Chinese lawmakers on Tuesday began deliberating a draft law on preventing food waste to ensure food security.
The 32-article draft was submitted to the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for its first reading.
The law is of great significance to promoting a healthy, rational, and green lifestyle and better consumption behavior. It is also essential to accelerating the construction of a resource-conserving and environmentally-friendly society. It will also aid sustainable economic and social development, according to the reasoning submitted to the session.
"CLEAR YOUR PLATE" CAMPAIGN
The issue of food waste has been of widespread concern in the country in recent years.
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the government has been paying more attention to the issue, with policies issued and campaigns launched to curb food waste.
A nationwide "Clear Your Plate" campaign is gaining steam across the country, both online and offline.
Anti-food-waste posters and slogans are on the walls of many restaurants, and schools and universities have also joined the efforts to fight food waste.
Netizens share photos and videos of empty plates after finishing their food on social media platforms, where fighting food waste is among the hottest topics.
In order to establish a long-term mechanism to prevent food waste, lawmakers are now elevating the constructive policies and measures the country has adopted over the past years into the draft law.
GOVERNMENT DUTIES
The draft law specifies the responsibilities of the government concerning the fight against food waste.
Governments at all levels should exercise leadership over preventing food waste, improve work mechanisms, set targets, and intensify supervision and management, according to the draft.
Local governments above the county level should update the public on the developments in their anti-food-waste work every year and propose measures to step up the work, the draft reads. It added that they should support sci-tech research and development that will help conserve food.
China will enforce tax policies that will facilitate the fight against food waste, according to the draft.
The draft also stipulates the responsibilities of several State Council departments, ranging from making an overall work plan to tightening management and supervision of the catering industry.
