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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS i“ cy,
First Regular Session nvEX XA

House Bill No. g3ed

Introduced by Representatives John Marvin “Yul Servo” C. Nieto, Edward
Vera Perez Maceda, Dale “Along” R. Malapitan, Eric M. Martinez, and
Rolando M. Valeriano

EXPLANATORY NOTE

As a manifestation of support to this timely piece of legislation, this representation
respectfully refiles this bill, which has constantly been receiving support from the
past and present Congress.

The State recognizes that each person has a right to an adequate standard of
living, including to sufficient food. It is hereby declared a policy of the State to
safeguard food security, end hunger, and promote the efficient 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 food wasted and the considerable number of people going hungry daily
is a breach that this Act intends to correct.

This measure seeks to establish a National Zero Food Waste campaign to educate
the public regarding the proper disposal of food and to present to them the current
condition of the various food waste systems being done in the country. Also, this
measure intends to prohibit food related businesses like restaurants and
supermarkets from throwing away edible food and instead be donated to various
banks and charity homes.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this measure is earnestly sought.

Esi¢ M. Martinez

Edward Vera Perez Maceda / C ) Ree
Rolahd . Valeriano



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 4524

Introduced by Representatives John Marvin “Yul Servo” C. Nieto, Edward
Vera Perez Maceda, Dale “Along” R. Malapitan, Eric M. Martinez, and
Rolando M. Valeriano

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 Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SEC. 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Zero Food Waste 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 a policy of
the State to safeguard food security, end hunger, and promote the efficient 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 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 refers to persons or groups of persons who have difficulty
producing or purchasing food to avoid hunger;
b. Edible food waste refers to food discarded in the retail and consumption stages,
determined to be fit for consumption based on standards set by the National
Nutrition Council;
c. Food waste reduction refers to the decrease of food waste generation, the
redistribution of food waste to the food insecure or the recycling of food as fertilizer
or compost;
d. Food-related businesses refers to public and private businesses involved in the
manufacturing and processing of food products (i.e. food manufacturers), private
businesses involved in the wholesaling and retailing of food products (i.e.
supermarkets), and private businesses involved in serving food products (i.e.
restaurants, cafeterias, and hotels);
e. Food banks refer to non-profit, charitable or other social mission-driven
organizations that distribute food to the food insecure;
f. Inedible food waste refers to food discarded in the retail and consumption stages,
determined to be unfit for consumption based on standards set by the National
Nutrition Council, and


g. Waste management and recycling enterprises refer to organizations that manage
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),
other concerned agencies and Local Government Units (LGUs), is hereby tasked to
undertake a National Zero Food Waste Campaign to raise awareness about the
consequences of wasted food, the Zero Food Waste Act, and the food waste reduction
efforts required of food-related businesses and households through the 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 good waste prevention programs, and regarding the provisions of this
Act. DTI shall encourage food-related businesses 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 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 edible food waste is unadulterated and in good condition upon arrival
at the food bank's distribution center; 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 businesses and food 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 certificates 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. - LGUs
are hereby required to:
a. Submit an initial report that contains data on the amount (in tons) of inedible
food waste that can be recycled as raw material for fertilizers or compost to DENR;
b. Submit an annual report that contains data on the amount (in tons) of inedible
food waste that has been 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
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 the DENR.

Sec. 8. Penal Provisions. - The penalty of prision correccional 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. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the National Nutrition Council, in coordination with the Department
of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR), the Department of Education (DepEd), the Department of Trade and
Industry (DTI), the Department of Health (DOH), and other relevant government
agencies, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of this Act.

Sec. 10 Periodic Review.- annual report to Congress on the progress in the
implementation of this Act.

Sec. 11. Appropriations. - The funds needed to implement this Act shall be included in
the annual General Appropriations Act.

Sec. 12. Separability Clause. - Should any provision herein be declared
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of this Act.

Sec. 13. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations or other
issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

Sec. 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the Phil

Approved,