EU Food Waste Prevention Programmes

EU Food Waste Prevention Programmes is sponsored by European Commission. National programmes requiring Member States to develop and implement measures to reduce food waste across the entire food supply chain.

National food waste prevention programmes - Food Safety National food waste prevention programmes Since 2018, Member States have been required to develop national food waste prevention programmes . With the 2025 amendment of the Waste Framework Directive, Member States are required to evaluate and adapt their food waste prevention programmes, with a view of attaining the food waste reduction targets.

In these programmes, Member States shall take appropriate measures to prevent the generation of food waste along the entire food supply chain – in primary production, processing and manufacturing, retail and other distribution of food, restaurants and food services, as well as in households.

Those measures shall include at least the following: developing and supporting behavioural change interventions, and information campaigns to raise awareness about food waste prevention; identifying and address inefficiencies of the functioning of the food supply chain, and support cooperation among all actors; prioritising food waste prevention measures over waste management measures; encouraging and promoting innovation and technological solutions that contribute to preventing food waste.

The food waste prevention programmes must also include measures to facilitate the donation of unsold, safe food at a reasonable cost to food business operators. This should be done through donation agreements between specific food business operators and food banks and other redistribution organisations.

Through these requirements, the Directive ensures that Member States adopt a comprehensive approach to food waste prevention, combining behavioural, systemic, social, and technological measures to deliver lasting impact.

Competent authorities on food waste prevention By 17 January 2026, each Member State is obliged to designate the competent authorities responsible for coordinating the measures that are part of the food waste prevention programmes. The objective behind designating competent authorities at national level is twofold. First, it aims to ensure clear accountability and governance of food waste prevention measures.

Secondly, to ensure effective, overall coordination of actions to achieve the food waste reduction targets. This is amongst others due to the shared agenda amongst many Member State authorities and the variety of stakeholders engaged in the prevention of food waste in Member States.