After a bill that aims to reduce food waste and encourage donation was passed on Wednesday ( Aug 7 ), Singaporeans will no longer have to worry about being held accountable for their leftover or unsold food.
As long as certain requirements are met, the Good Samaritan Food Donation Bill, which was introduced by Member of Parliament ( MP ) Louis Ng ( PAP-Nee Soon ), will protect donors from criminal or civil liability for any death or personal injury brought on by consuming donated food.  ,
Due to this, Singapore did not provide food rescue organizations or sponsors with liability protection. Instead, indemnity agreements are frequently used to shield contributors from any hazards or liabilities brought on by unfavorable events.
WHAT THE BILL IS ABOUT
Any person or entity that provides meals to benefit, benefit, or humanitarian causes without any kind of payment is covered by the provisions of the Bill.
This means that any money that is exchanged for the foods, including any fees paid by the donor for the food, will not be regarded as a donation.  ,
Donors may fulfill four requirements in order to be granted liability exemptions. They are:
- At the time of the donation, the meal must not be improbable or impractical.
- The donor must tell the victim of any specific rules governing how to handle food so that it is still safe to eat.
- Any time the donation can give the recipient regarding the food’s safety and use must be disclosed to the donation.
- Up until the contribution, the donor may take all necessary precautions to keep food safety and hygiene standards in mind.
Also if a donor fails to comply with these four requirements, they will be held legally responsible for any losses incurred in the event that a recipient becomes ill from a disease caused by a donor’s illness.  ,
However, Mr Ng said this will not take away the Singapore Food Agency’s ( SFA ) powers to investigate any food safety issue.  ,
SFA can also look into and get enforcement action if there are any issues with donated food safety. The difference is that meals donors are just required to show SFA that they have fulfilled the four requirements, and that SFA did not hold the food donor accountable,” he said.  ,
Food is deemed illegal if it poses a threat of inflicting disease or injury on a consumer, as defined by the Sale of Food Act.
The food is also considered to be impractical if it is damaged, contains harmful ingredients, is from diseased creatures, contains unusual agents, or has package that affects its planned use, among other things.
Mr. Ng even listed two situations in which the exemption would not be effective.
In the first incident, food is exchanged between two people as part of a marriage.
For instance, the Bill did not use to food given to friends or meals in the office closet bought for associates, even though no money was exchanged.
In exchange for services or labor, the following incident involves providing food and lodging in a private home.
According to Mr. Ng, this means that employers wo n’t be required to pay for the food that their domestic helpers receive.