Answer to a written question – Towards a comprehensive European policy on food donations to reduce food waste and support vulnerable communities – E-001747/2025(ASW)

On 18 February 2025, the European Parliament and the Council reached a provisional agreement[1] on the Commission’s legislative proposal for a targeted revision of the Waste Framework Directive[2] in order to set legally binding food waste reduction targets to be achieved by Member States by 2030.

In that agreement, the co-legislators introduced a strengthened approach on food donation. Upon formal adoption of the amended Directive, which is expected by the end of 2025, Member States will be required to take measures ensuring that economic operators with a significant role in the prevention and generation of food waste (as identified by each Member State) facilitate the donation of unsold food that is safe for human consumption in the context of donation agreements.

Furthermore, in order to facilitate the recovery and redistribution of safe, edible food to those in need, a Commission Notice setting out EU guidelines on food donation[3] supports compliance of providers and recipients of surplus food with relevant requirements laid down in the EU regulatory framework (e.g. food safety, food hygiene, traceability, liability, Value-Added Tax, etc.) and promotes common interpretation by regulatory authorities in the Member States of EU rules applying to the redistribution of surplus food.

Finally, the Food donation sub-group of the EU Platform on Food Losses and Food Waste[4] is currently identifying and assessing barriers to food donation and opportunities to facilitate this practice across the EU, as well as developing recommendations for actions at EU and national level.

• [1] https://food.ec.europa.eu/food-safety-news-0/provisional-agreement-reached-eu-food-waste-reduction-targets-2025-02-20_en.
• [2] Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste and repealing certain Directives, OJ L 312, 22.11.2008, p. 3-30, as amended by Directive (EU) 2018/851 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May, OJ L 150, 14.6.2018, p. 109-140.
• [3] Commission Notice — EU guidelines on food donation (2017/C 361/01).
• [4] EU Platform on Food Losses and Food Waste: https://food.ec.europa.eu/food-safety/food-waste/eu-actions-against-food-waste/eu-platform-food-losses-and-food-waste_en.