monitors pesticide residues in food

HOW EUROPE
MONITORS PESTICIDE
RESIDUES IN FOOD
Why are pesticides used?
To protect crops
from being
damaged
or destroyed
by disease
and pests.
What are pesticide residues and
how do they get into food?
These residues are the measurable amounts of
chemicals resulting from the use of pesticides
that remain on cereals, fruit and vegetables
after harvesting.
Pesticides residues present on crops used
to feed animals and in the environment
can be found in foods of animal origin such
as meat, milk and eggs.
To maintain
crop yields.
Making sure pesticide levels in food are safe
EFSA provides independent risk assessments to evaluate how pesticides can be used safely.
Based on EFSA’s advice, the European
Commission and Member States approve
pesticides and set legal limits for
pesticide residues on foods
- known as maximum
residue levels (MRLs).
At EU level, pesticide use is
limited to the minimum
quantity that allows them
to carry out their job
effectively while ensuring
food is safe to eat.
Europe-wide cooperation to monitor pesticide residues
276
1Member States
National authorities
from the EU
Member States,
Iceland and Norway
analyse pesticide
residues on more
than 75,000 food
samples each year
and send the
results to EFSA.
1753
268
1518
2531
3487
2
247
4491
3223
245
5324
865
2104
1623
2757
507
17157
2222
1298
612
2670
1125 3944
6962
3775
4516
2694
170
EFSA
EFSA analyses the data and publishes a report
annually detailing the percentage of samples
containing residue levels within legal limits.
The report also assesses the exposure of
European consumers to pesticide residues
through their diets. EU decision-makers use
these data as a basis for future actions such as
monitoring activities, pesticide authorisations
and MRL setting.
671
Number of samples analysed in 2011
3 Authorised pesticides
An ongoing review has led to the removal
from the EU market of a large number
of pesticides that failed to meet
current safety standards.
1000
100%
500
90%
0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Percentage of samples within legal limits
Future developments
0
1993
2013
Number of authorised pesticides
CH3NH
As part of its ongoing mission to advance risk assessment, EFSA has started using
an innovative approach to dietary exposure known as cumulative risk assessment.
This approach considers risks arising from the exposure to more than one pesticide.
Cumulative effects will only occur when chemicals with similar toxicological
CH3
properties present on food are consumed together.
C O
SCH3
N C
O
CH3
S
CI
P(OCH3)2
O
CI
EFSA is the keystone of EU risk assessment regarding food and feed safety. In close
collaboration with national authorities and in open consultation with its stakeholders,
EFSA provides independent scientific advice and clear
communication on existing and emerging risks.
www.efsa.europa.eu