Portugal – Public canteens with vegetarian dishes
It was published on Portuguese Republic Journal a law that establishes the obligation of existence of vegetarian option in the menus of public canteens and cafeterias.
In the document, it is envisaged that "all restoration units affecting the public sector", including school and university canteens, hospital units, prisons, nursing homes, organs of sovereignty, municipalities, social services of the public administration, must have at least one meal "exempt of any product of animal origin" on the daily menu.
There should be elaborated "capitation, fact sheets and menus" drawn up by "food service technicians and the production of meals" so that there is an "adequate supply of vegetarian meals". "Without prejudice to the powers conferred by law on other entities, it is the responsibility of the Food and Economic Security Authority (ASAE), in particular, to ensure compliance with the standards".
This law will enter into force two months after its publication and it was originated from the document presented by the PAN (Political Party People-Animals-Nature) in December 2015, which appears from a petition with more than 15 thousand signatures.
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