EU plans further regulations in fight against food waste

The European Union wants to fight food waste more effectively. According to EU law, from the end of March 2021, products may be in the non-commercial trade after the date of minimum durability specified on the packaging. The next steps planned in this fight also concern the extension of the list of products exempt from the obligation to provide the minimum durability date or even completely abandoning its administration and remaining only at the use-by date. Across the EU, around 80 million tonnes of food are wasted each year. As much as 10 percent of wasted food is associated with the marking of terms, which are not always, however, correctly interpreted by consumers.

"As part of the Farm to Fork Strategy, the European Commission is working on changes to Regulation 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to end consumers, the food labeling regulation. There are different scenarios under which we can do to further prevent food waste more. One of the proposals is to extend the list of products exempt from the minimum durability date," Dr. Agnieszka Szymecka-Wesołowska, a lawyer at the Food Law Center, explained.

Currently, according to the law, the obligation to indicate the date of minimum durability does not apply, for example, to certain types of bakery or confectionery products, sugar, salt, vinegar, fresh fruit, vegetables, or chewing gum. Pasta, rice, coffee, or tea could also be included in the list. 

(Newseria)