The following shall be considered minor infractions, without prejudice to whether they constitute a crime:
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- d)Importing into the national territory or providing expanded polystyrene containers, receptacles, or packaging in any commercial establishment.
Transitory Provision XIII- The prohibition contained in article 42 bis of this law shall take effect twenty-four months after the entry into force of this law.
Within the twenty-four months mentioned in this article, the State shall promote and incentivize the productive reconversion of industries engaged in the importation and manufacture of receptacles, containers, or packaging made from expanded polystyrene, fostering the development of more environmentally friendly productive alternatives. For these purposes, such industries shall have the possibility of accessing credit for their development, in accordance with the provisions of article 7 of Law No. 8634, Development Banking System, of 23 April 2008, and state commercial banks, in accordance with the provisions of Law No. 1644, Organic Law of the National Banking System, of 26 September 1953.
Transitory Provision XIV- Within six months after the publication of this reform, the Ministry of Health must include in the national policy and in the National Plan for Integrated Waste Management a national plan to incentivize the gradual substitution of expanded polystyrene receptacles, containers, or packaging with those made of different materials. Said plan must include a component of awareness-raising in industries, businesses, and the general population about the need to make this change, as well as establishing incentives and informing and educating consumers about the impact of products made from expanded polystyrene on the environment and the various available alternatives, this as part of its obligations, pursuant to subsection g) of article 7 of Law No. 8839, Law for Integrated Waste Management, of 24 June 2010.
Transitory Provision XV- For compliance with the provisions of the second paragraph of article 42 bis, which is added through this law, the Executive Branch shall have a period of up to six months.
It shall be effective upon its publication.
Given at the Presidency of the Republic, San José, on the fifteenth day of the month of July of the year two thousand nineteen.
Let it be executed and published.