The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR) has published for public consultation the draft Government Decision approving the Methodological Norms for implementing Law No. 217/2016 on reducing food waste. This draft aims to amend the legal framework on food waste by making it mandatory for all operators in the agri-food sector to take measures to prevent food waste to meet the sustainable development goals assumed by Romania at the European and international levels.

Key Points of the Draft Norms:

1. Raising Awareness and Responsibility:Increase the awareness and responsibility of economic operators about the necessity to engage in the fight against food waste.
2. Increase the awareness and responsibility of economic operators about the necessity to engage in the fight against food waste.
3. Increasing Food Donations:Encourage the increase in the quantity of food donated.
4. Encourage the increase in the quantity of food donated.
5. National Strategy Development:Develop a National Strategy for preventing and reducing food waste.
6. Develop a National Strategy for preventing and reducing food waste.
7. Efficient Management and Monitoring:Ensure effective management and monitoring of measures to prevent and reduce food waste by creating a National Platform for Preventing and Reducing Food Waste.
8. Ensure effective management and monitoring of measures to prevent and reduce food waste by creating a National Platform for Preventing and Reducing Food Waste.

Obligations for Economic Operators:

With the implementation of the methodological norms of Law No. 217/2016, economic operators will have the following obligations:

1. Implement Preventive Measures:Implement at least two measures/actions to prevent food waste before disposing of generated food waste.
2. Implement at least two measures/actions to prevent food waste before disposing of generated food waste.
3. Annual Plans Submission:Upload annual food waste reduction plans to the National Platform for Preventing and Reducing Food Waste by March 31st for the previous year (January 1st - December 31st).
4. Upload annual food waste reduction plans to the National Platform for Preventing and Reducing Food Waste by March 31st for the previous year (January 1st - December 31st).
5. Annual Reports Submission:Upload annual reports on the quantity of food donated to recognized recipients by March 31st for the previous year (January 1st - December 31st), including both donor and recipient economic agents.
6. Upload annual reports on the quantity of food donated to recognized recipients by March 31st for the previous year (January 1st - December 31st), including both donor and recipient economic agents.

The draft Government Decision can be consulted at the following link: MADR Draft Government Decision