Bureaucracy Prevents Food Donations: Throwing Away Is Easier

Every year, around 10.8 million tonnes of food are thrown away in Germany — that’s approximately 131 kilograms per person. While the largest share of this waste comes from private households, the retail and hospitality sectors also discard substantial amounts. As a result, aid organizations like the Tafel are receiving fewer and fewer donations.

Federal States Want Action — Berlin Takes the Lead

Chaired by Berlin, the Conference of Consumer Protection Ministers (VSMK) will meet starting Wednesday to discuss solutions to reduce food waste. Berlin’s Senator for Justice and Consumer Protection, Felor Badenberg (CDU), stresses the urgent need for reform: “Right now, it’s easier and cheaper for businesses to discard food than to donate it — due to bureaucratic obstacles and tax uncertainties.”

Key Demands: Less Bureaucracy, More Legal Certainty

Berlin is submitting two motions to the VSMK aiming to reduce legal barriers to food donations and expand state-run wholesale markets into food rescue hubs. In the run-up to the conference, Badenberg invited representatives from the retail sector, aid organizations, legal experts, and academia to discuss the main challenges.

One core issue: food donations are at a tax disadvantage. While no VAT is due when food is discarded, donating food can sometimes trigger tax obligations. “This is a barrier we need to remove,” says Badenberg.

Duplicate Inspections Waste Time — and Food

Another deterrent is the complex inspection process: retailers must thoroughly document that donated food is still edible — a process that organizations like the Tafel must then repeat. This duplication is set to be eliminated, with future inspections to be handled solely by the receiving organizations.

The goal is to maintain food safety without imposing additional costs or liability risks on retailers — allowing more food to be donated instead of discarded.

Labelling Mistakes Should Be Handled More Flexibly

Badenberg also calls for a more pragmatic approach to labeling errors: “If a yogurt is mistakenly labeled as blackberry instead of strawberry, a simple notice at the Tafel should suffice — there’s no need to relabel every single cup.”

Appreciation Instead of Waste

More than half of all discarded food comes from private households. The senator emphasizes the need for public education: “A best-before date doesn’t mean the food goes bad the next day. We need to bring more awareness and appreciation for the value of food.”

Photo: Unsplash / by Memories on 35mm