Report for 2021 on the results from the monitoring of veterinary medicinal product residues and other substances in live animals and animal products

The report summarises the monitoring data collected in 2021 on the presence of residues of veterinary medicinal products and other substances such as environmental contaminants in live animals and animal products in the European Union, Iceland, Norway and United Kingdom (Northern Ireland). A total of 621,205 samples were reported to the European Commission by the 27 EU Member States, Iceland, Norway and United Kingdom (Northern Ireland). They consisted of 351,637 targeted samples and 4,562 suspect samples reported under Council Directive 96/23/EC, and of 2,803 samples collected at import and 262,203 samples collected in the framework of programmes developed under the national legislation. The majority of countries fulfilled the minimum requirements for sampling frequency laid down in Council Directive 96/23/EC and in Commission Decision 97/747/EC. Overall, the percentage of non‐compliant samples in 2021 (0.17%) was lower compared to the previous 12 years (0.19%‐0.37%). Compared to the results from 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, in 2021 the frequency of non‐compliant results was decreased for antithyroid agents, while for steroids and resorcylic acid lactones the frequency of non‐compliant results was higher than in 2020, but lower compared to the previous years. For prohibited substances, compared to 2020 the frequency on non‐compliance in 2021 was higher, although in line with that of 2017 and 2018. Decreases compared to all previous years were noted for other substances and environmental contaminants, chemical elements (including metals) and dyes. A sharp increase compared to all previous years was found for ‘other substances’.