Retailers and producers that fail to sell food products three days before their expiration are obliged to donate them to non-profit organizations or to city halls to support poor families, or to sell them to social enterprises at 3% of their acquisition or production cost starting Sunday, May 21, reports local Profit.ro.

All companies are obliged to take measures to diminish food waste, including firms in the production, processing, storage, distribution, retail trade sectors, hospitality industry and food services. Food products that are close to expiry can’t be destroyed anymore.

Retailers and producers will be able to sell the products that are close to expiry at 3% of their price plus VAT to social enterprises or foundations. These will be allowed to further sell them at 25% of the initial price plus VAT.

Companies that fail to respect these rules will be sanctioned. Fines range between EUR 220-660 for small companies and EUR 1,300-2,000 for large companies.

In Romania, very large quantities of food are destroyed. According to official data, 15 million kilograms of food were destroyed last year.

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editor@romania-insider.com