Futoshi Takanashi*
* Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Office of Food Industry Environment Policy
(1-2-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8950 Japan)

Abstract
In Japan, as much as 30 percent of total general waste is composed of food waste such as unsold food, and organic waste, whereas the level of food waste recycling is low.
The Japanese government has decided to reduce total waste, and has set reduction targets for total waste to cope with dioxin problems. We should work on reducing food waste which accounts for a certain percentage of total waste.
In order to address this problem, the government submitted a "Food Waste Reduction and Recycling Promotion Law" that obligates food-related businesses to work on recycling and reduction of food waste, and promotes the recycling of food waste with special treatment about Waste Management Law. The diet passed the new law in May.
This paper introduces the outline of the new law, and the background information and data concerning the establishment of the new law.

Key words: food waste reduction and recycling promotion law, food waste, food-related businesses