Schwerin (dpa / mv) – Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s Minister of Justice Jacqueline Bernhardt (left) has spoken out in favor of extensive legalization of the so-called containers. “Anyone who saves food from being wasted must not become a criminal. That is why we must jointly address the question of how we can ensure legal access to food that has been thrown away and is still edible,” said the Minister, who is also responsible for consumer protection, on Monday State Parliament in Schwerin.
Previous considerations to discontinue procedures in the event of theft of discarded food from waste containers could be a first step. But containers remain punishable, explained Bernhardt. She was also skeptical that the change in the guidelines for criminal and fine proceedings initiated by the Hamburg judicial authorities would find the support of all federal states. For example, Rhineland-Palatinate has already raised concerns.
The opposition factions of the FDP and the Greens had asked the red-red state government to support the Hamburg initiative. According to this, public prosecutors should regularly stop proceedings because of containers. Exceptions are cases of trespassing or property damage. The application was referred to the legal committee of the state parliament for further deliberation.
Bernhardt took the debate as an opportunity to promote more careful handling of food in general. Nationwide, eleven million tons are thrown away every year. 59 percent of this was in households, 7 percent in retail. At the consumer protection conference in Weimar in June 2022, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania submitted a draft resolution aimed at “introducing a legal obligation for retailers to surrender goods that have been withdrawn from sale but are in perfect condition”. This was accepted unanimously by all federal states.
The food banks that pass on food to the needy would also benefit from such an obligation. Due to the significantly increased prices, the food banks have also been experiencing increased demand in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania for a good year now.
