Draft notification targets food waste, security

Solicitation has been finalized on a draft notification ordering restaurants to clearly mark the prices and amounts of dishes as a new step to prevent food waste and safeguard national food security.

The draft, consisting of eight parts, was disclosed by the National Development and Reform Commission on its website on April 10.

The commission said it drew up the draft after seeing the problem of food waste in some areas remained serious, even though the country has issued rules and strengthened supervision to reduce such waste.

While requiring restaurants and hotels to clearly inform consumers about the prices of food, banquet set meals and their services, the draft also demands they clarify the amounts of main ingredients for dishes as well as how many people the set meals are suitable for.

Catering service providers are prohibited from setting minimum orders, it said. If possible, they need to display simulated dishes to guide or prompt consumers to order food appropriately, it added. A major target of the administrative supervision is restaurants and hotels capable of catering for banquets, or that can serve 50 or more people together, stating a list of clauses against food waste should be made when signing banquet contracts.

For example, they need to remind people to pack leftover food, with different sizes or amounts of dishes provided for consumers to choose from, it said, adding that banquet set meals costing 1,500 yuan ($220) or more per table will receive stronger supervision.

It asked catering and hotel associations to strengthen industrial self-discipline such as by formulating guidelines and improving service quality.

In addition, it specifies that government departments in charge of commercial, cultural and tourist affairs should take more responsibilities to guide and regulate restaurants and hotels, demanding market regulation organs increase inspection in these fields, with disclosure of violators.

The need to stop food waste has been emphasized by President Xi Jinping on many occasions since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012.

As a part of China's core traditional values, thrift and prevention of food waste have also been enshrined and upheld in several laws, such as the Constitution and the Civil Code that came into effect at the beginning of 2021.

On April 29 that year, a law focusing on preventing food waste was adopted by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislative body, after two reviews, and took effect immediately.

Under the 32-article law, restaurants will be fined up to 10,000 yuan if they mislead people to order excessive food, cause waste and refuse to rectify the problem after being warned by market supervision agencies.

Those making or broadcasting programs or videos on binge eating should be banned, the law said, adding that those who do not correct their behavior after being reminded by cyberspace administrations will be fined a maximum of 100,000 yuan.

In 2014, central authorities released a guideline on curbing waste in government reception banquets, office canteens and restaurants as part of broader efforts to fight extravagance and the abuse of public funds.