Obligation for supermarkets to report the whereabouts of foodstuffs

A decisive step against food waste.

Thanks to the "Food is Precious" initiative, a voluntary agreement between supermarkets and the Ministry, food has been passed on to social organizations such as food banks for some time now, saving around 20,000 tonnes of food from being turned into waste. Despite this effort, it is estimated that 70,834 tons of avoidable food waste is generated in the retail sector.

On Wednesday, the amendment to the Waste Management Act (AWG) was passed by the Austrian National Council. According to this, a reporting obligation for retailers with a sales area of 400 m² or more or five or more sales outlets will come into force from the fourth quarter.

According to Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens), it should be a "clear incentive to donate" and thus minimize food waste.

Small companies and direct sellers are exempt from this regulation

Large food retailers and supermarket chains are then obliged to report to the Ministry of the Environment once a quarter how much food they have thrown away and how much has been donated.

"It is unacceptable that in times of inflation, when many people no longer know how to make ends meet, thousands of tons of food are simply thrown away," says Leonore Gewessler.

How does it actually work?

Around 900 companies are affected by the initiative to amend the AWG.

The quarterly reports must be submitted for the first time by February 10, 2024.

Both the mass of food that is passed on free of charge for human consumption and that which is disposed of as waste are reported.