Zero Food Waste Act

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session _ -9 P3:59 SENATE Senate Bill No. _ Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A SYSTEM OF REDISTRIBUTING AND RECYCLING FOOD WASTE TO PROMOTE FOOD SECURITY EXPLANATORY NOTE According to a September 2024 survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS), 22.9% of Filipino families or about 5.8 million households experienced involuntary hunger. This reflects the persistent challenge of food insecurity affecting millions of Filipinos. Yet, despite this reality, a significant amount of food is wasted daily. A 2023 study conducted by the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) reported that approximately 1,717 metric tons of food are wasted each day in the country. It is a disheartening scenario that some of our countrymen are still experiencing hunger while tons of food are being wasted. This bill seeks to address this huge disconnect through the creation of a National Zero Food Waste Campaign, with the aim to inform Filipinos from various sectors of the society, from private individuals, to households to large businesses, of the repercussions of food wastage and encourage them to do their role in avoiding it. This bill also lays out parameters on how food related businesses can reduce their food waste and contribute to activities that helps hunger-stricken households have access to their next meal by donating their surplus food to food banks and other food distribution charities. Wastage of any kind is counterproductive, especially if what is being wasted is a basic necessity to survive. It is the objective of this bill to ensure that the hard work of our farmers, and those working in the food sector are used to provide nourishment to the people, and would go to hungry stomachs not straight to the trash. In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. JUAN MIGUEL F. ZUBIRI

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session JUL -9 P3:59 SENATE Senate Bill No. 300 Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A SYSTEM OF REDISTRIBUTING AND RECYCLING FOOD WASTE TO PROMOTE FOOD SECURITY Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of the Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Zero Food Waste

2 Act."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State recognizes that each person has a

right to an adequate standard of living, including to sufficient food. It is hereby declared 5 a policy of the State to safeguard food security, end hunger, and promote the efficient '6 use of the country's food resources. Towards this end, the State shall adopt a system to promote, facilitate, and ensure the reduction of food waste through redistribution and recycling. The massive amount of 9 food wasted and the considerable number of people going hungry daily is a breach that this Act intends to correct.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall

mean: a. Food insecure - persons or groups who have difficulty producing or purchasing food to avoid hunger. b. Edible food waste - food discarded in the retail and consumption stages, determined to be fit for consumption based on standards set by the National Nutrition 17 Council.

c. Food waste reduction - the decrease of food waste generation, the redistribution 2 of food waste to the food insecure or the recycling of food as fertilizer or compost. d. Food-related business - public and private businesses involved in the manufacturing and processing of food products (i.e. food manufacturers), private 5 businesses involved the wholesaling and retailing of food products (i.e. supermarkets), and private businesses involved in serving food products (i.e. restaurants, cafeterias, and 7 hotels). e. Food banks - non-profit, charitable or other social mission-driven organizations 9 that distribute food to the food insecure. f. Inedible food waste - food discarded in the retail and consumption stages, determined to be unfit for consumption based on standards set by the National Nutrition Council. e. Waste management and recycling enterprises - organizations that mange inedible food waste by converting these into fertilizers or compost.

SEC. 4. National Zero Food Waste Campaign. - The National Nutrition Council

(NNC) in close coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Education (DepEd), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Health (DOH), and other concerned agencies and Local Government Units (LGUs), is hereby tasked to undertake a National Zero Food Waste Campaign, and the food waste reduction efforts required of food-related businesses and households through LGUs. The Campaign shall also promote the food waste reduction hierarchy, and recommend means of reducing individual food waste. DepEd shall have the duty to ensure that the education curriculum includes materials on the current global and national food waste situation, on ways to reduce food waste, on national and local food waste prevention programs, and regarding the provisions of this Act. DTI shall encourage food-related business to purchase lower-price, non-standard size or shape produce to be used in their food products.

SEC. 5. Food-related Business Waste Reduction Strategy. - Food-related

businesses such as food manufacturers, supermarkets, restaurants, cafeterias, and hotels are hereby required to:

a. Submit an initial report to the DSWD and DENR that contains data on the amount (in tons) of its edible and inedible food waste in the past year, organized according to the manner of disposal, including donation, composting or discarding; b. Submit an annual report to the DSWD and DENR that contains data on the amount (in tons) of its edible and inedible food waste in the immediately precedent year, organized according to the manner of disposal, including donation, composting or 7 discarding; c. Enter into a contract with food banks to redistribute edible food waste to the food insecure; d. Shoulder the costs of transporting edible food waste from business location to the food bank's warehouse or distribution center; e. Ensure that the edible food waste is unadulterated and in good condition upon arrival at the food bank's distribution center; f. Enter into a contract with waste management and recycling enterprises to recycle inedible food waste into fertilizer or compost; g. Shoulder the costs of transporting inedible food waste from collection areas to waste management sites; and h. Reach and maintain food waste levels at the target set by the DENR.

SEC. 6. National Zero Food Waste Scheme. - DSWD, as the coordinating

agency between the food business and good banks, shall: a. Provide guidelines and standards for the collection, storage, and distribution of edible food donated to food banks; b. Ensure that food businesses have entered into contracts with food banks and issue acceptance certificated to food businesses; c. Promote linkages between food banks and LGUs to create a community-based food distribution system for the food insecure; and d. Create a Self-Sufficiency Program that will provide the food insecure with skills training on managing food banks and livelihood programs to avoid the dependence on donation solely.

SEC. 7. Household and Local Government Unit Waste Reduction Strategy.

2 - LGUs are hereby required to: a. Submit an initial report that contains data on the amount (in tons) of inedible 4 food waste that can be recycled as raw material for fertilizers or compost to the DENR; b. Submit an annual report that contains data on the amount (in tons) of inedible 6 food waste that can be recycled as raw material for fertilizers or compost to the DENR; c. Initiate waste segregation efforts per household through local campaigns; d. Enter into a contract with waste management and recycling enterprises to 9 recycle inedible food waste from households into fertilizer or compost; e. Shoulder the costs of transporting inedible food waste from collection areas to waste management sites; and f. Reach and maintain inedible food waste levels at the target set by DENR.

SEC. 8. Tax Incentive - Food related businesses that donate edible food to food

14 banks shall be exempt from donor's tax and the same shall be considered as an allowable deduction from their gross income in accordance with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended.

SEC. 9. Penal Provisions/Penalties. - The penalty of prison correcciona/ will

be imposed on any individual, private or public, who deliberately makes food waste unfit for consumption. The same penalty is applicable to private or public actors who prevent the redirection of edible food waste to food banks or inedible food waste to waste management and recycling enterprises.

SEC. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from

the effectivity of this Act, the NNC, in coordination with the DSWD, DENR, DepEd, DTI, DOH, and other relevant government agencies, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 11. Periodic Review. - The implementing agencies shall submit an annual

report to Congress on the progress in the implementation of this Act.

SEC. 12. Appropriations. - The funds needed to implement this Act shall be

included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 13. Separability Clause. - Should any provision herein be declared

unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of this Act.

SEC. 14. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations

or other issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed 5 or modified accordingly.

SEC. 15. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

7 publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines. Approved,