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Sustainable Food Consumption in the EU: Filling the Gaps of the Legal Framework

Marilena Zidianaki


The current EU legal framework in the field of sustainable food consumption is fragmented and ineffective in terms of changing consumption patterns towards environmentally- friendly food. After presenting the existing EU legal instruments addressing sustainable food consumption under the categories of regulatory instruments, voluntary environmental agreements, labels and market-based instruments, the author identifies the gaps of the legal framework and makes recommendations how to fill them with instruments that would change consumption patterns towards sustainability. The author conceptualizes a Directive that defines sustainable food consumption, sets targets, introduces sanctions on food greenwashing, deals with food waste, and encourages more voluntary agreements. The subsequent introduction of an EU Differentiated Value Added Tax and an EU Mandatory All-Inclusive Label is also recommended, if the Directive and the Voluntary Agreements do not bear fruits.

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