EuroCommerce co-hosted a dinner debate to launch our publication
on food waste with MEP Borzan (S&D, HR), the European Parliament’s
rapporteur on food waste. The event highlighted the many existing
initiatives across Europe and across value chains to avoid food waste
before delivery, through innovative approaches working in stores, with
suppliers, with consumers and communities. Several members (Sonae,
Tesco, Carrefour, Ahold/Delhaize, Metro) presented their experience and
cases, demonstrating that food waste remains a key priority for our
sector. EuroCommerce’s Environment Committee Chair, Adela Torres from
Mercadona, welcomed the Borzan report,
which recognises already existing initiatives and calls on EU
countries to provide tax exemptions on food donations. Also attending
the event were Marco Valletta, member of Commissioner Andriukaitis’
cabinet, and MEP Julie Girling (ECR, UK). Please click here for EuroCommerce’s press release.
Contact Lettemieke Mulder
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The EP’s Environment Committee voted on the MEP Bonafé (S&D, IT)
reports on proposed revisions of EU waste legislation, including the
Waste Framework and Packaging and Packaging Waste Directives. Overall,
the report gives a clear signal of ambition: more recycling, less
landfill waste and less food waste. MEPs called for the recycling rate
to increase to 70% by 2030, compared to 44% today, and landfill to
represent no more than 5% of waste generated, thereby restoring the
targets as originally proposed by the Commission in 2014. For packaging
materials, MEPs propose an 80% recycling target for 2030. On food waste,
(Europeans create around 89 million tonnes annually) MEPs advocate a
reduction target of 30% by 2025 and 50% by 2030, compared to 2014. They
also propose a similar target for marine litter. Bonafè, commenting on
the report, said there should no longer be the possibility for Member
States with the lowest recycling rates to have a ‘blanket’ derogation,
but be subject to specific conditions. For EuroCommerce, there are
positive points, including a better (although not perfect) distinction
between household/municipal and commercial waste, and the inclusion of
an EU food waste definition and hierarchy. However, there are several
key remaining concerns around provisions on Extended Producer
Responsibility (EPR) schemes. The EP will vote on the EU waste proposals
at its 13-16 March plenary session in Strasbourg. EuroCommerce’s Waste
WG will discuss next steps at its next meeting.
Contact Lettemieke Mulder
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The results of the JRC (EU Joint Research Centre) study: "Non-harmonised food contact materials in the EU: Regulatory and market situation"
are now available. This baseline study provides insights in the
possible safety and trade impacts of the current regulatory framework
for food contact materials (FCM) and indicates where improvements are
needed. Its findings confirm that the current situation presents a
significant burden on economic operators, as also highlighted by our
members. The study identified many shortcomings, including a lack of
common guidelines and lack of transparency in risk assessment work
across Member States. In particular, the Declaration of Compliance and
supporting documents are inconsistent and criteria to ensure quality and
traceability of information transfer along the supply chain are
lacking. National FCM measures are based on lists of close to 8,000
substances, but show disparities among Member States which leads to
multiple testing requirements. Harmonised testing methods for
enforcement and compliance are missing, making it more difficult to
demonstrate that food safety is consistently ensured. The Commission
will assess the results of the study in order to decide on the next
steps. Possible implementing measures could include harmonised safety
requirements for FCM for which there is a high risk from transfer of its
constituents into food. The Commission earlier announced that it will
present a separate initiative on printed food contact materials in 2017
which was requested by EuroCommerce. EuroCommerce will continue to
liaise closely with the Commission.
Contact Els Bedert
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EuroCommerce launches Food Waste Brochure
EuroCommerce has published “Rising to the Food Waste Challenge” to coincide with our dinner debate on food waste (25 January). It sets out best practice and case studies from our members, documenting the many ways in which retailers help to reduce food waste and loss. It was downloaded more than 2,500 times since its launch less than 1 week ago.
The full version of the brochure is available here.
The full version of the brochure is available here.
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