Guidance

UK National Monitoring Plan (NMP) sampling priorities for imported foods: 2026/2027

Updated 23 July 2026

Applies to England, Northern Ireland and Wales

• Publication for Scotland

1. National Monitoring Plan (NMP): Imported products of animal origin (POAO)

Sampling priorities from April 2026 to March 2027:

1.1 Bovine

Priority Ranking	Product Category	Hazard	Specific sampling guidance
High	Bovine	Salmonella (screen for AMR where possible), E. coli (screen for AMR where possible), Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC), Listeria monocytogenes	Minced meat and meat preparations intended to be eaten raw (for example, steak tartare). Minced meat and meat preparations intended to be eaten cooked. Note if testing for AMR, please store relevant isolates on agar slopes and then test them all together at the end of the NMP period, or in two batches throughout the year.
High	Bovine	Hormonal growth promoters (particularly trenbolone and zeranol)	Raw meats
High	Bovine	E. coli (screen for AMR where possible), STEC, salmonella	Fresh meats intended to be eaten cooked. Note: if testing for AMR, please store relevant isolates on agar slopes and then test them all together at the end of the NMP period, or in two batches throughout the year.
Medium	Bovine	Veterinary medicine residues: Anthelmintics including Benzimidazoles (Albendazole), Abamectin, Doramectin, Moxidectin and Ivermectin	Raw beef and bovine casings, cooked beef with country specific focuses on: Brazilian corned beef and Uruguyan bovine products (anthelmintics and pyrethroids). Note: care should be taken when reporting these results to make clear the legislation or other basis for sampling. Bovine meat antimicrobials (including compounds with human safety risk like Tilmicosin), as well as NSAIDs such as diclofenac and meloxicam, and the inclusion of permethrin under the existing vet med panel.
Medium	Bovine	Organophosphorus compounds: Including ethion, chlorpyrifos and fipronil	Raw meats
Low	Bovine	Lead / Cadmium	Include offal (kidney and liver)
Low	Bovine	Dioxins/PCBs	Limits for bovine meat and liver
Low	Bovine	BaP (Benzo(a)pyrene), PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons)	Smoked meat and heat-treated meat products (for example, flame-grilled burgers). Raw meats are not susceptible to BaP contamination.

1.2 Ovine

Priority Ranking	Product Category	Hazard	Specific sampling guidance
High	Ovine	Veterinary medicine residues: Nitrofurans and Chloramphenicol	Sheep casings, from China in particular. Frozen lamb.
High	Ovine	Salmonella (screen for AMR where possible), E. coli (screen for AMR where possible), STEC	Ready-to-eat minced meat, meat preparations and meat products intended to be eaten raw. Note: if testing for AMR, please store relevant isolates on agar slopes and then test them all together at the end of the NMP period, or in two batches throughout the year.
High	Ovine	Salmonella (screen for AMR where possible), E. coli (screen for AMR where possible), STEC	Raw lamb; minced meat and meat preparations intended to be eaten cooked. Note: if testing for AMR, please store relevant isolates on agar slopes and then test them all together at the end of the NMP period, or in two batches throughout the year.
Medium	Ovine	Organophosphorus compounds: Including ethion, chlorpyrifos and fipronil	Raw meats
Low	Ovine	Veterinary medicine residues	Sheep meat and offal/liver anthelmintics (for example, closantel) and avermectins (for example, ivermectin, doramectin)
Low	Ovine	Lead / Cadmium	Meat and offal – maximum levels in place
Low	Ovine	Dioxins / PCBs	Limits for meat and liver
Low	Ovine	BaP (Benzo(a)pyrene), PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons)	Smoked meat (to note that ‘smoked skin on sheep’ products other than head and feet are prohibited). Raw meats are not susceptible to BaP contamination.

