Pesticide residues in food: results of monitoring programme
Results from the UK government’s monitoring of pesticide residues in food grown in the UK and in imported food.
The UK government monitors both food and drinks produced in the UK, as well as those imported, to check for any pesticide residues. This is done to ensure that:
- no unexpected residues are occurring in crops (this backs up the statutory approvals process for pesticides)
- residues do not exceed the statutory maximum residue levels (MRLs)
- human dietary intakes of residues in foods are within acceptable levels
- that any pesticide residues present in food do not pose a risk to consumers
The monitoring programme is conducted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Northern Ireland Executive, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government.
About the monitoring programme
As part of the national pesticide monitoring programme, Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) is required to monitor and test commodities (food and drink products) for pesticide residues and to carry out a series of specific surveys each year. The design of these surveys, including the commodities selected and the pesticides tested, is agreed jointly by the 3 administrations.
There is also a provision in law for there to be a co-ordinated control programme within Great Britain. This programme sets out particular commodities to be sampled over a 3-year rolling cycle and includes a mandatory list of pesticides to be analysed. The 36 food groups included represent the most important components of the average consumer diet. Each year, 12 of these commodities are tested within the annual monitoring programme.
Since the UK’s exit from the European Union (EU), the monitoring programme in Northern Ireland is carried out in line with the surveys required under EU legislation. Northern Ireland also continues to participate in the EU coordinated control programme, which like the programme in Great Britain, specifies particular commodities to be sampled over a 3 year rolling cycle and includes a mandatory list of pesticides to be analysed.
The annual monitoring programme for both Great Britain and Northern Ireland tests a wide range of commodities (food and drink products) to ensure that all major components of the national diet are sampled, including:
- fruit and vegetables
- animal products
- cereal products
- infant food
- miscellaneous groceries (for example wine, chocolate and other products)
It’s a risk‑based programme aimed at commodities most likely to contain residues and is not designed to provide a representation of residues in the diet.
Samples for the annual monitoring programme are purchased across the UK from supermarkets, independent retailers and market stalls. Trained purchasers from a market research company buy the products in the same way as ordinary consumers, ensuring that the samples reflect food as it is available on the UK market.
In addition to retail sampling, inspectors from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) also collect samples in Great Britain from across the supply chain. This includes collecting samples from wholesale markets, retail distribution depots, food processing plants, ports and import points.
The samples collected from both the market research company and APHA inspectors are sent by HSE to be tested at one of the 4 official laboratories. The samples collected during each quarter, along with their results, are published in the monitoring programme quarterly reports. Within the report, the samples from Great Britain and Northern Ireland are presented separately. An overview of the full year’s monitoring results is also published annually.
In addition to the quarterly monitoring programme, Great Britain also operates a risk‑based rolling reporting programme. Each month, a small selection of commodities (typically 3 to 5) that are more likely to contain residues is tested. The results from this rolling reporting programme are published as monthly ODS data files on data.gov.uk.
Designation of official laboratories for pesticide residue analysis
Designated official laboratories (OLs) undertake monitoring of pesticide residues in food and feed on behalf of the UK government and the devolved administrations under Article 37 of retained Regulation (EU) 2017/625 on Official Controls.
The Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the ministers of the devolved administrations are the competent authorities responsible for designating OLs. They are designated to monitor maximum residue levels of pesticides in or on food and feed for Great Britain.
HSE exercises this function on behalf of the competent authorities.
Quarterly reports
HSE publish results from the monitoring programme on a quarterly basis. The data from the programme is published on data.gov.uk.
For some surveys, results are processed and published in advance. These form the rolling reporting programme and are also published on data.gov.uk.
Earlier information is available on the National Archives website.
UK competent authorities for pesticide residues in food annual reports
HSE provides an overview of the results and the conclusions from the pesticides monitoring programme samples collected throughout the year on an annual basis. HSE also provides the plan for the pesticide monitoring programme for the following year in this report. The data from the programme is published on data.gov.uk.
Multi-annual Great Britain control plan for pesticide residues
Specifies particular foodstuffs to be sampled over a 3-year rolling programme and also includes a mandatory list of pesticides to be sought. These 36 different foods represent the most important food groups for consumers.