Key Points
- The food waste prevention law in Spain fully entered into force as of 3 April 2026.
- Restaurants are now obliged to offer customers the option to package leftover food free of charge.
- Businesses must offer different portion sizes on their menus and keep a registered waste prevention plan.
- Restaurants and markets that do not comply with the law and fail to take necessary measures may be punished with fines ranging from 60,000 to 500,000 euros.
By the Numbers
Spain has radically changed the operations of the restaurant sector by fully bringing into force the Law on the Prevention of Food Loss and Waste on 3 April 2026. The new regulation aims to reduce the negative environmental and economic impacts of systematic food waste. With this law, the voluntary period for businesses has ended, and an era of taking mandatory measures for the efficient use of food has begun.
Under the new law, bars and restaurants are obliged to offer their customers the opportunity to package their leftover food without charging an additional fee. In addition, businesses are required to organize their menus so that customers can choose various portion sizes (small, medium, large) suited to their appetite. In order to supervise the process, it is mandatory for every business to have a registered Food Waste Prevention Plan.
The responsibility is not limited to restaurants only; supermarkets and large stores are also obliged to optimize their stocks and donate edible food. The sanctions applied to businesses that do not comply with the regulation and fail to fulfill their legal obligations are quite severe. Businesses that violate the law or fail to take the necessary steps to prevent waste can face fines starting from 60,000 euros, reaching up to 500,000 euros in severe cases.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- How will this new law in Spain affect restaurants?
- Restaurants will be obliged to offer different portion sizes that customers can request and to package leftovers free of charge.
- What kind of sanctions will businesses face if they do not comply with this law?
- Supermarkets and restaurants that fail to fulfill their obligations under the law will be fined starting from 60,000 euros, and up to 500,000 euros in case of repeated severe violations.
- Are supermarkets exempt from this new law?
- No, under the law, supermarkets and large stores are also obliged to optimize their increasing stocks and donate edible food.
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