Our engagement with the EU
FEBA not only monitors EU developments but also contributes to the EU policy-making process, making use of the experience and expertise of its members, through consultations and participation in several expert and advisory groups as well as conferences and events, conveying in one single voice the position of the entire network at the European level.
FEBA Annual Forum on Food Aid and Social Inclusion
Every year, FEBA organises an “Annual Forum on Food Aid and Social Inclusion” to raise awareness, share best practices, and open a dialogue on specific topics affecting the activities of Food Banks.
In 2022, the FEBA Annual Forum aimed to convene FEBA Members and other stakeholders and experts to take stock of the most important policies implemented at the EU level to foster social inclusion and provide material support (e.g. Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived, REACT-EU, CARE, European Social Fund Plus, etc.).
ESF+/ REACT-EU/ FEAD
More in-depth information on the specific funding mechanisms at the EU level tackling food insecurity and poverty in Europe and the implementation in the different Member States can be found in the following resources listed below.
FEBA is an active member of 4 EU fora.
ESF+ Community
FEBA is a member of the Community of Practice on Material Support (ex-FEAD Community) and actively participates in its meetings. Encouraging discussion between a vast array of stakeholders, the community aims to contribute to learning and capacity building on particular themes related to ESF+, such as operational issues and programming topics. Members of the group range from the European Commission and national Managing Authorities to implementing partners such as FEBA Members, including also experts and partners from the private sector.
EU Platform on Food Losses and Food Waste
Tackling food waste means working together with all key players from public and private sectors in order to better identify, measure, and understand food waste as well as find solutions for its prevention.
FEBA has been a member of the EU Platform on Food Losses and Food Waste (FLW), since it has been established in 2016 and has been appointed for the new 5-year mandate, from 1 January 2022 until 31 December 2026. The EU Platform FLW brings together EU institutions, experts from the Member States, and relevant stakeholders and will continue to play a key role in mobilising action to reduce food loss and waste across the EU as part of the Farm to Fork Strategy.
FEBA participates in plenary sessions and is an active member of three subgroups:
- Action & Implementation
- Food Donation
- Food Waste Measurement
Advisory Group on Sustainability of Food Systems
The Advisory Group on Sustainability of Food Systems (AGSFS), composed of a broad set of 86 organisations representing public authorities, civil society, and food chain actors, was established in July 2022 with the objective to provide the European Commission with practical insights and information related to the implementation of the Farm to Fork Strategy. The expert group discusses a variety of specific topics, such as food labelling, public health and human nutrition, food safety, and crop protection, in order to feed the legislative developments at the EU level with on-the-ground experiences.
Read more here.
European Food Security Crisis preparedness and response Mechanism (EFSCM)
As enshrined in the Farm to Fork Strategy, the European Commission envisages to level up its coordination of a common European response to crises that could affect the EU food system and therewith, potentially put food security in danger. The European food security crisis preparedness and response mechanism (EFSCM) was established in 2022 to evaluate food-related risks posed by crises and improve the collaboration between private and public stakeholders to effectively reduce and address them.
Do you want to know more?
EU legislation on food donation to prevent food waste
- In 2017, the European Commission adopted EU Food donation guidelines in order to facilitate the recovery and redistribution of safe, edible food to those in need.
- The “Key Recommendations for Action in Food Waste Prevention” of the EU Platform on Food Losses and Food Waste were published in December 2019.
- Amendments to EU Food Hygiene Legislation in 2021:
- Regulation (EU) 2021/382 - Amending Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs as regards food allergen management, redistribution of food, and food safety culture
- New chapter on food redistribution that addresses how the “use by” and “best before” dates shall be applied
- Food business operators may donate food also after the BBD but shall assess if it is fit for human consumption taking into account e.g. the integrity of packaging and the organoleptic conditions
- Regulation (EU) 2021/1374 - Amending the Annexes to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 on specific hygiene requirements for food of animal origin
- Allows freezing of meat at retail under certain conditions
- If a ‘use by’ date is applied: before the expiry of that date;
- Without undue delay to a temperature of -18 C or lower;
- Ensuring that the date of freezing is documented and provided either on the label or by other means;
- In accordance with any condition laid down by the competent authorities for freezing and further use as food.
- Allows freezing of meat at retail under certain conditions
- If a ‘use by’ date is applied: before the expiry of that date;
- Without undue delay to a temperature of -18 C or lower;
- Ensuring that the date of freezing is documented and provided either on the label or by other means;
- Excluding meat that has been frozen before (defrosted meat); and
- In accordance with any condition laid down by the competent authorities for freezing and further use as food.
-
On 5 July 2023, the European Commission published a proposal for a directive amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste introducing legally binding food waste reduction targets. In May 2022 FEBA dedicated a specific webinar and a report on this topic and in July 2023 published a special edition which highlights the position of FEBA and its members, as well as summarizes the position of external stakeholders. Please find the reports below.
Report May
Report July
How the EU provides material support to the most deprived
With a budget of almost EUR 99.3 billion (current prices) for the 2021 – 2027 Multiannual Financial Framework, the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) is coined to support the social and economic recovery process following the COVID-19 pandemic while fostering a fair transition to a climate-neutral economy aligned to the ambitions of the European Green Deal and the Just Transition Fund as well as the European Pillar of Social Rights.
Key aspects:
- The ESF+ combines four previously separated funding initiatives: 1. European Social Fund (ESF); 2. Youth Employment Initiative (YEI); 3. Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD); and 4. EU Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI)
- A minimum of 25% of the shared management funding strand must be allocated for the pursuit of social inclusion goals.
- Member States are obliged to use at least an additional 3% for measures addressing those facets of poverty that have the highest social exclusion impact, such as food deprivation, homelessness, and child poverty providing food and/or material assistance with a co-financing rate of 90%.
- To better address material deprivation, the cost of recovery, transport, storage, and redistribution of food donations, i.e. surplus food, and directly related awareness-raising activities are eligible under the ESF+.
- Member States will be allowed to use electronic vouchers to grant people living in or at risk of poverty access to food and basic material goods.
