For the first time at the European Union level, mandatory targets are being introduced to reduce food waste, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food (MAF) indicated for the “EU Law BG“ rubric of BTA. The ministry responded to questions about the transposition of national legislation related to the European directive on reducing food waste. The new rules on food waste, which the European Parliament approved in September 2025, aim to build a more sustainable and circular economy.
The MAF adds that the targets cover all main stages of the food chain – from production and processing to trade, public catering and households. This sets a clear and measurable long-term commitment for the member states and creates a common framework for coordinated action, the ministry further stated.
According to the European Parliament's decision, by 2030, member countries will have to reduce food waste generated by households, retailers and restaurants by 30 percent compared to the levels of 2021 – 2023. They will have to reduce waste generated by food processing and production by 10 percent.
The set targets are ambitious, but we believe that striving to achieve them will contribute to more efficient use of natural resources and reducing the environmental footprint of food systems, improving the sustainability and competitiveness of the agri-food sector, changing the behavior and attitude of consumers towards food, commented the MAF. According to the ministry, the implementation of the new directive will require closer cooperation between institutions, businesses and civil society in order to achieve the set goals and ensure more sustainable management of food resources in the country.
In response to questions asked by BTA on the same topic, the Ministry of Environment and Water (MEW) replied that, jointly with the MAF, they had actively participated in the process of developing and approving the amendments to the Waste Framework Directive regarding food waste and reducing food losses throughout the food chain.
The transposition of the directive into national legislation – the Waste Management Act, should be carried out by June 2027, and for this purpose, a working group with representatives of the responsible departments and representatives of the interested organizations is yet to be formed, the MEW points out. The ministry adds that the specific measures and actions that the state should take to implement the European requirements will be included in the next National Waste Management Plan and, more specifically, in the sub-program for preventing the generation of food waste.
The Bulgarian Food Bank (BFB), which is one of the two organizations registered in the national register of issued permits for food bank operators, commented for BTA that they are currently working jointly with members of the European Federation of Food Banks (FEBA) on a joint advocacy campaign to change the legislation.
According to the new European directive, the member states shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions at the latest by June 17, 2027.
The EU estimates that the block generates around 130 kilograms of food waste per person each year, which is equivalent to 60 million tons. In our country, in 2023, the average Bulgarian threw away 93 kilograms of food, according to Eurostat data, cited by the executive director of BFB Tsanka Milanova. This amounts to 614,000 tons discarded each year. According to Milanova, only in the food industry in Bulgaria, over 340,000 tons of waste are discarded.
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