How Europe monitors pesticide residues in food

How Europe monitors pesticide residues in food

133,000 samples collected in 2023

Crops that have been treated with pesticides may contain residues. To ensure that pesticides are used correctly and their residues do not pose a risk to consumers, legal limits are set in EU legislation,

How do we know that levels of residues found in food are safe?

Food inspection services in the EU, Iceland and Norway have monitoring programmes in place to check that food complies with legal limits. 

98% of samples in 2023 were free of residues or contained residues that were within legal limits.

ANALYSIS

Official laboratories test the food samples for the presence of more than 740 pesticides.  

DATA

Around 26 million individual test results for pesticide residues
are reported to EFSA per year and summarised in an annual report.

EU DECISION-MAKERS  

EU decision-makers use EFSA’s conclusions and recommendations to
strengthen future monitoring programmes. 

EFSA is the keystone of EU risk assessment regarding food and feed safety. In close collaboration with national authorities in open consultation with its stakeholders, EFSA provides independent scientific advice and clear communication on existing and emerging risks.

© European Food Safety Authority, 2025. Reproduction is authorised, except for commercial purposes, provided that the source is acknowledged.

Photo credits: Shutterstock

Catalogue Number(*): TM-01-25-015-EN-N | ISBN 978-92-9499-752-4 | DOI: 10.2805/0181725