CONSULTATION BRIEF
Start date: 31 October 2025
Closing date: 12 December 2025
Title of the public consultation: Intent and Objectives: Malta Food Waste Prevention Programme
Ministry: Ministry for the Environment, Energy & Public Cleanliness (MEEC)
Entity: Environment and Resources Authority (ERA)
- Background
In terms of Article 51 of the Environment Protection Act (Cap. 549), it is duly notified that the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) intends to prepare a Food Waste Prevention Programme. In accordance with Article 29 of Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (Waste Framework Directive- WFD), it is hereby notified that EU Member States (MS) are required to develop food waste prevention programmes as part of their waste prevention programmes. The Directive also requires the monitoring and assessment of the implementation of such measures to ensure effective progress.
On 5th July 2023, the European Commission published a proposal to amend the WFD, including provisions with respect to food waste. As part of this proposal, legally binding food waste reduction targets are to be introduced to be achieved by 2030: a 10% reduction at the processing and manufacturing stage, and a 30% reduction jointly at retail and consumption stage (i.e. food services and households). The aim is also to aid MS in making significant progress towards achieving Target 12.3 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12. The revised WFD will also oblige MS to adapt their food waste prevention programmes to the new requirements, covering food waste across all five stages of the food supply chain: primary production, processing and manufacturing, retail and distribution, food services, and households. The aforementioned obligations are contained in the final text for the targeted revision of the WFD that was adopted by the European Council in March 2025 and the European Parliament in September 2025.
- Consultation
Intent and Objectives
In line with the abovementioned commitments, the work on the national food waste prevention programme will shortly commence. The intent of the programme is to mainly establish effective measures to be implemented across the entire food supply chain which will help Malta fulfil the new requirements, including the attainment of the food waste reduction targets.
The revised directive obliges that the food waste prevention measures shall cover these areas of intervention:
- Develop behavioural change interventions and awareness raising campaigns to reduce food waste;
- Identify and address inefficiencies in the functioning of the food supply chain;
- Encourage food donation and redistribution for human consumption;
- Support training and skill development and facilitate funding opportunities;
- Encourage and promote innovative and technological solutions to contribute to the prevention of food waste.
Key Questions
Acknowledging that valuable knowledge and practical solutions already exist within our communities, ERA invites the public to share their experience, practical initiatives, innovative ideas and potential reduction measures to submit feedback on the intent and objectives of this plan.
- Submission of feedback
Comments are being invited through the feedback form at publicconsultation.gov.mt or otherwise by email through [email protected].
- Further notes
Please be informed that comments submitted, together with the identity of the contributor, may be published online at the conclusion of the public consultation, unless the contributor requests that their personal data not be disclosed. In such cases, the contribution may be published anonymously.
All comments submitted shall be duly considered.
The draft Malta Food Waste Prevention Programme will be available for public consultation in due course at the following web link: https://era.org.mt/consultation-on-legislation-and-policy/.
