To combat food waste, the European Commission has proposed a change to product expiry labels
A new information on the label for extend the life of food and at the same time reduce all forms of waste: the European Commission has in fact launched the proposal to add to the classic wording “Best before” also the new formula “Often good beyond”. The change is contained in the draft of the delegated act on which Brussels is working.
news on the expiration date on the label
—
According to the European Union Executive, the new addition is necessary to reduce food waste, as it allows “a better understanding of the expiration date“, going to influence “the decision-making process of consumers regarding the opportunity to consume or eliminate a food“. According to the draft measure also, “the majority of consumers do not fully understand the distinction between ‘use by’ labels as an indicator of safety and ‘best before’ as an indicator of quality”. Hence, therefore, the decision to opt for the more direct formula, “often good beyond”. Furthermore, according to the thesis supported by the EU executive, the addition is necessary to reduce food waste which reaches exorbitant numbers: 57 million tons of food waste (127 kilos per inhabitant) are produced in the EU every year, at a cost of approx 130 billion euros.
A intervention on the expiration date it had been announced by Brussels already in 2020, with the strategy Farm to Forkbut should have been part of a larger package of labeling measures, including origin labeling and front-of-pack nutrition labeling. “The fact that the expiry date issue is now contained in an ad hoc delegated act means that at the moment there is no intention to change the package of consumer information, such as for example the Nutriscore or the health warnings on foods We will hardly discuss it in this legislature,” said the MEP Paolo DeCastro. “The issue of front-pack nutrition labeling is very complex from a political and technical point of view” replied the head of unit of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Health, Sabine Pelsserindicating that he is at work “to present a proposal that is convincing for SMEs, the Member States, the European Parliament and citizens”.
EU against food waste
—
However, the new warning is only a first step in Brussels’ plans to combat food waste. According to the indicative calendar of Ursula von der Leyen’s team, next summer the EU will start discussing a targeted amendment of the Waste Directive. Palazzo Berlaymont has already involved governments, citizens and businesses, and conducted consultations for months: “With the UN sustainable development goals, the member states have signed targets to reduce food waste by 50% by 2030which is a really huge commitment” recalled the Director-General for Health of the European Commission, Sandra Gallinaspeaking at an Assica conference in Brussels.
March 08, 2023 – 10:18 pm
© REPRODUCTION RESERVED