Bill > S835

This bill establishes a voluntary Food Loss and Waste Reduction Certification Program administered by the Secretary of Agriculture to help reduce food waste and increase food donations. The program will create a certification process for a wide range of eligible participants, including businesses, governments, schools, farms, and food service establishments, who can demonstrate their efforts to reduce food loss and waste. To become certified, participants must submit documentation to an accredited third-party certifier showing the quantity of food they have donated to nonprofit organizations or disposed of through alternative methods like composting or animal feed. The Secretary will develop specific certification criteria, maintain a public list of accredited certifiers, and promote certified participants through voluntary labeling and other communication strategies. The program aims to increase food donations to those in need, reduce overall food waste, and encourage more sustainable food disposal practices. The bill authorizes $3 million in funding annually from 2026 to 2030 and requires coordination between the Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency to implement the program effectively.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/835/all-info