Wasting Food is Now ILLEGAL in China! 100,000 RMB Fine!
Source: Global Times
The long-awaited law was officially approved by the
Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) on Thursday.
It is expected to establish a basic code of conduct and build a
long-term mechanism to stop food waste and guide society to foster
rational and healthy catering consumption habits.
Chinese leaders
have frequently emphasized the necessity of preventing food waste,
despite the fact that China has seen consecutive bumper harvests.
Observers
noted that adoption of the legislation against food waste does not
imply that China is facing an immediate food shortage risk, but it is a
far-sighted move for food security as the country seeks to stabilize
domestic grain output and ensure supply, facing increasing domestic
demand for grain due to population growth and external uncertainties.
The
32-clause law bans food vloggers from making and distributing
binge-eating videos online, threatening fines of up to 100,000 yuan
($15,451). Some vloggers perform on short-video platforms pretending to
be competitive eaters but in reality, they usually leave a lot of food
uneaten and often vomit what they have consumed.
The law also
allows restaurants to charge diners an extra fee if they leave excessive
amounts of food uneaten. Food providers that induce or mislead
consumers into making excessive orders face fines of up to 10,000 yuan. A
maximum fine of 50,000 yuan will be given to food service operators
that waste large amounts of food, the law stipulates.
The
legislation was widely hailed on Chinese social media on Thursday after
its approval, with many internet users showing their empty plates on
desks on Sina Weibo. However, some have expressed concerns as specific
rules have yet to come out to define what constitutes food waste and how
the law will be enforced.
Legal experts reached by the Global
Times said the main role of this law is to spearhead the advocacy of a
resource-conserving and environmentally-friendly society.
Zheng
Fengtian, a professor at Renmin University of China's School of
Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, told the Global Times that
the legislation will guide enterprises, consumers and governments in
the food industry chain in how to tackle severe waste problems in a
legal manner, using either penalties or awards to regulate food waste.
Approximately
18 billion kilograms of food is wasted every year in China's urban
catering industry, the Xinhua News Agency reported, citing nationwide
field research carried out by NPC Congress deputies.
The expert
refuted claims that China is suffering a food crisis, saying that is the
interpretation and speculation of Western media seeking to promote the
"Chinese collapse theory."
Some observers said that the root of
food security is agricultural security. The legislation complies with
the central government's policy of placing emphasis on cultivation of
grain and poultry as part of efforts to ensure stable food supply.
The law encourages the continuation of the "Clear Your Plate" campaign.
Prior
to the adoption of the law, a nationwide "Clear Your Plate" campaign
gained steam across the country, with anti-food waste posters and
slogans posted on the walls of many restaurants, while schools and
universities have also joined the efforts to fight food waste.