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SHORT JUSTIFICATION
ORDINARY LEGISLATIVE procedure
The Rapporteur welcomes the revision of the Waste Framework Directive proposed by the Commission to reduce the environmental and climate impact of food systems associated with the generation of food waste as well as the setting of legally binding food waste reduction targets for Member States by 2030.
(First reading without prior interinstitutional negotiations)
Food waste constitutes an ‘inefficiency’ in the food chain, which has economic, social and environmental consequences, as it is a waste of the work done by farmers in the production of food and a misuse of the natural resources consumed in this process. According to the two available estimates (dating from 2012 and 2022), food waste in the EU amounts to between 88 and 153.5 million tonnes per year. The associated costs total EUR 143 billion per year. This amount of food waste accounts for around 227 million tonnes of CO2, or around 6 % of total EU emissions.
Follow up to the European Parliament legislative resolution on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste
The European Parliament has consistently supported the reduction of food waste. Reducing food loss and waste is an integral part of the EU Farm to Fork Strategy 2020 for a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system.
1. Rapporteur: Anna ZALEWSKA (ECR / PL)
The setting of specific targets is expected to lead each Member State to take ambitious measures tailored to its specific national situation, thereby reinforcing efforts and expanding effective strategies, leaving Member States full flexibility in the selection of measures in the review of their food waste prevention programmes with a view to achieving the reduction targets.
2. Reference numbers: 2023/0234 (COD) / A9-0055/2024 / P9_TA(2024)0145
The rapporteur for the opinion of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development strongly welcomes the fact that the proposal excludes the primary sector from the reduction targets and calls for Member States to be encouraged to put greater emphasis on training to prevent food waste.
3. Date of adoption of the resolution: 13 March 2024
Considering that 2020 is the first year in which food waste measurement data is available from Member States, as there was no obligation to quantify food waste before, the rapporteur agrees with the reference year, 2020, as set out in the proposal.
4. Legal basis: Article 192(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union
The rapporteur considers the proposed objectives to be reasonable. However, the rapporteur proposes that the 30 % target be applied separately to each of the stages in the food supply chain referred to in Article 9a(4)(b) so as to ensure a fair distribution of the burden of responsibility and a fair breakdown of the progress achieved at each stage.
5. Competent Parliamentary Committee: Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI)
AMENDMENTS
6. Commission's position: takes note of the amendments proposed by the European Parliament.
The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development calls on the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, as the committee responsible, to take the following into account:
At this stage, the Commission reserves its position, pending the adoption of the Council’s general approach and the subsequent trilogue negotiations, while drawing attention to the following points:
Amendment 1
As regards Food Waste:
Proposal for a directive
Level of food waste reduction targets
Recital 3
The European Parliament proposes to raise the targets substantially, to 20% in processing and manufacturing and to 40% jointly in retail and other distribution of food, in restaurants and food services and in households. The Commission notes that the proposal to raise the levels of the food waste reduction targets is not supported by the feasibility analysis of the accompanying impact assessment.
Amendment 2
Further evaluation obligation for the Commission
Proposal for a directive
The Parliament proposes to request the Commission to assess, by 31 December 2025, the appropriate levels for targets for the primary production, including for food left unharvested or used on farms. It also proposes to evaluate, by 31 December 2027, the possibility to further raise by 10% the level of the targets to be reached by 2035. In both cases, the Commission is to report to co-legislators, accompanied by legislative proposals, as appropriate. The issue of extending the scope of the targets to cover food waste occurred at the level of primary production is already covered in the Commission proposal by the review clause included in Article 9a(7) for 2027. The Commission notes that completing such an assessment by the end of 2025 - raises concerns for its feasibility. In addition, the consideration of binding targets for food losses (i.e., products that have not yet entered into the food chain such as non-harvested crops) goes beyond the scope of the Waste Framework Directive and would likely create additional reporting obligations for farmers.
