Act on Promotion of Recycling and Related Activities for Treatment of Cyclical Food Resources（Food Waste Recycling Law, Act No. 116 of 2000）.

This Act stipulates basic matters regarding the recycling and recovery of food recyclable resources, as well as the control and reduction of the generation of food waste, etc., and also promotes the recycling and use of food recyclable resources by food-related businesses.
The Act consists of 30 Articles divided into 7 Chapters: Chapter 1 General Provisions; Chapter 2 Basic Policy, etc.; Chapter 3 Implementation of Recycling, etc. by Food-related Businesses; Chapter 4 Registered Recycling Business Operators; Chapter 5 Recycling Business Plan; Chapter 6 Miscellaneous Provisions; Chapter 7 Penalties.
“Cyclical food resources” or “food waste” referred to in the Act includes inedible as well as edible parts of food. The objective of the Act is to promote the recycling of the large quantity of food waste generated by unsold or leftover food or as residues from the food-related businesses (manufacturing, distribution, food service, etc.), and to reduce the amount of food waste ultimately disposed of by controlling its generation and reducing its volume. The Act stipulates that the business entities and consumers are required to be positively involved in reduction of food waste, and the competent minister in charge is to make guidance, counsel, recommendation and order to the food related business entities in accordance with this criteria. In addition, measures to accelerate the efforts on recycling by food related businesses includes that registered recycling business entities are given preferential measures of the Waste Management and Public Cleansing Law and the Fertilizer Control Law.