Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila ECEIV!
AUG
Seventeenth Congress

Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 6235

Introduced by Representative Sharon S. Garin

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the
world is producing more than enough food to feed everyone, yet hunger is still one of the most
urgent development challenges. On a global scale, the annual production of food can feed about
10 billion people; however, about 30 per cent of these food are wasted and more than 50,000
people are dying every day because of poverty and poverty-related disease.

Food that is fit for human consumption, but is not consumed because it is or left to spoil
or discarded by retailers or consumers is called food waste. This may be because of rigid or
misunderstood date marking rules, improper storage, buying or cooking practices.

In the Philippines, based on the First Quarter 2017 Social Weather Survey, 11.9% or an
estimated 2.7 million families experiencing involuntary hunger at least once in the past three
months. This is 2 points below the 13.9% (est. 3.1 million families) quarterly Hunger in
December 2016.

Currently, there is no law in the Philippines that specifically tackles combatting the
increasing amount of food waste in the country.

In other countries, there have already been measures done to prevent food waste. Italy
has a law that enables schools, supermarkets, and restaurants to donate clean surpluses and
leftovers to those in need. One city in Belgium requires supermarkets to donate their surpluses
to food banks. Japan implements a “Food Recycling Law” which requires food businesses to
safely convert their food wastage into raw materials for animal feeds or fertilizers.

With this in mind, this bill seeks to form a Food Waste Reduction Committee composed
by the secretaries of the following agencies: National Nutrition Council (NNC), 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), the Department of Science and Technology
(DOST), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). The Committee shall
be in charge of implementing the provisions of this Act.

This bill enumerates various food-waste reduction strategies for food-related
businesses, LGUs, and households, among others. Research shall also be conducted into how
to efficiently use food waste generated by businesses and households. The bill also calls for the

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Food Waste Reduction Committee to mandate supermarkets and grocery stores to sell surplus
or left-over but still fit for human consumption food to consumers at discounted prices.

Much is needed to be done to reduce food wastage. Behavioral change is necessary to
combat this problem. It is high time for the government do its part not only for the Philippines,
but also because this has become an alarming global problem.

For the foregoing reasons, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

SI . GARIN
AAM)8Owa Partylist


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OR REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 6235

Introduced by Representative Sharon S. Garin

AN ACT
REDUCING FOOD WASTE THROUGH FOOD DONATION AND
FOOD WASTE RECYCLING

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title — This Act shall be known as the “Food Waste
Reduction Act”

SEC 2. Declaration of Policy — The State recognizes that each person has
a right to an adequate standard of living, including 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.


a SEC 3. Food Waste Reduction Committee ~ The Food Waste Reduction
2 Committee, hereinafter referred to as the Committee, is hereby created under the
3 Offfice of the President. The Committee shall be in charge of implementing the

4 provisions of this Act and shall be composed of the following:

5 a) Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development
6 (DSWD) as Chairperson;

7 b) Secretary of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) as Vice-
8 Chairperson;

9 c) Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
10 (DENR);

nu d) Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd);

12 ¢) Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH);

2B f) Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI);

4 g) Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST);

1s h) Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government
16 (DILG).

7 Title I

18 Food-Related Businesses

FA SEC 4. Scope and Coverage —- The Committee shall determine which

21 _ businesses, such as supermarkets, grocery stores, restaurants, school and office

22 _ cafeterias and other similar food establishments, shall be covered by this Act


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based on the size, number of clientele and amount of food being sold,
distributed or manufactured for public consumption.

