Containers: The food industry strictly rejects impunity

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Students in Dresden at »Containers«

Photo: Christiane Raatz / dpa

At the Food Trade Association (BVLH), the initiative by Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann (FDP) and Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir (Greens) to abolish penalties for “containers” met with vehement rejection.

His association speaks out "against the legalization of so-called containers - under whatever conditions," said general manager Franz-Martin Rausch of the editorial network Germany.

Buschmann and Özdemir are working to ensure that, in most cases, those who collect discarded food from waste containers, for example from supermarkets, should no longer be punished.

This is one of many building blocks in the fight against food waste, said Özdemir.

So far, the "container" is punishable as theft.

However, industry representative Rausch sees no need for legal action.

There are already "sufficient possibilities in criminal law and criminal procedure law to take into account all conceivable case constellations in individual cases," he said.

Rausch also warned that certain foods in waste bins posed "a potential health hazard."

For example, food from product recalls could be included, which could be contaminated with foreign bodies such as glass or metal splinters.

"You don't see such dangers in the products," said Rausch.

He also denied that "binning" was an effective measure against food waste.

In retail, just seven percent of the food losses occurring in Germany would be incurred.

"If government and politicians want to effectively reduce food waste, food companies and non-profit organizations should be supported in donating more edible food and distributing it to those in need," said Rausch.

In a joint letter to the justice ministers of the federal states, Buschmann and Özdemir promote a proposal from the state of Hamburg.

This provides for the discontinuation of criminal proceedings for "containers" in many cases.

Climate activists, among others, welcome the initiative.

Only in the case of damage to property or trespassing, which goes beyond simply overcoming a physical obstacle, should containers be punished accordingly.

This could be the case, for example, if a lock is forced open or a garbage container is damaged.

fdi/AFP