Situation on food waste in Austria
This summary of Austrian legislation covers legislation directly targeting food waste prevention or management as well as related legislation that with indirect impacts on food waste. It is based on the report “Austria – Country Report on national food waste policy” from the EU project FUSIONS (Schneider and Lebersorger, 2016) and was updated by the authors to cover also the years 2015 and 2016.
National strategies on food waste prevention
Federal Waste Management Plan 2011
There is no national plan specifically addressing food waste in Austria, however food waste is addressed in the Federal Waste Management Plan 2011. Promoted by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management in 2011, the Federal Waste Management Plan 2011 summarizes the situation of waste management in Austria including the amounts of different waste streams and their treatment paths, the number and condition of treatment facilities and perspectives for the future, required in order to implement the objectives and principles of the Waste Management Law of 2002. An update is scheduled for December 2016 but has not been released yet.
The plan aims to deliver a reduction of 20 % of food waste in residual waste generated from households and companies within 2016. The target is specific for residual waste as this is the only municipal waste stream fully monitored and therefore characterized by a reliable data set. A qualitative target was set for all the other waste streams to emphasize that, beside the lack of data, also all other food waste along the food supply chain should be reduced.
There is no national plan specifically addressing food waste in Austria, however food waste is addressed in the Federal Waste Management Plan 2011. Promoted by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management in 2011, the Federal Waste Management Plan 2011 summarizes the situation of waste management in Austria including the amounts of different waste streams and their treatment paths, the number and condition of treatment facilities and perspectives for the future, required in order to implement the objectives and principles of the Waste Management Law of 2002. An update is scheduled for December 2016 but has not been released yet.
The plan aims to deliver a reduction of 20 % of food waste in residual waste generated from households and companies within 2016. The target is specific for residual waste as this is the only municipal waste stream fully monitored and therefore characterized by a reliable data set. A qualitative target was set for all the other waste streams to emphasize that, beside the lack of data, also all other food waste along the food supply chain should be reduced.
Market-based instruments
At the time of preparing this report, there are no market-based instruments in Austria specifically addressing food waste.
Regulations and regulatory instruments
The body of laws that have major implications on food waste includes national and federal legislative acts and presents significant differences in their application on a regional basis.
Legislation with (potential) implications on food waste generation
Description: This regulation applies to the necessary certification of food companies with respect to food hygiene legitimation.
Legislation with (potential) implications on food waste generation
- Ordinance on green electricity: StF: BGBl. II Nr. 471/2011 Verordnung des Bundesministers für Wirtschaft, Familie und Jugend, mit der Preise für die Abnahme elektrischer Energie aus Ökostromanlagen auf Grund von Verträgen festgesetzt werden, zu deren Abschluss die Ökostromabwicklungsstelle im Jahr 2012 verpflichtet ist (Ökostromverordnung 2012) Description: This ordinance regulates the prices for the consumption of electric energy from new plants on the basis of renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, geothermal, wave and tidal energy, biomass. The provisions of this legislative act could encourages the use of anaerobic digestion to treat food waste and, thus, could be a potential disincentive for the prevention of food waste, which could be partly justified by its use for energy production (Vittuari et al., 2015b).
- Ordinance on food hygiene for food companies: StF: BGBl. II Nr. 231/2009 Verordnung des Bundesministers für Gesundheit über die lebensmittelhygienerechtliche Zulassung von Betrieben von Lebensmittelunternehmern (Lebensmittelhygiene-Zulassungsverordnung)
Description: This regulation applies to the necessary certification of food companies with respect to food hygiene legitimation.
- Ordinance on infant formula: StF: BGBl. II Nr. 68/2008 Verordnung der Bundesministerin für Gesundheit, Familie und Jugend über Säuglingsanfangsnahrung und Folgenahrung
Description: Information on the correct preparation, storage and disposal of the food as well as a lead on a health-adverse effect in the case of improper preparation and storage of infant formulas and follow-on formulas. - Law on food security and consumer protection: StF: BGBl. I Nr. 13/2006 zuletzt geändert durch BGBl. 144/2015, Bundesgesetz über Sicherheitsanforderungen und weitere Anforderungen an Lebensmittel, Gebrauchsgegenstände und kosmetische Mittel zum Schutz der Verbraucherinnen und Verbraucher (Lebensmittelsicherheits- und Verbraucherschutzgesetz - LMSVG)
Description: According to §60 the rules of the Ordinance on Animal Substances, BGBl. I No. 141/2003, as well as Regulation (EC) No. 1069/2009 shall apply to the treatment or disposal of foodstuffs of animal origin, which are not or are no longer suitable or intended for human consumption, and to animal by-products not intended for human consumption during slaughter and processing of meat. - Law on animal substances: StF: BGBl. I Nr. 141/2003, letzte Änderung BGBl. I Nr. 23/2013 Tiermaterialiengesetz 2013, Bundesgesetz betreffend Hygienevorschriften für nicht für den menschlichen Verzehr bestimmte tierische Nebenprodukte und Materialien (Tiermaterialiengesetz - TMG)
Description: This law is intended to implement the EC regulations 1069/2009 and 142/2011 as well as applies to by-products and materials of animal origin not covered by regulation (EC) 1069/2009. It regulates the collection, storage, transport, treatment, processing, disposal or use and the placement on the market of animal by-products. Besides having implications on food waste generation this law could also impact food waste management. - Law on animal feed: StF: BGBl. I Nr. 139/1999, letzte Änderung BGBl. I Nr. 189/2013 Bundesgesetz über die Herstellung, das Inverkehrbringen und die Verwendung von Futtermitteln, Vormischungen und Zusatzstoffen (Futtermittelgesetz 1999 - FMG 1999) Description: This law regulates production, placing on the market and use of animal feed, pre-mixtures and additives of animal feed and, thus, (potentially) has implications on food waste generation. Further, it serves as the legal basis for the feed of waste bread for animal feed, thus having also impacts on food waste reduction.
