The 9th meeting of the EU Platform on Food Losses and Food Waste will be held virtually and will provide the opportunity to take stock of the assessment of progress made in implementing the Council conclusions adopted on 28 June 2016 on food losses and food waste, which was discussed at the AGRIFISH Council on 16 November 2020, as well as learning gained for the work of the Platform.

The Commission will also provide an update on the implementation of the Farm to Fork Strategy and actions related to food loss and waste prevention.

Date marking will also be on the agenda with a presentation by the European Food Safety Authority of the first part of its scientific opinion on “Guidance on date marking and related food information”. Part 1 of this opinion outlines a risk-based approach to be followed by food business operators when deciding on the type of date marking (i.e. ‘best before’ date or ‘use by’ date), setting of shelf-life and the related food information on the label to ensure food safety.

The Platform meeting will also facilitate the exchange of best practices. Several organisations will take the floor to present their latest initiatives related to date marking, food redistribution and preventing food loss and waste in the food services and hospitality sectors.

The meeting will be chaired by Nathalie Chaze, Director, Food sustainability, international relations.
The meeting will be held exclusively in English; translation will not be provided in the context of this virtual meeting.

The meeting was web streamed for everyone interested to follow the discussions. The recording and the presentations will be published on the European Commission’s food waste website shortly after the meeting takes place.

Watch the recording of the event.

food waste | food safety | animal health | foodstuffs legislation | EU food chain | environmental policy | pollution control measures | circular economy
Thursday 10 December 2020, 10:00 - 17:00 (CET)
Online only

Programme

10 Dec 2020, 09:30 - 10:00 (CET)
Technical start (participants connect to the meeting through WebEx meetings; technical assistance is provided as needed)
10:00 - 10:05 (CET)
Introduction by the Chair
10:05 - 10:15 (CET)
Keynote speech by Claire Bury, Deputy Director General for Food Sustainability in DG SANTE
10:15 - 10:40 (CET)
Update on the implementation of the Farm to Fork Strategy, presentation by Alexandra Nikolakopoulou, Head of Unit, Farm to fork strategy (DG SANTE D1) and exchange with members
10:40 - 11:40 (CET)
EU actions to prevent food loss and waste: progress and future outlook
- Assessment by the German Presidency of progress made on the implementation of June 2016 Council conclusions (update from 16 November informal videoconference of Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries) – presentation by Dr. Anke Niederhaus, Head of Unit, Sustainable Nutrition, Reduction of Food Waste, Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Germany
- Perspective from the Commission, including implementation of the EU Platform’s recommendations for action
- Discussion with members
11:40 - 11:50 (CET)
Update on food waste prevention activities from the European Food Banks Federation, presentation by Angela Frigo, Secretary General, European Food Banks Federation
11:50 - 12:00 (CET)
Recovery and redistribution of surplus food through online platforms, presentation by Robert van Otterdijk, AgroIndustry Officer, SAVE FOOD - Initiative on Food Loss and Waste Reduction, Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
12:00 - 14:30 (CET)
Lunch break
14:30 - 15:30 (CET)
Scientific opinion of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Panel on Biological Hazards – Guidance on date marking and related food information: part 1 (date marking), presentation by Michaela Hempen, EFSA BIOCONTAM Unit Scientific Officer and Roland Lindqvist, EFSA BIOHAZ Panel member and exchange with members
15:30 - 16:00 (CET)
Campaign to increase understanding of date marking, presentation by Christophe Diercxsens, Too Good To Go, and Erwan de Gavelle PhD, Food & Health Project Manager, Ministry for Agriculture and Food, France. Exchange with members.
16:00 - 16:30 (CET)
A voluntary agreement initiative for the hospitality and food service sectors in Europe, presentation by Thomas Candeal, International Food Waste Coalition (IFWC) and exchange with members
16:30 - 16:40 (CET)
Developing a circular economy model for food in healthcare facilities, presentation by Paola Hernández, Health Care Without Harm and exchange with members
16:40 - 16:50 (CET)
Measuring and reducing food waste in canteens in healthcare, schools, and company restaurants, presentation by Jasmien Wildemeersch, FoodWIN and exchange with members
16:50 - 17:00 (CET)
Conclusions and wrap-up by the Chair