The Implementation of EU Legal Framework to Reduce Food Waste: The Case of Spain

Abstract

The present study focuses on the legal framework to reduce the environmental damage caused in the European Union by food waste: approximately 88 million tonnes annually, The impacts of these losses throughout the food supply chain are widely recognized, provoking the debate on improving effective legal measures to address the problem and the difficulties of defining accurate policies. Particularly, we consider the need of a higher Europeanization of legislation in this scope as the final implementation of these measures is in the hands of national governments, leading to diverse engagement and fulfilment in this area. Our starting point is the analysis of the recommendations already given, contrasting them with how the last developments have been carried out. First, the multidimensionality of legal measures will be exposed. Second, the suggestions given to the EU legal framework according to its evolution will be systemized. Third, we will contrast the previous findings with national implementation. For this aim, the French legislation, considered a model by relevant literature, and the Spanish legislation, as the last case of transposition of the Waste Directive in the EU, will be highlighted. Finally, the article concludes on proposal for more efficient implementation of the studied legal instruments to reduce food waste.