A/HRC/43/44/Add.5 79. As specified in the country’s budget for 2020, this social welfare tool will be slightly amended to redress some of the issues identified in 2019. Although the measure has many positive sides, some of the criteria may reduce the ability for everyone to benefit from this social welfare tool. 80. Although the measure could be further improved, the system offers a great opportunity for individuals to access a support system that, in the time needed, leads to the end of reliance on subsidies by providing proper social services and job opportunities and by initiating a programme for self-sufficiency and economic independence. B. Food aid and redistribution programmes 81. Italy has a number of programmes that facilitate access to food for poor families and individuals. It has always had a strong system for food aid, mainly through the Catholic Church and related religious institutions. However, in the last few years, the Government, many non-governmental organizations and religious organizations have been providing an even larger number of services aimed at food redistribution and aid. In the past years, an average of 50 million euros worth of meals have been distributed as a result of direct initiatives of the Government, and there are currently several programmes operating that collect food for redistribution. 82. When food surpluses occur, the best action to ensure the most beneficial use of edible food resources is to redistribute them for human consumption. Although the primary focus of food waste prevention should be to act at the source by limiting the generation of surplus food at each stage of the food supply chain (that is, production, processing, distribution and consumption), it is still helpful to combine food waste and food donation in a workable system. Food donation not only supports the fight against food poverty, but can be effective in reducing the amount of surplus food sent for waste treatment and ultimately to landfill. 83. Italy is the second country in the European Union to pass a national law to regulate the loss and waste of more than 100 kg of food per person per year.46 Law No. 166/2016 on food waste facilitates the collection and donation of food surplus by simplifying donations to non-profit entities, incentivizing innovation and requiring local administrations to provide fiscal incentives. In addition, it promotes reuse and recycling and has a dedicated fund for research, information and awareness-raising activities of the consumers, private actors and institutions. Public administrations, food actors and data highlight the fact that the law has increased the amount of food available for redistribution.47 84. This legislation provides a framework for permanent solutions in the field of recovery facilitation, tax incentives for the prevention of food waste, correct information for the consumer, and the permanent consultation of all stakeholders through the whole food chain and involving public institutions, private business and charitable organizations. However, this system alone cannot be considered as a valid long-term strategy against food poverty or an approach that is compatible with the right to food as a legal entitlement.48 85. The Government currently implements a number of programmes to recover surplus production for redistribution through the main actors operating in the field, namely Caritas, Banco Alimentare, Comunità di Sant’Egidio and Banco delle Opere di Carità. 86. Most of the food aid programmes are supported by the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived, which contributes to the activities of European Union member States to provide the most deprived with food and/or basic material assistance. The Fund has greatly facilitated the system of food aid in Italy. In 2019, (a) food recoveries by charitable 46 47 48 14 See www.sprecozero.it/cose-il-progetto-reduce; and T. Ferrando and J. Mansuy, “The European action against food loss and waste: co-regulation and collisions on the way to the Sustainable Development Goals”, Yearbook of European Law, vol. 37 (November 2018), pp. 424–454. Giuseppe Latour, “Supermarket e ristorante: cresce la solidarietà anti spreco”, Il Sole 24 Ore, 8 September 2019. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Food Loss and Waste and the Right to Adequate Food: Making the Connection (Rome, 2018).