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Countdown to Spain´s Food Waste Act

The fight against food waste is about to take a crucial step with the imminent approval of the Law on the Prevention of Food Loss and Waste in Spain.

The text has already been submitted to the Senate by the Congress of Deputies and is in its final phase of processing, with key dates that mark the path to its entry into force: the deadline for amendments and veto proposals ends on 7 February, and 26 March is the deadline for processing in the Senate. From the publication in the Official State Gazette (BOE), supermarkets and other actors in the large-scale food distribution sector will have one year to adapt to the new obligations.

An important law that has supermarkets as a key player

In Spain, 25 million kilograms of food are wasted weekly, of which more than 80% are unused products, according to data extracted from the foundations of the Law. These worrying figures were the driving force behind the legislation that sets specific objectives: reducing per capita waste at retail and consumer level by 50% by 2030, and food losses during production by 20%.

Supermarkets are key players in achieving these goals because they are located at a strategic point in the food chain, connecting producers and consumers. By managing large volumes of food, they have the capacity to generate a significant impact on reducing waste, both in the management of their own surpluses and in raising awareness among employees and customers.

For this reason, the law establishes a series of responsibilities for supermarkets. One of the most important, detailed in Article 6, indicates that those establishments in the food chain with a surface area of more than 1,300 m² will be obliged to sign donation agreements with social entities, guaranteeing that food that cannot be sold, but is still fit for consumption, is destined for those who need it most.

They should also promote the sale of products with imperfections or those close to their best-before date, and encourage sustainable practices that reduce waste at the source.

Restaurants must also play a part

Restaurants and other food outlets will also have to adapt to the changes, ensuring, as much as possible, that no food goes to waste, and that customers are able to take their uneaten food home.

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15-year-old boy caught driving three times the speed limit

Local police in the Alicante municipality of San Vicente del Raspeig have located and identified a 15-year-old boy who boasted in a video uploaded to the social media platform TikTok about driving at 120 kilometres per hour.

The video, which was captured at 1:30 p.m. on February 19th on Calle Río Turis in San Vicente, seess him driving a car at a speed that was three times the maximum speed limit of 40 km/h. Additionally, he is accompanied by other juveniles inside the vehicle.

The young man is facing charges for a variety of potential road safety violations, such as irresponsible driving, driving without a licence and speeding.

According to a police report that has been submitted to the Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office in Alicante, the car in which the minors were travelling is owned by the driver’s father. The report identifies all occupants.

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Hiker rescued after sustaining a head injury during a fall

Today, the Alicante Provincial Fire Consortium rescued a 77-year-old man who suffered a head injury after sliding while hiking in Collado del Polçet, Cabeçó d’Or, Alicante.

According to the aforementioned agency, the Alpha 01 rescue helicopter and the GER special rescue group were dispatched to the location at approximately 1:38 p.m. upon receiving the alert.

The injured individual was immediately evacuated to the helipad of the Doctor Balmís General Hospital in Alicante by the firefighters after they had located him. The operation concluded at approximately 3:05 p.m.

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Police in Alicante seize 1,300 kilos of cocaine from two trucks

Two large vehicles carrying 1,300 kilos of cocaine were intercepted by agents from the Drug and Organised Crime Unit (UDYCO) of the National Police in Alicante. The French Customs and the Central Investigation Office of the Polish Police provided support to the investigation, which was conducted by the Alicante Police Station in collaboration with the Catalonia Headquarters and coordinated by Europol.

According to sources from the investigation, these vehicles were intercepted at a service station in France and in an area near Barcelona after travelling through the province of Alicante. The operation has led to the interception of over one tonne of narcotics that were intended for several European countries.

The events occurred on March 16th when French authorities discovered a large vehicle with Polish registration at a service station in France, en route to Lyon. 800 kilogrammes of cocaine were discovered concealed within aluminium materials during the inspection of this vehicle. The coordination mechanisms between countries were immediately activated through Europol, and the driver was arrested for an alleged offence against public health.

Cooperation was established with the Central Investigation Office of the Police, specifically with the department in Rzeszów, following the discovery of the first vehicle. This collaboration resulted in the discovery of a second truck near Barcelona.

The National Police discovered an additional 500 kilogrammes of cocaine, this time concealed among porcelain construction materials, as a result of their collaboration with the Polish side. The National Police’s Special Security Operations Group (GOES) provided assistance to the investigators in the transportation of the narcotics.

Currently, the investigation is ongoing, and Europol is coordinating efforts between Spain, France, and Poland to dismantle the criminal organisation that is dedicated to high-level drug trafficking.