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The Problem of Food Waste: A Legal-Economic Analysis

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International Food Law and Policy

Abstract

This chapter reviews, building on legal-systematic and economic analysis, the origins for food waste vested in food law and states possible remedies. Several causes are identified: a policy of ‘zero-tolerance’, food information requirements, bans on use of hazardous materials, a policy of ‘structural precaution’ and strict top-down plant pest controls. In all of these, uncertainties as to how to behave and what the real risks are seem to play a key role in the early discard of consumable foodstuffs. Solutions can come from technical, legal as well as social sciences. In food law and policy, rule-makers should be more aware of the adverse effects of requirements on businesses that foster food safety. Technical sciences may provide solutions through nano- and it-innovations. From social sciences, it can be learned what factors induce humans to overemphasise risk exposure. Moral issues are connected to possible solutions, especially to certain potentially hazardous new techniques (like nanotechnology) and the acceptability to nudge, channel and restrict free human will and choice to reduce the waste stream.

Dr. H. J. Bremmers is associate professor at the Law & Governance group of the Social Sciences department of Wageningen University. He is lawyer and economist. He publishes and does research at the intersect of food law and economics. Prof. Dr. B.M.J. van der Meulen is professor of Law and Governance at Wageningen University. This contribution builds further on previous publications of the authors in official reports to the Dutch government on food waste, its causes and prevention. Especially in Annex 1 of Verminderen van Voedselverspilling (Transl.: Reduction of Food Waste) by Harry Bremmers, Report/LEI 2011-014, The Hague, the Netherlands, (2011); and Houdbaarheidsdatum: Verspilde moeite (transl. Durability dating: a waste of effort?), section 3.1, by Harry Bremmers and Bernd van der Meulen, Wageningen UR Food & Biobased Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands (2012).

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Notes

  1. 1.

    FAO (1981), cited in Parfitt et al. (2010), note 3. For the purpose of the EU waste Directive 2008/98/EC ‘waste’ has as definition: any substance or object which the holder discards or intends or is required to discard (Article 3 point 1. of the Directive).

  2. 2.

    For instance including also edible material used as feed for animals or by-products that are not used as human food and/or over-nutrition.

  3. 3.

    Parfitt et al. (2010), pp. 3065–3081.

  4. 4.

    Under the ‘f’ of fuel, the biomass is used for energy. Fire, by contrast, is used to destroy.

  5. 5.

    Vogdlander et al. (2001), pp. 344–355. These f’s are based on the Order of Preferences of EoL Solutions in The Netherlands (‘Ladder of Lansink’); Also: Article 4 of Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste.

  6. 6.

    van der Meulen (2004); Hospes (2008), pp. 246–263; Wernaart (2010).

  7. 7.

    UN News Centre (2014).

  8. 8.

    Future Directions International (2013).

  9. 9.

    Gustavsson et al. (2011).

  10. 10.

    Hall et al. (2009). The major part of freshwater is used to produce food; calculations show that about 25 % of freshwater is used inefficiently due to food waste; Kummu (2012), pp. 477–489; European Commission Joint Research Centre (2010).

  11. 11.

    Communication from the Commission (2010).

  12. 12.

    Wiener and Rogers (2002), pp. 317–349.

  13. 13.

    Fischhoff et al. (1978), pp. 127–152.

  14. 14.

    See on the origin of this concept: Skaburskis (2008), pp. 277–280.

  15. 15.

    Parfitt et al. (2010), pp. 3065–3081.

  16. 16.

    In the EU, the BSE-crisis led to the issue of a White Paper on Food Safety by the European Commission in 2000, which initiated a cascade of European legislation to regain consumer confidence. The main EU law in this respect is the General Food Law (178/2002), which contains principles of food law and food safety, adopts risk analysis including assessment, and installs a rapid alert system for food and feed.

  17. 17.

    Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy.

  18. 18.

    Petrum and Sellnow (2010).

  19. 19.

    Knowles and Moody (2007), pp. 43–67 at p. 44.

  20. 20.

    van der Meulen and Bremmers (2006), pp. 74–110; Report available at ec.europa.eu/enterprise/food/index_en.htm. While businesses stated to clearly know their legal obligations, interviews showed that many of them are not aware of the actual rules which apply to them.

  21. 21.

