JCCU submits opinions towards food waste reduction to the Consumer Affairs Agency
2020.02.26
The Consumer Affairs Agency has drafted a basic policy to promote food waste reduction and has invited public comments. In response to this, on January 27, 2020, JCCU from the standpoint of consumers submitted an opinion to the Consumer Affairs Agency on the food waste reduction. Some of the submitted opinions are introduced here.
1． Government policies should clearly state the formulation of a system and a guideline to exempt businesses from liability for food accidents when they are properly tackling food waste reduction activities.
In Japan, there are activities that encourage food waste reduction such as “eat all” or “wrap to take home” like a doggy bag. In 2017, a guideline for promoting eat all or wrap to take home was published jointly by the Consumer Affairs Agency, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, and Ministry of the Environment. However, the guideline is still inadequate and needs to be strengthened. This is because there is the possibility of businesses being warned by the Government if accidents such as food poisoning occur when their food is taken home from their restaurants. As a result, in order to avoid those risks, businesses especially restaurants do not allow customers to take food home. The Government is responsible to reduce the risks of businesses being liable for food accidents, by adjusting the system and guideline to protect businesses from being warned by food accidents when they are properly handling and working on reducing food waste.
2． Both the Government and the Local Government should specify their support to strengthen the business foundation of food bank organizations.
Food banks supply free items donated by individuals or companies to needy families or welfare facilities and do not earn profit from the activities. For this reason, many Japanese food banks are facing difficulties in securing funds for infrastructure development, manpower and sustaining their activities.Food bank activity not only reduces food waste which has an impact on the environment but also leads to welfare initiatives for the needy.The activity has high public interest since it could be used for food assistance in the event of a disaster. Therefore, it is important that national and local governments provide support to strengthen the foundation of food bank organizations.
3． A national government should clarify the roles of local governments when they tackle the food waste reduction.
Since how to work on food waste reduction would be different among prefectures and cities, a national government should indicate examples and guidelines and support prefectures and municipalities to work together flexibly and smoothly on food waste reduction initiatives.
