Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with her foreign counterparts on strategies to tackle food wastage.

We have had no formal discussions on these matters to date, but they are likely to take place later this year when we expect to see the European Commission’s proposals on the EU circular economy, which are likely to contain food waste provisions. Before then, we shall be responding to the European Commission’s consultations on the circular economy, which will influence these proposals.

Defra officials are also engaged in discussions in various international fora e.g. an EU specific technical working group on food losses and waste, and G20 discussions on how to improve food security as well as reduce food losses and waste globally.