Chemical monitoring
EFSA plays a pivotal role in collecting and analysing data on chemical occurrence, submitted annually by Member States, research institutions, academia, and food business operators. This data is crucial for EFSA's scientific opinions and reports, aiding risk managers in establishing legislative limits and ensuring the safety of the food chain.
Since 2019, the collection of chemical contaminants, food additives, pesticides residues and veterinary medicinal products residues data has been harmonised under the umbrella term “chemical monitoring data collection”.
Chemical contaminants
Chemical contaminants may be present in food or feed due to various stages of food production, distribution, packaging, or consumption. They can also occur naturally in the environment or as a result of human activities. Each year, EFSA collects available occurrence data submitted by Member States and other stakeholders, including research institutions, academia, and food business operators. Under Articles 23 and 33 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002, EFSA is mandated by the European Commission (M-2010-0374) to gather all available data on the occurrence of chemical contaminants in food and feed. These data are subsequently used in EFSA's scientific assessments and reports on contaminants in food and feed.
Food additives and flavourings
EFSA collects data on food additives to ensure their safety and compliance within the European Union. Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 establishes rules for food additives, providing the Union list of authorised substances and their maximum permitted levels (MPLs). The annual call for data and the call under the monitoring programme encourages national food authorities, research institutions, academia, food business operators, and other stakeholders to submit analytical and use level data on food additives.
Similarly, EFSA gathers data on food flavourings, as indicated by Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008, which lays down rules for food flavourings and offers a list of authorised substances. The call for data under the monitoring programme invites all interested stakeholders to provide analytical, use level, and presence data on food flavourings.
Both regulations are crucial for ensuring the effective functioning of the internal market while maintaining a high level of protection for human health. They aim to safeguard consumer interests and promote fair practices in food trade, including environmental protection where feasible.
The report on food additives and food flavourings data will be published here once available.
Pesticide residues
All matters related to legal limits for pesticide residues in food and feed are covered by Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. This regulation also contains provisions on official controls of pesticides residues in food of plant and animal origin that may arise from their use in plant protection. The annual reports on pesticide residues in food can be found here: 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007
The following dashboards describe the data reported to EFSA as part of pesticides monitoring activities. The dashboard published integrate the data in the annual reports.
Veterinary medicinal product residues
As indicated in Regulation 37/2010 the EU defines maximum limits for Veterinary medicinal products residues and unauthorised pharmacologically active substances in food residues, and mandates Member States to conduct official monitoring programmes to control their presence in live animals and food of animal origin. Each year, EFSA collects and summarises the results of these official control programmes from EU countries in annual reports. These reports offer a comprehensive overview of VMPR in food observed throughout the EU, ensuring transparency and maintaining high standards of food safety.
European Union annual reports on Veterinary Medicinal Product Residues:
2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008