Dear readers,
We are delighted to inform you that the Council and the European Parliament have reached a provisional agreement last night on the targeted revision of the Waste Framework Directive. This is a significant step forward in addressing textile and food waste across the EU.
Co-legislators agreed to introduce binding food waste reduction targets to be met at national level by 31 December 2030: 10% in food processing and manufacturing and 30% per capita in retail, restaurants, food services and households.
The Commission will be tasked to set up a correction factor taking into account the impact on tourism as well as to carry out a review by 2027 to assess food waste and losses during primary production, impact of changes in production levels on the achievability of food waste reduction targets and the possibility to set new targets for 2035. Member States should take more targeted measures regarding food donation.
Next steps
The provisional agreement will now have to be endorsed by the Council and the Parliament before undergoing legal linguistic revision. Once formally adopted, Member States will have up to 20 months to update their national laws to follow the new rules.
Tackling food losses and waste means working together with all key players from public and private sectors in order to better identify, measure, understand and find solutions to reduce food losses waste. All actors in the food chain need to work together to find solutions, from farmers, processors, manufacturers and retailers through to consumers themselves. Policy makers, research scientists, food banks and other NGOs also play an important role.
The Commission will continue to support Member States in achieving the targets by sharing best practices and learning through the EU Platform on Food Losses and Food Waste as well as the EU Food Loss and Waste Prevention Hub. It will also finance research and provide action grants.
We count on your support and efforts to tackle food losses and waste towards reaching the EU and SDG targets!
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Kind Regards,
SANTE FOOD WASTE TEAM
