Mechanism of recovery of food products discussed at Moldova's Economics Ministry

Chisinau, 18 October /MOLDPRES/ - Economics Minister Sergiu Gaibu today discussed with a delegation of the European Food Banks Federation (FEBA) the mechanism of food products’ recovery. The discussion took place at the headquarters of Moldova’s Food Bank. This bank recovers from shops food products got out of the commercial circulation, which are subsequently donated to vulnerable people, social canteens or turned into warm dinners.  

In Moldova, there is a draft law for preventing the food prodigality which, according to representatives of the Food Bank, needs adjustings as to the procedure of products’ deductibility. In the context, the FEBA secretary general, Angela Frigo, presented the legislation, according to which the mechanism of food products’ recovery works in the European Union. At the same time, the head of the Romanian Food Banks Federation, Gabriel Sescu, unveiled his own example which can be taken over by Moldova as well.      

”We are happy that European institutions show interest and provide support to Moldova. We are ready to intervene with adjustings where necessary, so that the future law on the prevention of food prodigality is functional and brings benefits to as many people as possible,’’ competent minister Sergiu Gaibu said.   

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) annually, one third of the global food production is wasted. ‘’A lot of products are thrown away. Weekly, we save thousands of breads, which were to reach waste deposits. Besides the bread, agricultural products are thrown away,’’ the director of the Diaconia Social Mission, which manages the Food Bank of Moldova, Igor Belei, said.  On the period April 2020-August 2021, the institution recovered over 200 kg of products from shops, which it subsequently donated to needed people.     

Moldova, along with another 192 UN member states, committed to enforce the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030, which comprises 17 general goals, including the reduction of poverty and starvation. The mechanism of prevention of the food prodigality can help achieve these goals to a greater extent.  

Photo: Economics Ministry