Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 July 2017 to Question 1490, on food: waste, what his policy is on the European Parliament’s proposals to (a) set a target to halve food waste across supply chains by 2030, (b) review making those targets mandatory and (c) introduce a specific food waste hierarchy.

Achieving the Courtauld 2025 food waste target (20% total food waste reduction) will put the UK on course to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goal of a 50% reduction in food waste by 2030. I do not consider that introducing further targets would be proportionate. Our experience shows that a voluntary approach is effective, and for businesses it has allowed them to reduce waste and become more efficient and competitive without additional burdens. We will be monitoring progress to deliver Courtauld 2025 carefully.

The waste hierarchy is a legal requirement on all those handling waste in England and Wales, under paragraph 12 of the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011. The Government has issued guidance on the waste hierarchy, which states that prevention of food waste occurring in the first place is the highest priority.