Spain: Waste not, want not law introduced

The draft bill, adopted yesterday by the country’s Socialist-led government, aims to reduce the country’s annual food waste figure of 1,300 tonnes, according to agricultural, fisheries and food minister, Luis Planas.

He said the legislation was a “pioneering judicial instrument” that would let the government address inefficiencies in the food chain and stem the consequent economic, ethical and environmental costs.

“In a world where unfortunately hunger and malnutrition still exist, these are things which weigh on everyone’s conscience,” he added.

Under the bill, supermarkets and restaurants would have to work with neighbourhood organisations and food banks to limit waste. Overripe fruit would be turned into jam or juice or used as animal feed or for the production of biofuel and fertiliser.

Companies that break the law could face fines of up to €60,000, or up to €500,000 for repeat offenders.

A recent report from the UN stated that some one billion tonnes of food is wasted globally each year, while billions of people go hungry.