Recital 7
As regards Textile:
Amendment 3
The Commission welcomes the progress made and the support of the Parliament for the core elements of the proposal, including the exclusion of micro-enterprises and suppliers of used textiles from the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), while expressing concerns about some amendments that depart most significantly from the Commission proposal, including two review clauses calling the Commission respectively for the evaluation of the entire Waste Framework Directive and of the Landfill Directive. The Commission notes that, if a general evaluation of these directives is considered, then it should be combined with: (i) the existing 5 revision clauses contained in the Waste Framework and the Landfill Directives, (ii) the newly proposed revision clauses for textiles and food waste, which should all be rationalised. In this context, it should also be recalled that the Commission, respecting the principles underpinning the current Multiannual Financial Framework, operates under a stable staffing principle. Any increases of the workload will need to be addressed by potential reallocation and redeployment within the services.
Proposal for a directive
Furthermore, the Commission suggests further assessment of the proposed amendments related to the extension of the scope of the EPR for textiles to cover carpets and mattresses whose main composition is textile, and the inclusion of EPR for Personal Protective Equipment via a delegated act by 2024.
Recital 8
Regarding the collection of textile waste, the introduction of waste permits for textile collection points is a source of concern in terms of administrative burden and disruption of functioning collection systems. The Commission points however to the benefits of considering textiles as waste upon their collection as part of the system for separate collection of waste, until their professional assessment as fit (or not) for direct reuse. This would contribute to tackling the problem of proper treatment and illegal exports of textile waste disguised as used products and improving the monitoring of the post-consumer textile market.
Amendment 4
Proposal for a directive
Recital 9
Amendment 5
Proposal for a directive
Recital 9 a (new)
Amendment 6
Proposal for a directive
Recital 10
Justification
A clear distinction between avoidable and unavoidable food losses is necessary, also for reasons of proportionality.
Amendment 7
Proposal for a directive
Recital 10 a (new)
Amendment 8
Proposal for a directive
Recital 10 b (new)
Amendment 9
Proposal for a directive
Recital 10 c (new)
Amendment 10
Proposal for a directive
Recital 10 d (new)
Amendment 11
Proposal for a directive
Recital 11 a (new)
Amendment 12
Proposal for a directive
Recital 11 b (new)
Amendment 13
Proposal for a directive
Recital 11 c (new)
Amendment 14
Proposal for a directive
Recital 12
Amendment 15
Proposal for a directive
Recital 12 a (new)
Amendment 16
Proposal for a directive
Recital 12 b (new)
Amendment 17
Proposal for a directive
Recital 14
Amendment 18
Proposal for a directive
Recital 14 a (new)
Amendment 19
Proposal for a directive
Recital 14 b (new)
Justification
Guidelines and more prescriptive rules from the Commission are needed to help harmonise food waste reporting across Member States and increase its quality.
Amendment 20
Proposal for a directive
Recital 15 a (new)
Amendment 21
Proposal for a directive
Recital 33
Amendment 22
Proposal for a directive
Recital 33 a (new)
Amendment 23
Proposal for a directive
Recital 36 a (new)
Amendment 24
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Directive 2008/98/EC
Article 3 – paragraph 4 a
Amendment 25
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Directive 2008/98/EC
Article 9 a – paragraph 1
Amendment 26
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Directive 2008/98/EC
Article 9 a – paragraph 1 – point a
Amendment 27
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Directive 2008/98/EC
Article 9 a – paragraph 1 – point c
Amendment 28
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Directive 2008/98/EC
Article 9 a – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Amendment 29
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Directive 2008/98/EC
Article 9 a – paragraph 1 – point d b (new)
Amendment 30
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Directive 2008/98/EC
Article 9 a – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
Amendment 31
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Directive 2008/98/EC
Article 9 a – paragraph 3
Amendment 32
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Directive 2008/98/EC
Article 9 a – paragraph 3 – subparagraph (new)
Amendment 33
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Directive 2008/98/EC
Article 9 a – paragraph 4 – point a
Amendment 34
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Directive 2008/98/EC
Article 9 a – paragraph 4 – point b
Amendment 35
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Directive 2008/98/EC
Article 9 a – paragraph 5
Amendment 36
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Directive 2008/98/EC
Article 9 a – paragraph 6
Amendment 37
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 9
Directive 2008/98/EC
Article 29a – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT
The rapporteur has received input from the following entities or persons in the preparation of the opinion, until the adoption thereof in committee:
The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur.
PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION
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