As reported by “The Legal Gazette“, in the assumptions of the amendment to the act on food waste, it was mentioned that the fee would be increased from 10 to 50 groszy per kilogram of food. In new The regulations also include a clarification of the definition of “food waste” and an increase in the penalties imposed on shops.
Amendment to food waste: Big changes coming
– A key element, from the point of view of organizations providing assistance, would be to eliminate the practice of leaving products on shelves until their expiration date. This problem could be solved by changing the definition of the term “food waste” – the president of the board of the Federation of Polish Food Safety Associations commented for “DGP”. Banks Food Beata Ciepła. The clarification is to emphasize the order to remember to take preventive measures – so that food does not become waste. “Waste” will refer to actions as well as neglect that led to food expiring.
Interestingly, the amendment is also to include a new definition of “food sellers,” who will be required to conclude agreements on the free transfer of food to non-governmental organizations. These provisions will apply to individual stores, not specific chains.
The increase will also apply to fines for shops.
The aforementioned agreement is to cover products that will no longer be available for sale, but still have a valid expiration date. If the store decides to dispose of them instead of handing them over, it will have to pay 50 groszy for each kilogram of food.
The amendment also provides for an increase in penalties for failure to pay the fee, its incomplete amount or late payment. They would be increased from the level of PLN 500 to PLN 10,000 to a range of PLN 5,000 to PLN 15,000. The new regulations also include information on a penalty of PLN 5,000 for failure to ensure that stores conduct at least one educational campaign on rational food management per year.