SEC 5. Food Waste Reduction Strategy for Food-related Business —
Food-related businesses, as determined in Sec 4 of this Act, are hereby required
to:

a. Food Donation —

1. Donate all of its surplus or left-over but still fit for human
consumption food to accredited charitable institutions and
foundations as determined in Sec 7(a);

2. Shoulder the costs of transporting donated food from
business location to the accredited charitable institutions
and foundations;

3. Ensure that donated food is unadulterated and in good
condition upon arrival at the accredited charitable
institutions and foundation;

b. Food Waste Recycling —

1. Enter into an agreement with waste management and
recycling enterprises to recycle food waste into fertilizer,
compost or any other method;

2. Shoulder the costs of transporting food waste from

collection areas to waste management sites; and


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3. Reach and maintain food waste levels at the target set by
the Committee, particularly the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); and

4. Recycle food waste according to any other guidelines
mandated by the Committee.

SEC 6. Surplus Section in Supermarkets — The Committee, particularly
the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), shall mandate supermarkets and
grocery stores, as determined in Sec 4 of this Act, to sell surplus or left-over but
still fit for human consumption food to consumers at discounted prices. This can
be done in conjunction or in substitution of the provisions of Sec 5(a).

SEC 7. Accreditation, Certification and Incentives — The Committee
shall serve as the coordinating agency between the food businesses and
accredited charitable institutions and foundations. To this end, the Committee
shall perform the following:

a. Accreditation — Provide a criteria and system of accreditation which

will allow said institutions and foundations to be beneficiaries of this
Act. Such institutions and foundations must conduct feeding programs
or distribute food to the needy and food insecure, this may include

food banks, soup kitchens, and other similar establishments.


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b. Certification — Issue acceptance certificates to food businesses once
said businesses have entered into agreements with charitable
institutions and foundations.

c. Incentives — Promote food donation by giving out awards, certificates
and other incentives to businesses and households who comply with
this Act.

SEC 8. Food Safety - The Committee, particularly the Department of
Health (DOH) and the National Nutrition Council (NNC) shall provide
guidelines, such as health and safety standards in the collection, storage, and
distribution of food donations in Sec 5(a).

SEC 9. Non-liability for damages — To encourage the donation of food,
all businesses, as determined in Sec 4 of this Act, shall not be subject to any
civil or criminal liability arising from the nature, age, packaging, or condition of
the donated food in Sec 5(a).

SEC 10. Community-based Food Distribution System — The Committee
shall ensure local government participation and shall provide support to Local
Government Units (LGUs) to form partnerships with local food businesses and
local charitable institutions and foundations to create a community-based food

distribution system for the food insecure.


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Title 1
Households and Local Government Units

SEC 11. Food Waste Reduction Strategy for Households and Local
Government Units — The Committee, in coordination with Local Government
Units (LGUs) shall perform the following:

a. Assessment —

1. Create an initial report, per local government, that contains data
on the amount of food waste that can be recycled as raw
material for fertilizers, compost, or any other method;

2. Set target minimum food waste levels per local government;

b. Food Waste Recycling —

1. Initiate food waste reduction efforts per household through local
awareness and advocacy campaigns;

2. Encourage local governments to enter into a contracts with
waste management and recycling enterprises to recycle inedible
food waste from households and communities into fertilizer ,
compost or any other method;

3. Provide incentives to local governments to develop a system for
transporting household food waste from the home to waste
management and recycling sites and shouldering transportation

costs;


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4. Ensure that local governments reach and maintain inedible food
waste levels at the target set by the Committee, particularly the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR);
and

5. Recycle food waste according to any other guidelines mandated
by the Committee.

SEC 12. Food Waste Utilization — The Committee, particularly the
Department of Science and Technology (DOST), shall conduct research and
studies into how to efficiently use and utilize food waste generated by
businesses and households, and if practicable, mandate alternative methods of
food waste recycling in lieu of those provided in Sec 5(b) and Sec 11(b).

SEC 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations — Within sixty (60) days
from the effectivity of this Act, the Committee shall promulgate the necessary
rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC 14. Periodic Review — The Committee shall submit an annual report
to Congress on the progress in the implementation of this Act.

SEC 15. Appropriations — The funds needed to implement this Act shall
be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC 16. Separability Clause — If, for any reason, any section or
provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or

provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.


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SEC 17. Repealing Clause — All other laws, decrees, executive orders,
issuances, rules and regulations, or part thereof inconsistent with this Act are
hereby likewise repealed or amended accordingly.

Sec 18. Effectivity - This Act shall effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,