Sec. 12303. Food loss and waste
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Section 224 of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 ( 7 U.S.C. 6924 ) is amended— by redesignating subsections
(a)through
(d)and
(e)as subsections
(b)through
(e)and (h), respectively; by inserting before subsection
(b)(as so redesignated) the following: In this section: The term food means any raw, cooked, processed, or prepared substance, ice, beverage, or ingredient used or intended for use in whole or in part for human consumption. The term food loss means, with respect to food, that the food does not reach a consumer as a result of an issue in the production, storage, processing, or distribution phase. The term food recovery means the collection of wholesome food that would otherwise go to waste and the redistribution of that food to feed people. The term food waste means, with respect to food, that the food is intended for human consumption but is unconsumed by humans for any reason at the retail or consumption phase. The term upcycled food product means a product that— is created from surplus food, unmarketable food, or edible or inedible food byproducts; and is made with ingredients that— otherwise would not have gone to human consumption; are sourced and produced using supply chains for which upstream data can be verified and validated for accuracy; and have a positive impact on the environment. ; in subsection
(b)(as so redesignated), by inserting (referred to in this section as the after Liaison ) Food Loss and Waste Reduction Liaison ; in subsection
(c)(as so redesignated)— by striking the subsection designation and heading and all that follows through Reduction in the matter preceding paragraph
(1)and inserting the following: The ; in paragraph (4), by striking and at the end; in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and by adding at the end the following: carry out the consumer education campaign under subsection (g). ; in subsection
(d)(as so redesignated), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking subsection
(b)and inserting subsection
(c); in subsections
(d)and
(e)(as so redesignated), by striking Food Loss and Waste Reduction each place it appears; by inserting after subsection
(e)(as so redesignated) the following: The Secretary shall establish in the Department regional coordinators. The regional coordinators established under paragraph
(1)shall be responsible for— partnering with food producers, food processors, distributors, and food recovery organizations and acting as regional points of contact to facilitate real-time food recovery; understanding and developing the capacity needed for ongoing food recovery; providing technical support to food recovery organizations to improve the ability of the food recovery organizations to pick up surplus food, process that food, and deliver that food to populations or communities; and engaging with Department regional food business centers to identify opportunities for synergy and alignment with those centers. There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this subsection $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2025, to remain available until expended. The Secretary, acting through the Liaison, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall initiate a national food waste education and public awareness campaign (referred to in this subsection as the campaign ). The campaign shall, at a minimum— illustrate how much food goes to waste in the United States and households across the United States; highlight methods for preserving and storing foods; provide consumers tips to identify whether food is still safe and edible, regardless of any BEST If Used By or the USE By date on the label or food packaging indicating quality and freshness; teach consumers the differences between food freshness and food safety; teach consumers how to compost food scraps; develop educational materials usable by several different channels, including for specific industry sectors (including retail, food service, and consumer packaged goods), local governments, schools, community and faith-based organizations, and other appropriate channels; educate consumers on food products made with food waste, including upcycled food products, or that use innovative technology to prevent food loss and food waste; include interactive elements; and inform about intersectional issues of food loss and food waste, including public health, food insecurity, and climate change. In carrying out the campaign, the Secretary shall prioritize— evaluating existing scientific evidence, and, if needed, conducting additional scientific research, to determine what socioeconomic characteristics are associated with food waste attitudes and behaviors; identifying population segments to target; understanding how to best target those identified population segments; and determining which strategies are most effective in changing consumer behaviors. The Secretary shall carry out the campaign through— community engagement, which allows information to be delivered through locally trusted sources, with locally tailored solutions and partners (such as for donation or compost options); and national messaging appropriate for raising awareness of— nationally applicable issues (such as the meaning of best if used by date labels, tips for meal planning, or businesses that manufacture products using ingredients that would otherwise go to waste, including upcycled food products); and such other issues as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. The Secretary shall— for the purpose of testing methods and materials for carrying out the campaign through community engagement under subparagraph (A)(i), carry out pilot projects in communities selected by the Secretary; and assess the results of those pilot projects, including through waste audits or other quantitative measurements. In carrying out pilot projects under clause (i), the Secretary shall— ensure equity and diversity of representation; use science-based evidence, including from behavioral science, in designing and carrying out the campaign to increase the effectiveness of the campaign; and in coordination with State, local, Tribal, municipal, or territorial governments, inform consumers in a community of solutions, food products, or initiatives that are available to help prevent or reduce food waste. The Secretary shall conduct audits to gather data relating to the impact of the campaign in communities targeted by the campaign for the purpose of informing future efforts under the campaign, including by comparing outcomes in communities targeted by the campaign to outcomes in communities not targeted by the campaign. In addition to amounts otherwise available, there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029. ; and in subsection
