Crate law will be strictly implemented

Chaminda PERERA

The government yesterday said vegetable transporters failing to comply with new regulations making it compulsory to use plastic and wooden crates for vegetable transport will be penalised after warning them.

According to Internal Trade and Cooperative Ministry Secretary Sunil Sirisena, officials discussed the matter extensively with stakeholders and decided to strictly implement the new regulation with effect from yesterday.

The secretary said ministry officials were pressurised by vegetable transporters and vendors who have bought plastic crates for the non- implementation of the regulation. Dedicated Economic Centres have issued 150,000 crates to transporters for which payments will be made in instalments.