Suggestions when members of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress deliberate the draft anti-food waste
Catering service providers shall not set minimum consumption standards
□ Our reporter Pu Xiaolei
On December 24, the 24th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress conducted group deliberations on the draft anti-food waste law.
"When you go to a restaurant to eat, many restaurants have a box fee, and you have to spend enough money. In fact, some are wasted. Therefore, it is recommended to add specific provisions in the draft, catering service providers shall not set box fees The minimum standard." Bao Xinhe said.
Bao Xinhe added that considering the better box service, the catering service provider can clearly inform consumers before ordering that they will appropriately increase the price of the dishes. "If you enjoy better service, you have to pay more. This is pragmatic. , But you cannot set a minimum consumption standard, which will encourage everyone to order more dishes and cause waste."
Committee member Wei Xiaochun believes that at present, the minimum consumption of catering service providers is an important cause of food waste. The draft does not provide for this, and there is no corresponding penalty clause. It is recommended to add this aspect.
Of course, to solve the problem of food waste, it is not enough to simply cancel the box fee by the catering service provider. It requires the joint attention of relevant stakeholders and the adoption of practical measures.
The members of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and those attending the meeting pointed out that formulating an anti-food waste law, clarifying the responsibilities of relevant subjects, establishing a long-term mechanism, giving full play to the role of legal guidance and regulation, and establishing basic code of conduct for catering consumption and daily food consumption for the whole society , It is imperative.
The main cases of waste should be listed and the provisions should be provided
Regarding food waste, the draft defines such a definition-food that is safe to eat or drink cannot be used in accordance with its functional purpose.
Wei Xiaochun said that the draft's definition of food waste is more principled, and it seems to be scientific and physical, and it is recommended to change it to a more specific and specific statement.
For example, "the food waste referred to in this law refers to the act of not cherishing, unreasonable use, or unnecessary discarding of edible food, causing losses to the country, society, unit, family, or individual". This stipulation is more clear .
Member Gu Xiaoyu also believes that the draft definition of food waste is not accurate enough, and hopes to consider it again.
Food waste itself is a behavior and a phenomenon. In this respect, it should be stated more accurately and clearly.
Member Ouyang Changqiong said that the draft definition of food waste is too general and general, and lacks operability.
Food waste is definitely not limited to waste on the table, at least it should include production, circulation, consumption, and recycling.
Food waste refers to the behavior of irrational production, circulation, consumption and utilization of food that does not comply with the conservation standards.
From this perspective, food waste is firstly a behavior that does not meet standards and is unreasonable; secondly, this law should enumerate the main situations of food waste, and at the same time add comprehensive provisions, so that the operability of the law will be stronger.
It may be difficult to collect fees for processing food waste
Article 7 of the draft stipulates that catering service providers may charge consumers who have caused obvious waste to deal with food waste.
Commissioner Zheng Shuna said that the implementation of the above regulations is quite difficult. For example, how to identify waste?
How to determine the amount of fees?
Moreover, this provision may open up a way for individual unscrupulous businesses to accumulate money and become a fixed item of fee settlement, which runs counter to the original intention of the legislation.
The original intention of this regulation is good, to give consumers a warning, but this regulation needs to be studied and weighed, whether it is good or bad.
Liu Zhengkui, a member of the Finance and Economic Committee of the National People's Congress, said that the practice of catering service providers charging the corresponding fees for processing food waste is not easy to operate in practice and is likely to cause disputes.
It is recommended to add another item, to implement a step-by-quantity fee for food waste disposal, so as to urge catering service providers to actively remind consumers to prevent food waste, and also to prevent food waste in schools and units with canteens.
Further strengthen publicity and focus on youth education
The participants suggested that publicity and education should be further strengthened, customs should be changed, and good social customs should be established.
In particular, focus on the education of young people and promote the formation of an atmosphere of shame in waste and pride in economy.
Member Lv Shiming said that enacting an anti-food waste law can provide legal protection for enhancing public awareness of anti-food waste.
It is recommended to increase the education and guidance of young people, starting from childhood, starting from the source, and educating and guiding young people to consciously develop hard and simple living habits, and promote the formation of everyone's consciousness of social civilization.
Committee member Xiao Huaiyuan said that diligence and frugality and opposing waste are the fine traditions of the Chinese nation and have profound social and cultural soil.
The reason for the waste is largely due to the bad consumption mentality such as lavish, pomp, and face.
It is necessary to strengthen publicity and guidance through legislation and law enforcement, so as to form the habit and psychology of the glory of economy and the shame of waste in the whole society, especially the fine tradition of diligence and thrift through youth.
At the same time, for some short video platforms and other media, the "big stomach king eats and broadcasts" program was found to be dealt with together to create a good public opinion atmosphere for anti-food waste, and it will have a better effect over time.
Public officials should practice strict economy and oppose waste
Several members of the Standing Committee proposed during group deliberations that it is necessary to strengthen the restraint of official meals, and promote the whole society to raise the awareness of strict economy and opposition to waste through the exemplary role of public officials.
Member Liu Yuting said that the current provisions stipulate the responsibilities of the department, the responsibilities of the main body, etc. This is necessary, but the anti-food waste is a matter of the whole society, and every member of the society is responsible.
An atmosphere, philosophy and culture that advocates economy and opposes food waste should be formed in the whole society.
Public officials should set an example, and it is recommended to strengthen this aspect.
Member Li Peilin said that Article 6 of the draft stipulates that standard meals should be implemented for meals during official activities, and the number and form of meals should be arranged scientifically and reasonably.
However, there is no "standardized" definition in this regard, and it is difficult to achieve "fixed food".
In fact, the term "standardized diet" is quite good, but this concept needs to be further accurately defined, and then first implemented through official consumption, and then promoted throughout the country, forming a long-term habit of consciously saving food.