New EU Commission Proposal to amend Directive 2008/98/EC on Waste with respect to Food Waste

 

CONSULTATION BRIEF

Start date: 23 October 2023

Closing date: 29 November 2023

Title of the public consultation: New EU Commission Proposal to amend Directive 2008/98/EC on Waste with respect to Food Waste

Ministry: Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise (MEEE)

Entity: Environment and Resources Authority (ERA)

  1. Background

The Waste Framework Directive (WFD) 2008/98/EC lays down measures to protect the environment and human health by preventing or reducing the generation of waste, the adverse impacts of the generation and management of waste and by reducing overall impacts of resource use and improving the efficiency of such use, which are crucial for the transition to a circular economy.

Under the WFD, Member States are required to take appropriate measures to prevent the generation of food waste in the primary production, in the processing and manufacturing, in the retail and other distribution of food, in restaurants and food services as well as in households. For this to happen, behavioural changes, food donations, addressing inefficiencies in the food supply chain and supporting training and skills development should be main priorities. Therefore and in in line with the vision of the EU Platform on Food Losses and Food Waste, on the 5th July 2023, the European Commission has proposed a targeted amendment of the WFD, with a focus on food waste.

As established in the European Green Deal and Circular Economy Action Plan, the overarching objectives for the revision of the current WFD with a focus on food waste is to reduce environmental and climate impacts of food systems associated with food waste generation, keeping in mind that preventing food waste would also contribute to food security.

  1. Consultation

The main novelty being proposed by the European Commission are the food waste reduction targets which will quantify and assess the efforts adopted by the Member States, with the main focus being the processing and manufacturing food stage, and the retail and consumption stage. The targets under the Proposal are the following:

  • Reduce the generation of food waste in processing and manufacturing by 10% in comparison to the amount generated in 2020; and
  • Reduce the generation of food waste per capita, jointly in retail and other distribution of food, in restaurants and food services and in households, by 30% in comparison to the amount generated in 2020.
  1. Documents

The European Commission’s proposal and related impact assessment, as well as additional accompanying documentation and explanations on such proposal can be found here.

  1. Submission of feedback

Stakeholders are invited to provide their views on the practical implications that such changes would have at a national level. Comments are invited by email on [email protected] by 29th November 2023.

An online stakeholder consultation session will be organised by the ERA on 6th November 2023 at 16.00hrs, wherein the ERA will be further explain the amendments being proposed by the Commission and seeking feedback on such a proposal from local stakeholders. Interested stakeholders are invited to register through this link.

  1. Further notes

Please be informed that comments submitted, together with the identity of the contributor, may be published online at the end of the public consultation, unless the contributor objects to the publication of his/her personal data. In this case, the contribution may be published in anonymous form.

All comments submitted shall be duly considered.