- Ordinance of food labeling: StF: BGBl. Nr. 72/1993 zuletzt geändert durch BGBl. II Nr. 165/2008L Verordnung des Bundesministers für Gesundheit, Sport und Konsumentenschutz über die Kennzeichnung von verpackten Lebensmitteln (Lebensmittelkennzeichnungsverordnung 1993 - LMKV)
This ordinance regulates the labelling of packed food. Food with an expired ‘best before’ date can be sold on the market. Products with a ‘use by’ label should not be consumed due to health risks. This type of labelling is statutory for food that expires quickly such as raw milk, raw meat products and fresh fish. - Epizootic diseases law: StF: RGBl. Nr. 177/1909 zuletzt geändert durch BGBl. I Nr. 163/2015, Gesetz betreffend der Abwehr und Tilgung von Tierseuchen (Tierseuchengesetz)
Legislation addressing food waste management
- Austrian landfill ordinance:
Description: Since 2004 landfilling of untreated organic waste is banned according to Austrian Landfill ordinance (1996, revised version 2008), implemented a limiting value for total organic content of 5% dry matter, this means that all waste has to be pre-treated by mechanical- biological pre-treatment (MBT) or incineration before landfilling.
- Waste catalogue ordinance:
Description: The waste catalogue ordinance regulates the determination of hazardous waste, the definition of a waste code for each type of waste and the indication of criteria for the allocation of waste to a type of waste.
- Austrian waste management law:
Description: The Austrian waste management law was issued in 2002 and promoted by the Austrian Parliament and regulates the sustainable management of waste. It includes regulations on general principles, waste prevention and recovery, duties of waste holders, producer responsibility, waste collection, waste treatment and trans-boundary movements. Besides having implications on food waste management it also has implications on food waste reduction due to prioritizing waste prevention.
- Ordinance on compost quality:
Description: This ordinance regulates quality requirements for composts from waste, the type and source of used materials as well as labelling and the marketing of composts. Packaging material should not be thrown into the bio bin to avoid unfavorable contamination of the compost.
- General ordinance on sewage water emissions:
Description: This ordinance applies to the discharge of sewage, combined sewage and rainwater, groundwater and leachate from landfills into flowing waters. It defines maximum permissible values for discharge of waste waters into sewers influencing the use of food waste grinders and compactors. For the use of food waste grinders and authorization according to the Waste Management Law has to be obtained.
In addition, there are regulations applying to sewage water emissions
1) from fish production plants (Verordnung über die Begrenzung von Abwasseremissionen aus Anlagen zur Erzeugung von Fischprodukten (Fischproduktionsanlagen) BGBl. Nr. 1075/1994),
2) from the production of plant-based or animal oils or fats including cooking oil and edible fats (Verordnung über die Begrenzung von Abwasseremissionen aus der Erzeugung pflanzlicher oder tierischer Öle oder Fette einschließlich der Speiseöl- und Speisefetterzeugung BGBl. Nr. 1079/1994) and
3) from sugar and starch production (Verordnung über die Begrenzung von Abwasseremissionen aus der Erzeugung pflanzlicher oder tierischer Öle oder Fette einschließlich der Speiseöl- und Speisefetterzeugung BGBl. Nr. 1079/1994).
- Ordinance on separate collection of biowaste: StF: BGBl. Nr. 68/1992, idF: BGBl. Nr. 456/1994 Verordnung des Bundesministers für Umwelt, Jugend und Familie über die getrennte biogener Abfälle
Legislation actively addressing food waste reduction
- Ordinance on animal feed 2010: StF: BGBl. II Nr. 316/2010 Verordnung des Bundesministers für Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Umwelt und Wasserwirtschaft, mit der Bestimmungen zur Durchführung des Futtermittelgesetzes 1999 erlassen werden (Futtermittelverordnung 2010) Description: This ordinance includes provisions for implementing the Law on animal feed (Futtermittelgesetz). It serves as the legal basis for the use of waste bread for animal feed (as one of many regulations). Besides its implications on food waste reduction this Ordinance also can impact food waste management.
