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Sammanfattning

The EU Commission proposes that by 2030, Member States (MS) must reduce generation of food waste by 10% in processing and manufacturing, and by 30% (per capita) in restaurants, retail, and households compared with 2020. According to the EU Waste Directive (WFD) MS shall take measures to prevent waste generation, such as reducing food waste. This article describes how the Swedish Environmental Code (SEC, or the Code) can be applied to reduce the amount of waste in the food supply chain. We shift the discussion on food waste from being one about waste management to becoming a question of waste prevention or a resource management issue. Therefore, waste regulation will not primarily be in focus. A conclusion is that ch. 2. sec. 5 of the SEC implies an obligation for everyone to prevent resource waste, and that one must apply the best possible technology in professional activities to this end. However, the SEC lacks the scope to consider aspects that are unique to the food chain, but which can be important for effective regulation. Therefore, specific rules must also be designed, adapted to the conditions in the food supply chain, as a complement to the current regulation. It is primarily the requirement for food safety that must be met. In Sweden environmental supervision and food inspection is often carried out by the same agency, but by different personnel. We show how environmental inspectors can apply the SEC in matters related to reducing food waste, in a way that has not been done previously.

Nyckelord

Resource management; waste of food; food waste; Swedish Environmental Code

Publicerad i

Nordisk Miljörättslig Tidskrift
2025, nummer: 2025:1, sidor: 7-45

SLU författare

UKÄ forskningsämne

Juridik
Miljövetenskapliga studier inom samhällsvetenskap

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/142739