The State Administration for Industry and Commerce has issued an emergent circular which says that retailing markets shall be held responsible when retailers in the markets provide substandard plastic bags or plastic bags free of charge.

Metro, one of the world's largest retailers, has announced it has stopped supplying plastic bags in its 38 retailing sites in China.

According to reports in local media, Hong Kong's Legislative Council has passed regulations regarding charges for plastic bags offered in local retail stores.

According to a representative from the international supermarket chain Metro, the company's two outlets in Wuhan will stop selling plastic shopping bags from 2009, making Metro the first plastic-free supermarket in the city.

Last week marked the 17th anniversary of China Pacific Insurance Company, and the firm formally released a carefully designed environmentally-friendly bag to mark the occasion.

To make consumers quickly get used to the days without free plastics bags, 17 shopping malls and supermarkets in Beijing, including Wangfujing Department Store, Cuiwei Plaza, Wal-Mart, Chaoshifa and Wu-mart, jointly launched an initiative under the theme of "Using Less Plastic Bags and Protect the Earth's Environment".