Japan: the Food Recycling Act (2000) and the Food Loss Reduction Act (2019)

Japan regulates the problem of food waste with two complementary acts: the act on promoting recycling and related activities concerning the management of recycled food resources (the Food Waste Recycling Act, Act No. 116 of 2000) and the act on promoting food loss and waste reduction (Act No. 19 of 2019). According to the environment ministry, the first is based mainly on reporting by businesses, while the second serves as the basis for a nationwide movement to reduce the discarding of edible food.

Legal framework and targets

The 2019 act was promulgated on 31 May 2019 and entered into force on 1 October 2019. The government approved the first basic policy on implementation on 31 March 2020; the second, revised one was adopted by the government on 25 March 2025 (Consumer Affairs Agency). The target for fiscal year 2030 – halving food loss in households and businesses relative to fiscal year 2000 – derived from the Fourth Fundamental Plan for Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society (government decision of 19 June 2018) and the basic policy of the food recycling act (12 July 2019), as well as from target 12.3 of the UN 2030 Agenda, concerning halving per capita food waste (at retail and consumer level) and reducing losses along production and supply chains.

What the 2019 act provides

According to the Consumer Affairs Agency, the act defines food loss reduction as “action to prevent the discarding of safe and nutritious food that is fit for consumption”. It sets out the responsibilities of the government, local authorities and businesses and the role of consumers, designates October as the month for promoting food loss reduction and requires the policy of the food recycling act to be applied in line with its principles. The government is to set the basic policy (by Cabinet decision), and local authorities are to endeavour to prepare their own plans. Government and local authority measures include awareness-raising, support for businesses, recognition of achievements, research, dissemination of good practice and support for food banks. A Council for the Promotion of Food Loss Reduction operates in the Cabinet, chaired by the minister responsible for consumer affairs.

Target revised after early success

According to the Consumer Affairs Agency, in fiscal year 2000 food loss (excluding inedible parts) was about 9.8 million t, including 4.33 million t in households and 5.47 million t in businesses. The estimated amount in fiscal year 2022 was 4.72 million t (2.36 million t each in households and in businesses), and in fiscal year 2024 – 4.61 million t (2.37 million t in businesses, 2.24 million t in households), i.e. about 37 kg per person a year. Because the target for businesses was reached eight years ahead of schedule, the second basic plan raises it to a 60% reduction (from 2.73 to 2.19 million t). For households the 50% target still applies (2.16 million t in fiscal year 2030), and according to the Consumer Affairs Agency a further reduction of about 200,000 t is still needed.

Data for 2012–2021

The environment ministry published in June 2023 an estimate for fiscal year 2021: about 5.23 million t of food loss and waste (excluding inedible parts), including 2.79 million t in businesses and 2.44 million t in households. For comparison, in fiscal year 2012 it was 6.42 million t (3.31 million t and 3.12 million t), 6.46 million t for 2015, 6.00 million t for 2018, 5.70 million t for 2019 and 5.22 million t for 2020. Amounts from businesses are estimated on the basis of reports submitted under the food recycling act, and amounts from households on the basis of surveys conducted by local authorities. According to the Consumer Affairs Agency, consumer attitudes are also surveyed every year: the proportion of people aware of the problem and acting to reduce losses was 74.9% in fiscal year 2024, against a target of 80%.

What this means for the biogas sector

Reducing food loss means less feedstock, but better sorted. The 2000 act requires businesses to report waste amounts, so data on the availability of streams for plants are better than in many countries.