    Clapp (2005), pp. 467–485.

  22. 22.

    Waarts, et al. (2011).

  23. 23.

    The Council of European Communities (1993).

  24. 24.

    Lelieveld and Kenner (2007), pp. S15–S19.

  25. 25.

    This is basically a system that is designed and installed to share information between risk managers in the European Union; it was established in the General Food Law, 2002.

  26. 26.

    Van Boxstael et al. (2013).

  27. 27.

    FAO (2010).

  28. 28.

    See Regulation (EC) 470/2009 Laying down Community procedures for the establishment of residue limits of pharmacologically active substances in foodstuffs of animal origin and the EU Commission’s Implementing Regulation of 22 December 2009 on pharmacologically active substances and their classification regarding maximum residue limits in foodstuffs of animal origin, table 2.; van der Meulen (2009), specifically ch. 5.

  29. 29.

    Buta was medicated for racehorses, which in the EU may enter the meat supply chain as horsemeat, contrary to the situation in the USA.

  30. 30.

    Bennett and Klich (2003), pp. 497–516. This is a major source of border rejections in The Netherlands. The term was initiated in 1962 as a result of a veterinary crisis under turkeys in England, causing disease and death at thousands of animals. The ‘mycotoxin family’ includes a wide range of toxic fungi.

  31. 31.

    See the Guidance Document of the European Commission for Competent Authorities for the Control of Compliance with EU Legislation of Aflatoxin (2010).

  32. 32.

    https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/portal/ accessed Sept. 2014; Whitworth (2014).

  33. 33.

    van der Meulen et al. (2012), pp. 453–473.

  34. 34.

    This stands for: Generally Recognized As Safe.

  35. 35.

    Schoss (2011).

  36. 36.

    In Regulation (EC) 258/97 concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients.

  37. 37.

    See the guidance document on Human Consumption to a Significant Degree (n.d.).

  38. 38.

    Like nanotechnology, see Van der Meulen et al. (2014).

  39. 39.

    van der Meulen et al. (2012), pp. 453–473.

  40. 40.

    This can be exemplified with the long-grain rice dispute between the USA and the EU, the EU closing its borders for unauthorised genetically modified rice (2006 and beyond).

  41. 41.

    Grossman (2009), pp. 257–304.

  42. 42.

    Examples are the eradication of oomycetes (causing among others ‘potato disease’) and the improvement of the resilience of field crops against natural impact.

  43. 43.

    Article 14 General Food Law, 178/2002.

  44. 44.

    Codex General Standard for the Labelling of Pre-packaged Foods; Codex Stan 1-1985 (Rev. 1-1991), 4.2.1.4.: Cereals containing gluten; i.e., wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt or their hybridized strains and products of these; crustaceans and products of these; Eggs and egg products; Fish and fish products; Peanuts, soybeans and products of these; Milk and milk products (lactose included); Tree nuts and nut products; and Sulphite in concentrations of 10 mg/kg or more.

  45. 45.

    The European Parliament and of the Council (2011). Regulation (EU) 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers.

  46. 46.

    Hawkes (2004).

  47. 47.

    Soethoudt et al. (2012), section 3.1, pp. 7–15.

  48. 48.

    Next to this, in certain cases EU law obliges to indicate the date of freezing, while in other jurisdictions (as delineated in the Codex) also a date of manufacture, of packaging and/or the sell-by-date may have to be indicated.

  49. 49.

    In the EU, some exemptions apply; See Annex X to Regulation (EU) 1169/2011.

  50. 50.

    Codex Stan 1-1985 (rev. 1-1991) point 2; similar in Article 2 (2) (r) of Regulation (EU) 1169/2011.

  51. 51.

    In accordance with Article 14(2)-14(5) of Regulation 178/2002.

  52. 52.

    As ‘quality’ and ‘safety’ are completely different categories and almost any food (with some exemptions, like sodium) becomes unsafe in due time.

  53. 53.

    Article 24 of the FIC concerns the minimum durability date, ‘use by’ date and date of freezing. Under par. 1 it is stated: In the case of foods which, from a microbiological point of view, are highly perishable and are therefore likely after a short period to constitute an immediate danger to human health, the date of minimum durability shall be replaced by the ‘use by’ date (italics by authors).

