The Moldovan authorities set the goal of reducing and preventing food waste and of diminishing the quantity of waste generated throughout the food chain. The Cabinet approved a bill designed to ensure transition to circular economy by maintaining foods in the consumption circuit and by avoiding the appearance of food waste, IPN reports.

Under the bill, the costs associated with food loss and waste will be reduced. For the purpose, there will be encouraged the redistribution of the surplus of food products, especially those whose shelf life is close to expiry.

To reduce food waste, the food business operators will sell food products whose use-by date is close to expiry at lower or promotional prices or will donate them to charitable organizations or end users.

To facilitate the establishment of contacts between food business operators and beneficiary organizations, the National Food Safety Agency will compile and publish the list of beneficiaries on its website.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), about a third of all food produced in the world is lost or wasted. The Republic of Moldova, together with another 192 UN member states, undertook to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that includes 17 general objectives, including to reduce poverty and famine. The mechanism for preventing food waste can contribute to achieving these objectives to a great extent.