1. Regulatory barriers for the circular economy
Case study: Prevention of waste from biotic materials in the hospitality sector
Author/presenter: Caro Mooren, Joost van Barneveld, Technopolis Group

2. Overview
Joost (Technopolis) will finalise schemes in more professional style if he receives them by Friday noon (11 March)

3. Regulatory barrier
Hygiene regulations and best-before dates are too strict and broadly applied.
The Value Added Tax places a negative economic incentive on food donations.
Unclarity on Liability of food donors
Lack of monitoring and statistics.

4. Effects of regulatory barrier
Economic effects
Food waste (17 Mton) imposes extra costs on the hospitality sector
Avoidable food waste: 2.7Mton or €4.2 b
Negative economic incentives (VAT, liability) hinders food donations
Lack of data hampers awareness and discovery of improvements
Environmental effects
Food waste can be processed higher in the waste hierarchy
Increased CO2 reduction, nutrient recovery
Food production is very resource intensive
Impact on nutrification, energy demand, water demand

5. Observations on removal of regulatory barrier
Tailoring the hygiene rules and best-before dates per product should not compromise consumer health.
National VAT rules can be harmonised across Europe to exempt food donations
Improved monitoring systems require balance between administrative burden and data veracity
Enforcing the waste hierarchy
May require additional regulation
Requires adequate collection systems
Can impose higher costs