China News Service, Beijing, April 28 (Li Jingze and Liang Xiaohui) The draft anti-food waste law that is being submitted to the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress for deliberation has once again sparked heated discussions.
This draft law of “establishing rules, clarifying responsibilities, and promoting fashion” was considered in group deliberations and considered that the “hardness” of the law and the “softness” of customs were considered. It will provide effective legal constraints on the stubborn disease of food waste in society. .
Set rules: "Waste is charged" to become an effective long-term mechanism
The second review of the draft stipulates that catering service operators can charge consumers who cause obvious waste the corresponding fees for processing food waste, and the charging standards should be clearly stated.
This involves two main issues, one is how to define "food waste", and the other is how to formulate charging standards.
Regarding the former, the second draft of the draft stipulates that "the food that is safe to eat or drink fails to be reasonably used in accordance with its functional purpose, including waste, etc." is "food waste".
Compared with the “failure to use food that is safe to eat or drink in accordance with its functional purpose” in the first review draft, the participants believed that the improvement of the draft reflects the gradual improvement of the legislation.
Regarding the latter, some committee members suggested implementing a step-by-quantity fee for the food waste disposal fee to facilitate further clarification of the charging standard.
There is no doubt that there are many reasons for consumers to produce food waste, and the draft also takes into account many special circumstances, such as unpalatable food and can't finish eating.
As the saying goes, it is difficult to adjust. In this regard, the draft proposes to "continuously improve the taste" of school canteens and off-campus catering units.
Some members suggested that it is important to listen to the opinions of the diners and provide meals on demand. Scientific and nutritious meals are particularly important to improve the taste.
Participants generally believed that the draft has upgraded effective policy measures in practice in recent years to legal provisions, which is conducive to establishing a long-term mechanism and establishing basic code of conduct for catering consumption and daily food consumption for the whole society.
Li Rui, a member of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, believes that “on the basis of the first review of the second draft of the draft, the principle of'appropriate, moderate, and moderate' will be further applied to all links and the whole process related to food. The content is more complete and more comprehensive. Operability."
Responsibilities: restaurants and takeaway platforms will be further regulated
The second review of the draft further clarified the responsibilities of various entities.
For example, it is proposed that catering service operators must not induce or mislead consumers to order more meals; catering take-out platforms should prompt consumers to order appropriate meals in a conspicuous manner; relevant illegal activities of catering service operators shall be supervised by the local people's government at or above the county level. The administrative department or the department designated by the local people's government at or above the county level shall impose penalties.
"Soft is hard, hard is powerful," said Xu Anbiao, a member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. The second review of the draft consolidates the main responsibility and focuses on establishing a long-term mechanism, focusing on strengthening publicity and education, and cultivating good economy habits and customs. .
With the development of food delivery platforms and restaurant marketing models, some participants discovered some new situations, or provided reference for the further improvement of the draft anti-food waste law.
For example, Du Xiaoguang, a member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, said that many restaurants in the market set a minimum amount of box fees. In order to achieve this amount, consumers order too many dishes, and it is recommended to increase "catering service providers shall not set minimum box fees."
In the Internet age, takeaway ordering has become a new choice for many people.
Du Xiaoguang also suggested introducing measures to encourage takeaway businesses to introduce "small portions" and "half portions" to avoid food waste.
Liu Xiuwen, a member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, suggested that the starting point and package discounts of food delivery platforms should be regulated.
"In practice, consumers often deliberately order more meals in order to reach the starting point and enjoy full discounts. Merchants and platforms are also willing to use this method to stimulate consumption and increase the price per customer, which is likely to cause food waste."
Prospering fashion: soft constraints help to form a habit of saving
"Food waste is a social phenomenon, and anti-food waste is also a permanent topic." Ji Bingxuan, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, said that some waste is a management problem and can be solved by law.
Others are ideological issues, life habits, and social customs issues, which need to be resolved in terms of moral concepts and daily life habits.
As he said, the participants generally believed that anti-food waste legislation is not only the need to ensure national food security, but also the inevitable development of spiritual civilization and social customs.
Wan Exiang, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, suggested adding a sentence to the draft: "We oppose unhealthy dining customs such as extravagance, extravagance, and extravagance."
He believes that rejecting extravagance, waste and unreasonable consumption, and advocating civilized and frugal dining, should be equally emphasized. This is of positive significance for reversing and eliminating bad customs such as "face culture" in catering.
In this change of national dining habits involving laws, propaganda, education, etc., many participants emphasized the importance of "starting from the baby". Naimu Yasen, a member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, said that saving is one thing. This kind of fashion is a habit, which must be started from the doll.
Children’s education is not only a school, but also inseparable from the family. For this reason, it is recommended to add provisions on family education to the draft.
(Finish)