Poland introduces stricter penalties for food waste, increasing fines and refining retailer responsibilities to combat the issue.
Poland’s Ministry of Agriculture has introduced a bill to increase penalties for food waste and redefine the concept. The amendment aims to curb widespread food waste, which continues to be a significant issue.
Clarifying Definitions and Expanding Responsibilities
The bill refines the definition of food waste, emphasizing that action must be taken before food becomes waste. All stores over 250 square meters will now be required to sign agreements with NGOs to donate unsold food. Additionally, the rule exempting businesses making less than 50% of their income from food sales has been removed.
Increased Fines and Penalties
The proposed amendments include raising the food waste penalty from 0.1 PLN to 0.5 PLN per kilogram. Financial penalties for non-compliance will also increase, with fines ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 PLN. Retailers failing to conduct educational campaigns will face additional fines of 5,000 PLN.
The law is set to take effect three months after its publication.