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NEW legal brief for parliamentarians: “Legislating to prevent and reduce food loss and waste”  

Food loss and waste (FLW) is a serious problem, occurring in a global and regional context in which millions of people are suffering from hunger. This situation is exacerbated by the challenges posed by climate change to agri-food systems and, more recently, by the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 This publication was written by the Development Law Service (LEGN), in cooperation with the FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, Spain-FAO Program for Latin America and the Caribbean, together with the Parliamentary Front against Hunger (FPH-ALC) and the international cooperation agencies of Spain and Mexico. It was launched during the sixth chapter of the Zero Hunger Parliamentary Sessions. At this event, FAO experts and parliamentarians from the national chapters of the Parliamentary Front against Hunger of El Salvador and Guatemala presented their progress and legislative challenges to reduce FLW.

"At least nine countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have adopted specific laws related to Food Loss and Waste (FLW), either focused on food donation or of a broader and more comprehensive nature. In addition, several countries in the region are discussing draft laws on the subject," said FAO Legal Officer Manuela Cuvi Rodríguez, who was one of the presenters at the launching event.

This brief is number ten in the series "Legal briefs for Parliamentarians in Latin America and the Caribbean". This series focuses on regulatory practices observed in the region regarding various aspects of the right to adequate food. Each note highlights the important role of parliamentarians and their networks, such as the Parliamentary Front against Hunger (FPH-ALC), ending with a list of recommended actions on these issues.

It is available at (only in Spanish): https://www.fao.org/documents/card/es/c/cc0664es

For more information, please contact: [email protected].