PANAMA CITY, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Panama will ban the use of plastic shopping bags in commercial premises, becoming the first Central American country to have such bans, a local media outlet reported Friday.

From July 20, retailers and customers in Panama can only use recyclable shopping bags in local supermarkets, retailers and pharmacies, said Panamanian newspaper La Prensa.

A total of 174 officials from the country's consumer protection authority Acodeco will check on Saturday across the country to see how the ban is being carried out, it said, adding that fines collected will be used to fund recycling and teaching programs.

The ban will cover local warehouses and wholesale stores in January 2020, it added.?