China: Policy Highlights and Opportunities

Each year, approximately 27% of all food in China is either lost or wasted along the supply chain, making up approximately one-quarter of the world’s total food loss and waste. Reducing FLW is a priority in China. The recent Clean Plate Campaigns 1.0 and 2.0 focus on anti-food waste rhetoric in the culture of extravagant feasts and consumer-targeted media. The government also enacted the 2020 Anti-Food Waste Law, which launched initiatives to fight food waste.

Atlas Research: China

Legal Guide

Learn more about the legal frameworks relevant to food donation and how China's existing laws and policies support or hinder the country's progress.

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Policy Recommendations

Dive into recommendations for policymakers based on the gaps and opportunities identified in the legal guides.

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Executive Summary

Read highlights of the research findings and our high-level recommendations.

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Policy Highlights

China research was published in March 2023.

Tax Incentives and Barriers

Under Chinese law, businesses may deduct their charitable donations up to 12% of the annual profit from their taxable income.

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If the charitable donation exceeds 12% of the company’s profit in a given year, the excess amount may carry over for deduction within three years.

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Donation Requirements and Food Waste Penalities

China’s Anti-Food Waste Law is a novel approach to minimizing national FLW and modulating behavior around food waste.

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The law penalizes wasteful behavior such as misleading consumers into ordering excessive amounts of food and failing to implement food waste prevention measures.

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Policy Opportunities and Recommendations

Food Safety for Donations

As the relevant government departments draft regulations for the Anti-Food Waste Law, they should be sure to include clear and specific guidance on which food safety provisions apply to donated food.

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In addition, government guidance tailored to specific stakeholders will also reduce confusion around safety for food donations and instill confidence in donors and recipient organizations, thereby increasing rates of donation.

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Liability Protection for Food Donation

To ensure that food donors and recovery organizations are adequately protected against potential legal liability arising from claims of harm, China should adopt

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legislation that protects those that act in “good faith” and adhere to relevant laws, similar to protections offered in the United States, Brazil, and Argentina.

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Government Grants and Incentives

The Anti-Food Waste Law provides several opportunities for creating grant and incentive programs. In order to maximize these opportunities, the government

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should create grant opportunities for food donation infrastructure and implement government procurement policies that support food donation and food waste mitigation.

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Mapping food donation policies around the world

The Atlas map compares food donation laws and policies in different countries and evaluates legislation across several issue areas. Use the map to see where your country stands and learn from best practices around the world.

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About Us

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Methodology

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