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DRAFT OPINION (COM(2023)420 – C90233/2023 – 2023/0234(COD))

On the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste

AGRI-PA-754670

Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development · Rapporteur: Clara Aguilera

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This draft opinion supports the Commission's proposal to revise the Waste Framework Directive with binding food waste reduction targets for Member States by 2030, but proposes amendments to apply the 30% target individually to each stage of the food supply chain. It also calls for measures supporting packaging innovation, cooperation among food chain actors, stakeholder involvement, consumer education, and harmonised measurement guidelines.

Committee position. The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development calls on the responsible committee to take into account its amendments, which support the proposal but modify the targets to apply individually to each stage of the food supply chain.

Key points

  1. Welcomes the revision and the setting of legally binding food waste reduction targets for Member States by 2030.
  2. Notes that food waste in the EU amounts to between 88 and 153.5 million tonnes per year, with costs of EUR 143 billion and around 227 million tonnes of CO2, about 6% of total EU emissions.
  3. Agrees with the reference year 2020 for measuring food waste reduction.
  4. Proposes that the 30% target be applied separately to each stage of the food supply chain to ensure fair distribution of responsibility.
  5. Calls for Member States to be encouraged to put greater emphasis on training to prevent food waste.
  6. Amends recitals to stress the negative effects of food waste and the need for school-led behavioural change interventions and regional, provincial and local circular solutions.
  7. Amends recitals to set individual targets for each stage, ensuring fair and realistic distribution of responsibility and accountability.
  8. Adds measures to support innovation in food packaging, recognising its role in preventing waste and ensuring food safety.
  9. Adds measures to foster cooperation among food supply chain actors to balance production and demand.
  10. Requires Member States to involve stakeholders, the private sector and consumer organisations, and to develop consumer education programmes, including training in schools.
  11. Calls on the Commission to issue guidelines for harmonised measurement of food waste.
  12. Shortens the notification period for using an earlier reference year from 18 to 12 months.

Who is affected

  • Member States: must apply the 30% target individually to each stage of the food supply chain and involve stakeholders in developing programmes.
  • Food business operators and other actors in the food supply chain: subject to separate reduction targets at each stage.
  • The Commission: to issue guidelines for harmonised measurement and to review targets by 2027.
  • Schools and young people: targeted by consumer education programmes and training modules.

Figures and deadlines

  • 30% reduction target applied individually to each stage of the food supply chain.
  • 12 months to notify intention to use an earlier reference year.
  • 88 to 153.5 million tonnes of food waste per year in the EU.
  • EUR 143 billion in associated costs per year.
  • 227 million tonnes of CO2, around 6% of total EU emissions.