Hanoi (VNA) – When a bill onamendments and supplements to the Law on Environmental Protection Tax isapproved by the National Assembly, environmental protection taxes on HCFC (hydro-choloro-flouro-carbon)solution and plastic bags might be raised because these products have criticalimpacts on the environment, said a finance official.

Pham Dinh Thi, Director of the Tax Policy Department under the Ministry ofFinance, said that the move aims to raise organisations’ and individuals’ awarenessand responsibility for the environment, hence reducing the use of those products.

According to the international practice and Montreal Protocol, countries arerequested to cut down the use of major ozone depleting substances, including HCFCand Vietnam must phase out consumption of the solution by 2030, Thi said.

Meanwhile, plastic bags are taxed heavily or even banned in many countries inthe world.

At a recent press conference to introduce the bill on amendments andsupplements to the Law on Environmental Protection Tax, Deputy Minister ofFinance Vu Thi Mai said that the law is set up to realise the Party and State’spolicies and guidlines on completing institutions, mechanisms and financialpolicies on environmental protection while restructuring state budget in thecoming time.

The amended law will make active contributions to social development as well asincrease the state budget collection, thus creating a financial resource tohandle environmental issues while ensuring competitive capacity of the economy.

Mai stressed that the new law will also facilitate tax payers and taxmanagement agencies and promote the renovation of administrative procedures,thus assuring the country’s benefits in the context of internationalintegration.-VNA