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Definitions of food waste

according to FAO

Food loss is the decrease in the quantity or quality of food resulting from decisions and actions by food suppliers in the chain, excluding retailers, food service providers and consumers

according to the FUSION project

Food waste is any food, and inedible parts of food, removed from the food supply chain to be recovered or disposed (including composted, crops ploughed in/not harvested, anaerobic digestion, bio-energy production, co-generation, incineration, disposal to sewer, landfill or discarded to sea);

according to the European Comission

Food waste does not include losses at stages of the food supply chain where certain products have not yet become food as defined in Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002, such as edible plants, which have not been harvested.

according to FAO

Food waste refers to the decrease in the quantity or quality of food resulting from decisions and actions by retailers, food service providers and consumers.

according to the European Comission

All food as defined in Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council (a.k.a. EU General Food Law) that has become waste.

according to the legislation of Romania

Food waste means the situation in which food leaves the circuit of human consumption due to degradation and is destroyed, according to the legislation in force.

Legislation and methodologies of measuring FLW:

at European level

Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety

at European level

DIRECTIVE (EU) 2018/851 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 30 May 2018 amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste

at European level

Food Loss + Waste protocol

at national level

LAW no. 200 of July 20, 2018 for the amendment and completion of Law no. 217/2016 on reducing food waste

at European level

EU waste management law

at European level

SDG 12.3.1: Global Food Loss Index. METHODOLOGY FOR MONITORING SDG TARGET 12.3.

at national level

LAW no. 217 of November 17, 2016 (republished) on reducing food waste;

at national level

Methodological rules for the application of Law no. 217/2016 on the reduction of food waste, from 30.01.2019

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