A PhD student in Beijing is challenging the government's enforcement of the nationwide ban of free shopping carrier bags and ultrathin bags, joined by non-government organizations that have been tracking bag usage.

Mao Da, studying environmental history at the Beijing Normal University, has been trying to have the Administration of Industry and Commerce officials publish the detailed results of the "Bag ban enforcement survey." He also inquired about the penalties received by a supermarket, which was reportedly busted for giving out ultrathin bags.

While China's administrative regulations require a response to a public inquiry within 15 business days, Mao submitted his inquiry on Sept. 22, and had not received any feedback by Nov. 10, according to the China Economic Times.

Mao is part of Action for Plastic Bags Policy (http://napbp.blog.sohu.com), a Beijing-based NGO with members from China, Japan and Sweden. Their research shows that the bag ban is implemented in 94 percent of the department stores and supermarkets, 35 percent of the smaller retail outlets and just 29 percent in farmers' markets.

Another organization, International Food Packaging Association, suggested that eight government agencies are overseeing the enforcement of the bag ban, making it less clear and less efficient. General Secretary Dong Jinshi told local media, "Some law enforcement officials are unclear about the regulations." He said, "I'm afraid the ban is not working at all in some regions [outside Beijing]."