Food waste prevention: EU Circular Economy Action Plan

Transcription

1 Food waste prevention: EU Circular Economy Action Plan Anne-Laure Gassin European Commission, DG Health and Food Safety Unit E1, Food information and composition, food waste UEAPME Food Policy Forum Brussels, 14 November 2017

2 AROUND 88 MILLION TONNES OF FOOD ARE WASTED ANNUALLY IN THE EU THE VALUE OF THE WASTED FOOD IS ESTIMATED AT 143 BILLION EUR FUSIONS, 2015

3 SDG 12.3: By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.

4 Fighting food losses and waste at each stage of the food value chain

5 Food waste prevention: integral part of Circular Economy Package (2015)

6 Food and drink material hierarchy Ref: UNEP/Think-Eat-Save, FAO, WRAP, 2014

7 EU co-operation in fighting food waste Key challenges for Commission are to ensure that: all actors are involved, from farm to fork EU action complements/adds value to Member State initiatives learning and best practice are shared effectively, including international experience Precondition: ensure food and feed safety prevention of food waste cannot jeopardise human or animal health

8 Fight Food Waste: no impact on safety of the food and feed chain Measure and monitor food waste EU Platform on food waste prevention EU guidelines to facilitate food donation adopted 16 October 2017 Optimise safe use of food in feed Promote better understanding and use of date marking Raise awareness and engagement food waste

9 Waste legislation state of play Provisions on food waste are one of the elements of COM proposal to revise Waste Framework Directive (COM(2015)595 final) New obligations for Member States: reduce food waste generation at each stage in the food supply chain (primary production, processing/manufacturing, retail/other food distribution, restaurants and food services, households) Monitor food waste levels, based on common EU methodology, and report (on a biennial basis).

10 Waste legislation negotiations Proposal is subject to ordinary legislative procedure (former "co-decision") i.e. Council and Parliament are co-legislators Negotiations at political and technical levels involving Council, Parliament and Commission, started on 30 May and are ongoing, with the aim to agree final text by end 2017

11 Waste legislation negotiations Main issues under discussion on food waste are European Parliament's amendments proposing: a definition of food waste; aspirational EU food waste reduction targets; a task for the Commission to evaluate the possibility and propose binding food waste reduction targets in the future. Final outcome is expected to have a significant impact on future food waste policy in EU.

12 Food waste measurement Preparation of methodology on monitoring of food waste is on-going. However, it can only be finalised once the negotiations on the Waste Framework Directive are completed, in particular definition of food waste. Meanwhile, sub-group on food waste measurement met on 25 September to discuss stakeholders' current practices on food waste measurement as well as related work of Commission services (Eurostat, DG JRC). Letter of intent confirms strengthened cooperation between COM and FAO: monitoring of SDG 12.3.

13 EU Platform dedicated to food waste prevention

14 EU Platform on Food Losses and Food Waste Aims to support all actors in: monitoring progress towards SDG 12.3 defining measures needed to prevent food waste fostering inter-sectorial cooperation and sharing best practice. Members: Member States/EFTA countries, EU bodies and international organisations and actors in the food value chain. (37 private sector organisations selected following public call for applications including UEAPME)

15 EU food donation guidelines

16 Food Donation EU guidelines adopted on World Food Day (16 October 2017) and published in all EU languages. Subgroup on food donation ( ): Preparation of document illustrating practices in Member States Call for contributions from all Platform members (initial input by end 2017; final document by end 2018)) New EFSA mandate for 2 nd scientific opinion on hazard analysis approaches for certain small retail establishments including possible additional hazards related to food donation activities. Timeline ( ) 16

17 EU guidelines on food donation Overall aim: clarify relevant provisions of EU legislation and help to lift barriers to food redistribution, within the current EU regulatory framework. Objectives: Facilitate compliance of food surplus providers and recipients with requirements laid down in EU regulatory framework (food safety, food hygiene, traceability, liability, VAT etc ) Promote common interpretation of relevant EU rules by regulatory authorities in the MS 17

