New ‘doggy bag’ law for bars and restaurants in Spain set to be enforced in order to limit waste
- Under the new bill passed by the Spanish government, food businesses will have to draw up plans to try to reduce the amount of produce thrown away or face fines
- Spain wastes 1.3 million kilos (1,400 tons) of food each year – a loss of about US$265 for each person
Bars and restaurants in Spain will be obliged to offer “doggy bags” free of charge to clients to take home the food they have not eaten under a new law aimed at reducing food waste.
Under the new bill passed by the Spanish government on Tuesday, businesses in the food chain will have to draw up plans to try to reduce the amount of food wasted or else face possible fines.
Stores and supermarkets will be asked to reduce the price on products as their date limit for recommended consumption approaches and also reach agreements with neighbourhood organisations and food banks for the donation of such products to help the needy.
Once past the “best before” date, the law recommends that foodstuffs be channelled toward use as animal feed or in the industrial production of fertilisers and biofuel.
Agriculture Fisheries and Food Minister Luis Planas said the law was aimed at “regulating and raising awareness,” so as to reduce the 1.3 million kilograms (1,400 tons) of food wasted in the country each year.
He said this represented 31 kilos (68 lbs) per person, which amounted to a loss of some 250 euros (US$265) for each person.
He said only France and Italy in the European Union already have similar legislation. France introduced the law in 2016 and Italy followed soon after. Planas said he hoped the bill would be approved by parliament and in force by January 1, 2023.
The United Nations Agricultural Organisation estimates that a third of food may be wasted worldwide every year, a figure that rises to 40 per cent in Europe.
