S. 835 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Mar 4, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryCreates certification program to reduce food waste
The bill asks the Department of Agriculture to set up a voluntary certification program that rewards businesses, farms, schools, and other organizations for reducing food waste and increasing donations of extra food to nonprofits. The USDA would establish standards for who can participate, approve outside certifiers to verify their efforts, create a special label certified organizations can display, and promote them on a government website. Three federal agencies—the USDA, FDA, and EPA—would also update their agreement on coordinating food waste reduction efforts.
How it affects you
If you work at or run a farm, restaurant, grocery store, school, or food business, you could choose to join this certification program to show customers you're taking steps to reduce waste and donate extra food. The general public doesn't feel direct effects, but this program aims to increase food donations to nonprofits and reduce overall food waste in the country.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Mar 4, 2025)
Reduce Food Loss and Waste Act of 2025
This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a voluntary Food Loss and Waste Reduction Certification Program in order to reduce food loss and waste, increase donations of excess food to certain nonprofit organizations, and increase the use of alternative disposal methods for food (e.g., redirection to animal feed and composting).
Specifically, USDA must establish criteria for the certification of eligible participants (e.g., state or local governments, corporations, farms or food producers, retail grocers, restaurants, and schools).
USDA must also establish criteria for recognizing accreditation bodies to accredit third-party certifiers to review and certify program participants. Preference in accrediting third-party certifiers must be given to institutions of higher education that have expertise in food loss and waste reduction. USDA must maintain on a publicly available USDA website a list of (1) recognized accreditation bodies, and (2) accredited third-party certifiers.
Further, USDA must establish a voluntary label that certified program participants may use to indicate that they are certified. USDA must also promote certified participants on the USDA website and through events.
Finally, USDA, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must revise a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on December 17, 2020, and relating to cooperation and coordination on food loss and waste. USDA must implement this bill in coordination with the FDA and the EPA and in accordance with the revised MOU.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 835
A BILL
Reduce Food Loss and Waste Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-IL) · Introduced Mar 4, 2025 · Agriculture and Food · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Mar 4, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text: CR S1498-1499)”