18 EU food donation guidelines: complement but not duplicate national/sectorial guidance Circulaire relative aux dispositions applicables aux banques alimentaires et associations caritatives (Belgian food safety agency) Foodstuffs donated to food aid (Finnish food safety agency) Guide des bonnes pratiques d hygiène de la distribution de produits alimentaires par les organismes caritatifs ( Leitfaden für die Weitergabe von Lebensmitteln an soziale Einrichtungen Rechtliche Aspekte ( Recupero, raccolta e distribuzione di cibo ai fini di solidarietà sociale 18

19 EU food donation guidelines: Scope Scope (section 2): " the recovery and redistribution of food by food business operators which is provided by the holder, free of charge. Further clarification of concepts: recovery and redistribution (FAO definition) surplus food type of foods suitable for food donation who are the actors, i.e. donors and receivers (all food business operators; initiatives of private donors excluded) 19

20 EU food donation guidelines: Scope What is food surplus? may arise and be redistributed by food business operators (FBOs) at any stage of the food supply chain food fit for human consumption and compliant with all food safety requirements Industry may donate surplus food through redistribution organisations, charities or directly to consumers (eg employees) 20

21 EU food donation guidelines: Scope Guidelines address responsibilities of FBOs (not private persons) Who are the actors? Donors: farmers, food manufacturers/processors, retailers, hospitality/catering sectors Receiving organisations: "back-line": recover food from actors in the food supply chain for redistribution to charity organisations "Redistribution organisations" or ROs "front-line": receive food from "back-line" organisations and/or directly from actors in the food supply chain "Charity organisations" or COs "Facilitator" organisations (eg digital networks) 21

22 Roles and responsiblities of actors Redistribution of surplus food: supply of food (whether for profit or not) is covered by General Food Law (GFL) ROs and COs = Food Business Operators FBOs have primary responsibility for ensuring compliance with food law within businesses (activity) under their control (Article 17.1), including food safety Only safe food shall be placed on the market (Article 14) In-house control plan can help manage operational risks Traceability requirements must be fulfilled (different for ROs and COs) 22

23 Responsibility vs Legal Liability GFL (Art 17.1): FBOs are responsible for activities under their control. FBOs must actively participate in implementing food law requirements and verify that such requirements are met. Liability results from the breach of a specific food law requirement and from national rules for civil or criminal liability. Liability is governed by national rules: determining the liability of an operator depends on the structure of the different national legal systems. Transfer of property of donated food, either by contract or laid down in law, is critical to clarify "who should be deemed liable for what". (Examples from MS guidelines and rules) 23

24 Specific policy areas addressed: Hygiene regulations and redistribution of surplus food Food information to consumers Fiscal rules (VAT) Other EU Programmes which may support food redistribution: Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) Common Organisation of the Markets in agricultural products Common Organisation of the Markets in fishery and aquaculture products

25 EP Pilot Project on 'food redistribution' Overall aim: support redistribution of safe surplus food in the Member States Task 1: map and analyse existing regulatory and policy measures impacting food redistribution in all EU Member States Task 2: mapping of existing operational frameworks in all EU Member States (strengths and weaknesses) 25

26 EP Pilot Project on 'food redistribution' Task 3: dissemination and stakeholders dialogue on the EU guidelines on food donation starting in 2019 activities to be carried out in partnership with Platform members Task 4: stakeholders' feedback on the EU guidelines Timetable:

27 EU guidelines: former food to feed Facilitate the safe feed use of former food Hindrance due to legal uncertainty and unnecessary administrative burden should be paved away Intensive consultation with authorities and stakeholders Publication of the guidelines by end 2017

28 Date marking: promote better understanding and use

29 Commission study on date marking practices Aim: investigate how food business operators and national competent authorities understand and utilise date marking and possible impact of practices on food waste. Main phases: 1) Desk research to identify (if/where possible) main foods contributing to food waste in the EU MS and possible link with date marking 2) Market research to map date marking practices in selected food categories 3) Qualitative research (in-depth interviews) with MS and food business operators Report to be published by end 2017

30 Digital tools to promote cooperation

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