This bill, titled the "Reduce Food Loss and Waste Act of 2025," amends the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to create a new, voluntary program. The program, known as the Food Loss and Waste Reduction Certification Program, will be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture. Its primary goals are to significantly reduce food loss and waste across various sectors and to increase the donation of excess, apparently wholesome food to nonprofit organizations assisting individuals in need.

The program also seeks to promote the use of alternative disposal methods for food, such as redirection to animal feed, anaerobic digestion, and composting. A wide range of entities are eligible to participate, including:

government contractors
state, local, municipal, or Tribal governments
farms, food producers, manufacturers, and retailers
restaurants
educational institutions

Certified participants will be promoted by the Secretary through voluntary labeling and other communication channels, including the Department of Agriculture's website.

The certification process requires the Secretary to establish criteria within 18 months, which will include documentation of food donations or disposal quantities over 12 consecutive months. The Secretary will also establish processes for recognizing accreditation bodies and accrediting third-party certifiers, with a preference for higher education institutions with relevant expertise. To ensure interagency cooperation, the bill mandates that the Secretary of Agriculture, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency revise their existing memorandum of understanding. The bill authorizes an appropriation of $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out these provisions.