EFSA publishes the 2015 European Union report on pesticide residues in food

The latest monitoring report published by EFSA reveals that more than 97% of food samples collected across the EU in 2015 were within legal limits, with just over 53% free of quantifiable residues. The figures are in line with those recorded in 2014.

Key points from the report

• In 2015, the reporting countries analysed 84,341 samples for 774 pesticides.
• The majority of the samples (69.3%) originated from EU Member States, Iceland and Norway; 25.8% concerned products imported from third countries. The origin of the remaining samples was not reported.
• 97.2% of the samples analysed fell within the limits permitted in EU legislation. 53.3% of the samples tested were free of quantifiable residues while 43.9% contained residues not exceeding legal limits.
• Legal limits were exceeded in 5.6% of the samples from non-EU countries, down from 6.5% in 2014.
• For products from EU and EEA countries, legal limits were exceeded in 1.7% of samples, a slight year-on-year increase (from 1.6%).
• Of the samples of foods intended for infants and young children, 96.5% were free of residues or residues fell within legal limits.
• For organic foods, 99.3% were residue-free or within legal limits.
• The majority of samples of animal products (84.4%) were free of quantifiable residues.