HUNGARY

HUNGARY - SUMMARY OF POLICIES AND LEGISLATION FOR FOOD WASTE PREVENTION AND REDUCTION

Food waste has only been recently addressed in Hungary, notably through the coordination of food waste-related activities by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as of 2013.

Hungary does not have a specific national plan, however food waste is addressed in the National Waste Management Plan (2014-2020) - issued in 2013 - that contains the Hungarian Government’s plan in terms of waste management. This plan identifies a wide range of priorities including waste prevention, redirection towards reuse of by-products, packaging, biogas, composting, bioethanol production, research and innovation, eco-design, sustainable management, rand edistribution towards poor people. However, it does not define a clear action plan detailing the responsabilities of different governmental levels (i.e. national or regional).

Food donations are incentivised, meaning that corporate tax benefits for food donations (20% of the value of donations can be deducted from corporate tax base) are currently in place. Furthermore, food donations are exempt from VAT meaning neither the companies donating food nor the recipients of these donations have to pay VAT.

Figure 1 Hungary’s Policy Mix at December 2014

 
The Hungarian Food Book (Codex Alimentarius Hungaricus) was issued in 2013 by the Ministry of Rural Development. The codex contains quality, marking and food safety requirements for food products.

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REFERENCES

A) HUNGARIAN’S NATIONAL PLAN/STRATEGY ON FOOD WASTE REDUCTION
The National Waste Management Agency, National Waste Management Plan (2014-2020) (in Hungarian)
Available from: http://www.szelektivinfo.hu/hirek/414-megjelent-az-orszagos-hulladekgazdalkodasi-terv-2014-2020

B) MARKET-BASED INSTRUMENTS
National Act n° CLXXV/2011 - Corporate tax benefit for donations
Available from: http://njt.hu/cgi_bin/njt_doc.cgi?docid=27087.256007

National Act n° LIII/2010 - Exclusion of VAT from donations
Available from: http://njt.hu/cgi_bin/njt_doc.cgi?docid=111467.256090

C) REGULATORY INSTRUMENTS/REGULATIONS TRADING SCHEMES
National Act n° XLVI./2008
Available from: http://net.jogtar.hu/jr/gen/hjegy_doc.cgi?docid=A0800046.TV

National Act n° CLXXXV/2012
Available from: http://net.jogtar.hu/jr/gen/hjegy_doc.cgi?docid=A1200185.TV

Regulation 20/2006. (IV. 5.)
Available from: http://net.jogtar.hu/jr/gen/hjegy_doc.cgi?docid=A0600020.KVV

Regulation 62/2011. (VI. 30.)
Available from: http://net.jogtar.hu/jr/gen/hjegy_doc.cgi?docid=A1100062.VM

Regulation 37/2014. (IV. 30.)
Available from: http://net.jogtar.hu/jr/gen/getdoc.cgi?docid=A1400037.EMM

Hungarian Food Book (Codex Alimentarius Hungaricus)
Available from: http://www.omgk.hu/magyarelelmiszerk.htm

D) VOLUNTARY AGREEMENTS
The Hungarian Government, Food is precious – Forum for decreasing food loss and waste. (in Hungarian)
Available from: http://www.kormany.hu/hu/videkfejlesztesi-miniszterium/agrargazdasagert-felelos-allamtitkarsag/hirek/forum-indul-az-elelmiszerpazarlas-es-veszteseg-csokkenteseert

E) RESEARCH AND TECHNICAL REPORTS
None

F) COMMUNICATION AND CAMPAIGNS
Esélyt az ételnek! (Chance for food) (in Hungarian)
Available from: http://www.eselytazetelnek.hu

G) PROJECTS AND OTHER MEASURES
National Environmental Education Strategy (in Hungarian)
Available  from: http://www.un.org/esa/dsd/dsd_aofw_ni/ni_pdfs/NationalReports/hungary/Full_Report.pdf

All links cited in the references have been accessed for the last time on October 27, 2015.