Rubber Stamp EU Food Waste Law Before Brexit, Warn Campaigners

18 Oct 2016 --- European politicians are due to vote on a piece of legislation next month that would bind member states to halve food waste by 2030, the most ambitious target ever set. But campaigners are concerned the law is “aspirational” and are urging lawmakers to take it seriously and not to water down commitments. 

In November, the European Parliament is due to vote on the legislation which could be an example for the rest of the world if properly handled. 

Campaigners including Sustain have joined others to launch a petition to get the law passed before the UK leaves the European Union. Prime Minister Theresa May said at the recent Conservative Party Conference that she intends to trigger Article 50 next March signaling the start of a two-year period for leave negotiations to be carried out. 

If the new food waste law is passed before Britain leaves the Union it means the UK would need to change the law again after Brexit if the country wanted to back down on the commitment - this is why campaign groups want it to be passed before Brexit so there can be no watered down version of legislation. 

Sustain, the alliance for better food and farming, urges people to sign the petition to show lawmakers there is strong support for an ambitious and legally-binding target on food waste. 

According to the European Commission 88 million tons of food is wasted annually in the EU, with an associated cost estimated at €143 billion (US$157 billion). 

“Wasting food is not only an ethical and economic issue but it also depletes the environment of limited natural resources. All actors in the food chain have a role to play in preventing and reducing food waste, from those who produce and process foods (farmers, food manufacturers and processors) to those who make foods available for consumption (hospitality sector, retailers) and ultimately consumers themselves,” it says. 

Campaign group, This is Rubbish, also says that one year’s worth of wasted food from Europe could feed the 55 million Europeans who live in food poverty nine times over. And globally, if food waste were a country, it would be the third biggest carbon emitter after the US and China.