(h)(as so redesignated)— in paragraph (1)— by striking Food Loss and Waste ; and by striking subsection
(d)and inserting subsection
(e); in paragraph (2), in the paragraph heading, by striking and inserting Report ; and Subsequent report by adding at the end the following: The Liaison shall submit to Congress and make publicly available reports describing the progress of the United States in advancing toward or achieving the goal of reducing food loss and food waste by 50 percent, compared to 2016 levels, by 2030. . In this subsection: The term Administrator means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. The term Commissioner means the Commissioner of Food and Drugs. The term food means any raw, cooked, processed, or prepared substance, ice, beverage, or ingredient used or intended for use in whole or in part for human consumption. The term food loss means, with respect to food, that the food does not reach a consumer as a result of an issue in the production, storage, processing, or distribution phase. The term food recovery means the collection of wholesome food that would otherwise go to waste and the redistribution of that food to feed people. The term food waste means, with respect to food, that the food is intended for human consumption but is unconsumed by humans for any reason at the retail or consumption phase. The term Liaison means the Food Loss and Waste Reduction Liaison established under section 224 of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 ( 7 U.S.C. 6924 ). The Secretary, in collaboration with the Administrator, the Commissioner, and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall collaborate to carry out the agreement relative to cooperation and coordination on food loss and waste, which took effect on May 15, 2024. Every year, the Secretary, acting through the Liaison, in consultation with the Administrator, the Commissioner, and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall submit to Congress and make publicly available a report describing the progress of the Secretary in carrying out the agreement described in paragraph (2). Pursuant to paragraph (2), the Secretary, the Administrator, the Commissioner, and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall engage with the heads of other Federal departments and agencies, including the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Administrator of General Services, and such other Federal departments and agencies as the Secretary, the Administrator, the Commissioner, and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development determine to be appropriate, to expand work on food loss and food waste. The Secretary shall consult with, and receive advice from, representatives described in subparagraph
(B)relating to— programming and policy issues relating to understanding existing and future challenges relating to food loss and food waste; acquiring the latest data relating to food loss and food waste; the latest innovative solutions relating to food loss and food waste from leading experts; and sharing and developing procurement best practices that will assist the heads of Federal departments and agencies described in paragraph
(4)in— preventing food loss and waste; reducing food loss and food waste; leading by example in addressing issues relating to food loss and food waste; and engaging contractors in reducing food loss and food waste in the operations of the contractors. The representatives referred to in subparagraph
(A)are representatives of— the private sector; agricultural producers; food industry members, such as food safety trainers, food aggregators and processors, food safety professionals, retailers, and food service entities; nonprofit organizations; food recovery organizations of varying sizes; and any other sector, as determined by the Secretary. In consulting and receiving advice under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall ensure participation by smaller producers and organizations from communities most impacted by food and nutrition insecurity and food loss and food waste issues. The Secretary may consult and receive advice under subparagraph
(A)through— a meeting through which input is sought, such as a workshop, town hall meeting, or listening session; a meeting described in clause
(i)with an existing group formed by representatives described in subparagraph (B); and such other means as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. The Secretary shall host quarterly meetings with the Administrator, the Commissioner, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, and the heads of other Federal agencies for the purpose of sharing communications relating to consultation and advice received under subparagraph
(A)with those officials regularly. Chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the ), shall not apply to any group formed for purposes of consultation or providing advice under this paragraph. Federal Advisory Committee Act Nothing in the subsection shall be affected by the expiration of the agreement described in paragraph (2). There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this subsection $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
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Sec. 12303
Food loss and waste
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