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Last week we told you that The Phase-out of Single Use-Plastics had been signed into law. And the transition process seems to be steamrolling ahead.

And, this morning The Belize Bureau of standards held a technical workshop on biodegradable and compostable materials in an effort to strengthen understanding, interpretation and application of the proposed standards for these products in Belize. We caught up with C.E.O Percival Cho to discuss temporary and projected definitions of Biodegradability for Belize.

Dr. Kelvin Okamoto - Green Bottom Line, Inc.

"It's great that Belize is willing to take these steps based upon what other countries have already done. They can now use what other countries have learned and implement an up-to-date system for standards and for the implementation of laws and regulations for producing and importing compostable biodegradable products for food service and so on. I think there is a lot of interest and I think some of these standards are a little different than they anticipated they would be but they are very willing to look at what possible amendments or revisions might be needed to the proposed standards. Maybe you don't have the economics to produce a lot in house but you will be able to import and export what a lot of others have already developed. Because you are small, it also makes it much easier to do education of the public and of the private section."

Percival Cho - CEO, Department of the Environment

"Well, as you know this is a multiple day workshop. So, yesterday was for government regulators, customs, environment, bureau of standards, trade, etc, to discuss the terminology around biodegradable standards, what it means, in order to get that information that they need to domestically and nationally prepare our own standards. So, today is the same, it is a repeat but it is for the private sector. So, we have various companies listed here including manufacturers of biodegradable products, including importers and including prospective companies who are interested in getting into the business. The discussion, as you noted from the presentation, has to do with, again, understanding the terminology. What do we mean by biodegradable. There are different levels and there are different types. So, that is going to be explained and questions taken for everyone to walk away with a clear understanding of what standards we are going to develop and for what purposes. 50% of the material that is used to make these products have to be from a plant based source; so, 50% bio-based. That is the standard at the moment. In the law we placed a provision that a full a set of standards, including levels of biodegradability and types of biodegradability, will be developed. And so that process has been ongoing. Today, this workshop is another step in that process. So we are on a timeline to develop these standards within a few months time."

Reporter

"Now sir, we heard you say 50% for bio-based. But I heard in there that bio-based and biodegradable are two different things. So, what is the standard for biodegradable?"

Percival Cho

"Well, that is a very good point. So 50% bio-based is an interim measure in the absence of a biodegradability standards. So, the standards are going to be developed by the task force by the committee set up to do so under the Belize Bureau of Standards. These standards, once they come into place will replace the 50% bio-based option and there will be a full scale of different types of biodegradability standards: soil vs. anaerobic vs. compost vs. landfill. And so, this workshop today is actually very key because it explains that process of standards development and it explains the definitions that people would have to understand in order for them to know what is the difference between when we say bio based and biodegradability, so that we are on the same page when the government would issue information. On the receiving end, people will understand what is being meant. So, this workshop is really intended to kind of build that knowledge. Well, I think the hope for us is that there is improved understanding of what we are going to strive towards, so that the private sector and us have a common understanding, a common knowledge of where the country is going, given the legislation that has been passed. And I think that once we are on the same page with that, I think the discussion and the process becomes more simplified for all parties involved because we will have a common understanding and a level playing field, so that all the companies understand that if they need to import a certain product or promote it on the market, that they know that it will already meet the standards, given their understanding of what the standards are."

Reporter

"How is the private sector responding to the standards that are being imposed on them?"

Percival Cho

"Well, they are part of the standards development. I think that is important to point out. The committee that is spearheaded by the Belize Bureau of Standards has, for the most part as I understand it, private sector participation. So, there is an international best practice when it comes to standards development that those industries to which the industries would apply, have to be involved in the technical development of those standards. So, BBS, Belize Bureau of Standards, they are very much compliant with the international best practices and that has been put in place. So, many of the private sector companies who sit in there currently in this workshop, sit on the standards committee. And again this workshop is to have those individuals receive the capacity, receive the knowledge for them to actively participate within the standards development committee and understand what is being discussed."

Technical workshops continue tomorrow at the Caribbean Motors showroom.