2020 was the first year in which Member States measured food waste levels using the harmonised methodology set out in Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2019/1597. However, due to protective measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 data are not considered representative of food waste generated in certain Member States. Similarly, this may be the case for the data collected annually for 2021, 2022 and 2023. It is therefore appropriate to use an annual average between 2021 and 2023 as a reference period for setting food waste reduction targets, while alternatively allowing the use of the data from 2020. For Member States which are able to demonstrate that they performed food waste measurements before 2020 using methods consistent with Delegated Decision (EU) 2019/1597, the use of a year earlier than 2020 should be allowed as the reference period.
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