A Bill to require large food retailers and large food manufacturers to take steps to reduce food waste and donate surplus food to charities for redistribution and, where food is unfit for human consumption, to make it available for livestock feed in preference over disposal; to encourage and incentivise all other businesses and public bodies which generate food waste to donate a greater proportion of their surplus for redistribution; to protect from civil and criminal liability food donors and recipient agencies where food has been donated in good faith; and for connected purposes.
House of Commons
Kerry McCarthyLabour (Co-op)
1 May 2012
May contain errors — check source documents for definitive information.
The Food Waste Bill would require large food retailers and manufacturers to cut waste and donate surplus to charities for redistribution. If some food can’t be eaten by people, it should be used as livestock feed rather than disposed of, and the bill aims to encourage other businesses and public bodies to donate more of their surplus. It also provides protection from liability for donors and recipient charities when donations are made in good faith.
The bill is at the 2nd Reading stage in the House of Commons. It originated in the Commons, with Kerry McCarthy as sponsor, and was first introduced for the 2012-2013 session.
Generated 21 February 2026
14 Mar 2012
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
