Chinese retailers could be fined up to 10,000 yuan ($1,428) for providing shoppers with free plastic shopping bags from June 1, the Ministry of Commerce has announced.
经济部宣布自6月1日起，如果中国零售商向客户提供免费的塑胶袋会被罚以1万元的罚款。

The maximum penalty, included in a new draft regulation, was sharply down from 30,000 yuan previously reported by domestic media.
新起草的法案包括了最高的罚款额，从之前的3万元降下来。一个国内媒体报道。

The draft stated the prices of plastic bags could be set by shop owners themselves, but they should not be below cost.
法案要求塑胶袋的价格由商家自己确定，但是他们不能低于成本。

Market places would be prohibited from offering discounts or using other methods to sell consumers plastic shopping bags at prices lower than those stated on the price tags. Free bags, even under other guises, would be banned.
提供打折或用其他方法卖给消费者低价的塑胶购物袋会给以惩罚。免费的袋子，即使有什么理由，也都是禁止的。

Retailers would also have to list the number and prices of shopping bags separately on the sales documents given to consumers.
零售商将会把购物袋的价格单独列在发票上。

Supermarkets and stores violating the rules could be fined up to 10,000 yuan, while those failing to clearly price bags could be fined up to 5,000 yuan.
超市和商店违反了规定的将会被处罚最多1万元的罚款。不清楚列出购物袋价格的会被罚以5000元。

The regulation would not be applied to plastic packaging for the hygiene and safety of products like fresh and cooked food, said the draft.
法案要求鉴于卫生和安全的考虑，新鲜食品和熟食不能用塑胶包装。

The ministry has published the document on its website and will be seeking public submissions till April 14.
政府在网站上发布了公文，在4月14号以前将会考察公众的反映。