Chinese food waste law with fines for over-ordering takes effect

A Chinese law aimed at preventing food waste came into force on Friday after it was passed on Thursday.

It means that excessive orders placed with catering services can incur a fine of up to 10,000 Yuan (1,545 dollars).

Catering services were now also allowed to charge customers a disposal fee if they leave behind large amounts of food waste.

State broadcaster CGTN reported that the new law is in response to increasing amounts of food being thrown away in China

In the country’s catering industry alone, about 10 billion kilogrammes of food are wasted every year.

Last August, China’s President, Xi Jinping personally took up the cause, and characterised the amount of wasted food as shocking.

He said the waste was shameful and praised frugality.

Local authorities, however, inaugurated programmes in order to curtail food waste.

Online videos of people showing themselves eating excessive amounts of food or expensive dishes were also criticised.