A person may not sell or offer for sale products in containers connected by a separate holding device constructed of plastic rings with at least one hole larger than 1 3/4 inches in diameter, unless the device decomposes by photodegradation, chemical degradation or biodegradation within a reasonable period of time upon exposure to the elements, in accordance with regulations adopted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, effective September 1, 1994 and codified at Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 238. [PL 1995, c. 480, §3 (NEW).]