they join more than 127 nations worldwide who have banned or taxed plastic bags. Tanzania joins other African countries such as Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, and others in this area.
What does this mean for business travelers, religious organizations, tourists, etc., who are traveling to Tanzania? Be mindful, visitors are not exempt from this law and may be subject to associated punitive measures.
Our advice is to avoid packing any plastics bags in checked or carry-on luggage, including:
- Single-use plastic shopping/grocery bags
- Trash bags
- Resealable “Zip-Lock” style bags used for carry-on liquids
If any of these items make it onto the airplane in your carry-on luggage, be sure to dispose of them before you deplane.
Things like this are easy to overlook and should be included in a comprehensive travel risk assessment. The consequences of overlooking something simple can have huge consequences. Be sure to do your homework in order to successfully mitigate issues as much as possible.
