Plastic bag tax binned by MPs

A TAX on non-biodegradable plastic bags voted into the 2009 budget by a finance committee has been ditched by MPs.

The measure was aimed at encouraging supermarkets to use biodegradable bags.

Even Ecology Minister Jean-Louis Borloo spoke out against the idea which he said was not part of the discussions and proposals of the Grenelle Environnement - a forum on environment measures in 2007 which has laid the foundation for current eco-policies in France.

Budget Minister Eric Woerth said he opposed the tax on grounds that it would further harm spending power.