  54. 54.

    If the operator is not established in the Union, the importer into the Union market is responsible. ‘Food business operator’ has to be interpreted broadly, as defined in the General Food Law (EC) 178/2002. ‘Food business’ means any undertaking, whether for profit or not and whether public or private, carrying out any of the activities related to any stage of production, processing and distribution of food.

  55. 55.

    Article 8 (1) of the FIC.

  56. 56.

    Waarts et al. (2011).

  57. 57.

    See Waarts et al. (2011) and Soethoudt et al. (2012) Annex 1 and section 3.1, respectively.

  58. 58.

    Holt (2008), pp. 1–20.

  59. 59.

    Darby and Karni (1973), p. 69.

  60. 60.

    Otsuki et al. (2001), p. 495.

  61. 61.

    The European Parliament and of the Council Regulation (EC) 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods.

  62. 62.

    As regulated in the Nutrition Labelling and Education Act (1990).

  63. 63.

    USFDA (2012).

  64. 64.

    Article 6 of the NHCR.

  65. 65.

    This is the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the tasks and competences of which have been delineated in the GFL.

  66. 66.

    Article 6(1) of the NHCR.

  67. 67.

    Pearson v Shalala, 164 F.3d 650.

  68. 68.

    Lefevre ed. (2009) Appendix 5.

  69. 69.

    Dehnen-Schmutz et al. (2007), pp. 527–534.

  70. 70.

    Lansink (2011), pp. 166–170.

  71. 71.

    Henson and Traill (1993), pp. 152–162.

  72. 72.

    van der Vorst et al. (2007), Hisiao et al. (2006).

  73. 73.

    van Raamsdonk (n.d.).

  74. 74.

    A prohibition of ‘cannibalism’; see Article 11 of Regulation 1069/2009.

  75. 75.

    Article 8 of this Regulation, Annex V.

  76. 76.

    The European Parliament and of the Council Regulation (EC) 1069/2009 laying down health rules as regards animal by-products and derived products not intended for human consumption.

  77. 77.

    See Feigenbaum (1991).

  78. 78.

    Gyrna (1999), Williams et al. (1999).

  79. 79.

    Tobers et al. (1996), pp. 1297–1301. It should be mentioned at this point that not only extra costs are made in manufacturing firms, but also for instance by retailers which lower the shelf time of products to assure safety (see Sect. 24.2).

  80. 80.

    If consumers would have to bear damages themselves they would over-exaggerate the risk and therefore apply margins of safety leading to early discard or recycling of foodstuffs. The social effects would be similar to the ones here elaborated.

  81. 81.

    International Standards Organization system.

  82. 82.

    Hackman and Wageman (1995), pp. 309–342.

  83. 83.

    Holt (2008), pp. 1–20.

  84. 84.

    Global G.A.P. (2014).

  85. 85.

    Busch (2011), pp. 51–75; Fuchs et al. (2011), pp. 353–367; Garcia-Martinez, et al. (2007), pp. 299–314; Havinga (2006), pp. 515–533.

  86. 86.

    For instance as a result of asset-specific investments or binding delivery contracts.

  87. 87.

    In the Netherlands this is governed by the semi-public IKB-scheme (Integrated Chain Governance).

  88. 88.

    McNeil (1998–1999), pp. 90–112. This has led to international trade conflicts, as a ban of added hormones in specifically beef may be considered a barrier to trade.

  89. 89.

    Kasperson et al. (1988), pp. 178–187. See Slovic’s and others’ concept of “social amplification of risk”. Kahnemann (2011); Wiener and Rogers (2002), p. 328. In general and on an individual level, humans value potential losses higher than the same potential gains.

  90. 90.

    Gollier et al. (2000), pp. 229–253. Precaution has found its place more in both jurisdictions, EU and American. Influences can be traced back to the Conference in Rio the Janeiro, the Rio Declaration: “where there are threats of serious and irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation”. In EU law (Article 7 of the GFL), cost-effectiveness has been supplemented by proportionality.

  91. 91.

    Walker Wilson (2011), p. 120.

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Bremmers, H., van der Meulen, B. (2016). The Problem of Food Waste: A Legal-Economic Analysis. In: Steier, G., Patel, K. (eds) International Food Law and Policy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-07542-6_24

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