Mr. David Flynn:

It is extremely important that people understand when food has gone beyond its useful or safe date. There is confusion about the best before date and the use by date. A lot of the work that we do concerns behavioural insights and understanding of what is avoidable food waste, why food is being wasted and why people are purchasing so much food. The best before date is one aspect of it, which features in our campaigns.

On mandatory implementation, I will let the Department officials comment on the legislation. I know from consulting with colleagues around Europe that this is an issue around Europe. Countries are moving at different paces but this issue features in discussions on food waste targets at a European level. It is one of the policy instruments that is available to allow a better understanding, particularly around dairy products that might have a best before date but it is very obvious whether a product is edible through its look, smell, etc. Similarly with fruits and other products that, to a certain extent, have arbitrary best before dates applies. There is a lot of potential. I ask Ms McCoole to briefly comment on the work that we have done on best before dates.