- Ordinance on animal by-products: StF: BGBl. II Nr. 484/2008, Änderung BGBl. II Nr. 141/2010 Verordnung der Bundesministerin für Gesundheit, Familie und Jugend über nähere Bestimmungen zum Umgang mit tierischen Nebenprodukten (Tiermaterialien -Verordnung) Description: It defines exceptions from the prohibition of feeding former foodstuffs to farm animals, for the production of which no animal products other than milk, dairy, eggs and egg products were used. Manufactured former foodstuff can be used as input for biogas and compost plants without pre-treatment. Minimum standards for biogas and composting plants are identified.
Legislation addressing food (re-)distribution
There are no regulations addressing food (re-)distribution in Austria.
Local legal conditions for selected urban areas:
Vienna
Although there are regulations concerning waste prevention, management and treatment in general, there is no regulation in Vienna which applies directly to food waste management and/or generation.
Although there are regulations concerning waste prevention, management and treatment in general, there is no regulation in Vienna which applies directly to food waste management and/or generation.
- Viennese waste management law: LGBl. Nr. 13/1994 zuletzt geändert durch LGBl. Nr. 45/2013 Gesetz über die Vermeidung und Behandlung von Abfällen und die Einhebung einer hierfür erforderlichen Abgabe im Gebiete des Landes Wien (Wiener Abfallwirtschaftsgesetz) Description: The Viennese waste management law regulates waste prevention, collection and treatment and the collection of a necessary levy in Vienna. It, thus, has implications for food waste management.
- Some other laws such as the Viennese Wine Tavern Laws (Wiener Buschenschankgesetz LGBl. Nr. 39/2013) or the Viennese Kindergarten Ordinance (Wiener Kindergartenverordnung LGBl. Nr. 20/2014) deal with food safety and may indirectly cause food waste.
Innsbruck
- Tyrolean Waste Management Law LGBl. Nr. 3/2008.
Description: The Tyrolean Waste Management Law regulates – in consideration of federal regulations - the adoption of the Austrian waste management concept at federal state level, the waste disposal regulations and the waste collection at municipal level, as well as the precaution for the treatment of waste arising in Tyrol i.e. the establishment and operation of the treatment facilities. - Tyrolean Waste Management Concept LGBl. Nr. 51/2004.
Description: The waste management concept defines the waste streams that have to be collected separately as well as the catchment areas of the public treatment plants. Biologically usable municipal solid waste and other waste streams are listed as separate collection fractions. - Waste collection regime (schedule):
Description: A waste collection system has to be prescribed for each municipality. This regulation defines the disposal system at municipal level, including the biologically usable waste. It contains more detailed information on the collection containers, the installation sites and the collection- and emptying frequencies.
All the Tyrolean legislative acts listed above have implications for food waste management.
Voluntary agreements
1. Awareness and information campaign for households and companies ́ staff members;
2. Increaseinfoodredistributionactivities(fromcompaniestosocialorganisations)aswell as establishment of food sharing (between private households);
4. Fundingofresearchactivities.
The consultation process further resulted in several partnerships among companies, authorities, schools, NGOs who committed themselves to cooperate with the initiative “food is precious”. The options for cooperation are manifold and include (Schneider and Lebersorger, 2016):
2. Increaseinfoodredistributionactivities(fromcompaniestosocialorganisations)aswell as establishment of food sharing (between private households);
- In spring 2013 the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management initiated an action programme together with social partners (Austrian Chamber of Commerce, Austrian Chamber of Labour, Austrian Federation of trade unions and Austrian Chamber of Agriculture) as result of a stakeholder process. The aim of the stakeholder consultations was the exchange of experiences, development of solutions throughout the food supply chain and connecting relevant participants. The resulting action programme is organized in four main topics (Schneider and Lebersorger, 2016):
4. Fundingofresearchactivities.
The consultation process further resulted in several partnerships among companies, authorities, schools, NGOs who committed themselves to cooperate with the initiative “food is precious”. The options for cooperation are manifold and include (Schneider and Lebersorger, 2016):
- usage of the logo of the “Food is precious” initiative for internal and external communication in order to highlight the quality and the solidarity of the different activities;
- integration of food prevention projects and activities from all partners within the initiative website and communication;
- opportunity to develop joint communication activities;
- support to school projects (e.g. teaching materials, awards, project ideas);
- support to the adaption of processes and systems along the food supply chain towards food waste prevention including production, logistics, distribution etc;
- participation in stakeholder consultations.
This action programme and initiative respectively potentially has implications on food waste reduction as well as on food waste management along all sectors of the food supply chain as well as a number of subsectors.