1.3 Poultry

Priority Ranking	Product Category	Hazard	Specific sampling guidance
High	Poultry	Salmonella (screen for AMR), E.Coli (screen for AMR traits including ESBL/AmpC and carbapenemase)	Raw poultry products. Presence of salmonella on samples should be determined using standard procedures. Salmonella isolated from presence in 25g should be tested for antimicrobial sensitivity by performing MICs against them for the following antibiotics, according to current EU protocols for methodology: Ampicillin (A), Chloramphenicol (C), Cefotaxime (CTX), Cefpodoxime (CPD), Ciprofloxacin (Cp), Colistin (COL), Gentamicin (G), Amikacin (AMK), Nalidixic Acid (Nx), Neomycin (Ne) and Tetracycline (T). Multi-drug resistance will be determined as isolates resistant (using appropriate breakpoints) to 3 or more antibiotic of separate classes. Presence of E. coli producing Carbapenemase/AmpC/ESBL in raw poultry. AmpC/ESBL phenotype E. coli to be isolated on MacConkey agar + 1 mg/L cefotaxime and carbapenem resistant E. coli to be isolated on two commercials chromogenic carbapenem agars according to current EU protocols. Viable counts for E. coli to be determined on MacConkey agar and MacConkey agar + 1 mg/L cefotaxime according to current EU protocols. Cooked poultry and other ready-to-eat poultry products. Viable counts of E. coli on samples should be determined on MacConkey agar and MacConkey agar + 1 mg/L cefotaxime according to current EU protocols. However, viable counts should additionally be determined using a commercial ESBL agar. Isolates with an AmpC and or ESBL phenotype from MacConkey agar + 1 mg/L cefotaxime or the commercial ESBL agar should be verified as such if required using appropriate genetic (for example, PCR or WGS) or phenotypic (for example, appropriate MICs or sensitivities) methods. Note: if testing for AMR, please store relevant isolates on agar slopes and then test them all together at the end of the NMP period, or in two batches throughout the year. Please also report the results of all AMR tests (positive or negative) to microriskassessment@food.gov.uk.
High	Poultry	Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria monocytogenes	Cooked poultry from various countries, particularly from Brazil, Thailand, China, Ukraine. Including cooked breaded frozen poultry and other potentially ready-to-eat poultry products.
High	Poultry	Veterinary medicine residues: Coccidiostats and antimicrobials (Nicarbazin, Lasalocid, Diclazuril) Nitrofurans and Chloramphenicol	Raw poultry (chicken, duck, turkey, guinea fowl, goose). Fresh and salted chicken. Salted/marinated chicken from Brazil & Thailand. Cooked poultry (chicken, duck) from Thailand and China.
High	Poultry	Salmonella, E. coli	Raw poultry, minced meat, meat products and meat preparations intended to be eaten cooked, including salted/marinated chicken from Brazil, Thailand and Ukraine.
Low	Poultry	Lead / Cadmium	Meat and offal – maximum levels in place
Low	Poultry	Dioxins / PCBs	Chicken liver is very low risk

1.4 Swine

Priority Ranking	Product Category	Hazard	Specific sampling guidance
High	Swine	Veterinary medicine residues: Nitrofurans, chloramphenicol and other antimicrobials; and Beta-agonists (particularly ractopamine)	Hog casings, from China in particular. USA in particular but also other countries use ractopamine in pork production. Samples from Mexico for clenbuterol.
High	Swine	Salmonella (screen for AMR where possible), E. coli (screen for AMR where possible), Listeria monocytogenes	Ready-to-eat minced meat, meat products. Note: if testing for AMR, please store relevant isolates on agar slopes and then test them all together at the end of the NMP period, or in two batches throughout the year.
High	Swine	Salmonella (screen for AMR where possible), E. coli (screen for AMR where possible)	Raw meat to be cooked, minced meat and meat preparations intended to be eaten cooked. Note: if testing for AMR, please store relevant isolates on agar slopes and then test them all together at the end of the NMP period, or in two batches throughout the year.
Low	Swine	Lead / Cadmium	Meat and offal – maximum levels in place
Low	Swine	BaP (Benzo(a)pyrene), PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons)	Smoked pork meat products (sausage, bacon), also including cooked smoked sausage products. Raw meats are not susceptible to BaP contamination.
Low	Swine	Dioxins/PCBs	Lower limits apply than for beef and lamb, so there is a higher risk of non-compliance than other meats

1.5 Bivalve molluscs, echinoderms, tunicates and gastropods

Priority Ranking	Product Category	Hazard	Specific sampling guidance
High	Bivalves, echinoderms, tunicates and gastropods	Salmonella, E. coli, Vibrio	Live bivalve molluscs and live echinoderms, tunicates and gastropods. Include AMR of pathogens, in particular resistance to front-line clinically relevant drugs. Pathogenic vibrio such as Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus, particularly in live bivalve shellfish. Note: if testing for AMR, please store relevant isolates on agar slopes and then test them all together at the end of the NMP period, or in two batches throughout the year.
High	Bivalves, echinoderms, tunicates and gastropods	Salmonella, Vibrio, Listeria monocytogenes	Cooked molluscan shellfish. Include AMR for salmonella, in particular resistance to front-line clinically relevant drugs. Note: if testing for AMR, please store relevant isolates on agar slopes and then test them all together at the end of the NMP period, or in two batches throughout the year.
Medium	Bivalves, echinoderms, tunicates and gastropods	Veterinary medicine residues	Test for nitrofurans in live bivalve molluscs
Medium	Bivalves, echinoderms, tunicates and gastropods	Biotoxins – PSP, ASP, Lipophilic toxins including DSP	Live bivalve molluscs and live echinoderms, tunicates and gastropods. With PSP (Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning) being potentially fatal, priority ranking could be increased to High priority for areas where PSP events are recurrent.
Medium	Bivalves, echinoderms, tunicates and gastropods	Norovirus and Hepatitis A virus	Norovirus and hepatitis A virus may pose a risk, particularly in live bivalve shellfish (not intended to be cooked) such as oysters. Whilst the risk exists in imported shellfish, there are at present no agreed limits or legislation in place. Compliance with general food safety requirements would be the basis for any enforcement action.
Low	Bivalves, echinoderms, tunicates and gastropods	Heavy metals: lead, cadmium, mercury (incl. methylmercury), BaP and PAH, Dioxins/PCBs	Live bivalve molluscs and live echinoderms, tunicates and gastropods. Bivalve shellfish are prone to PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) contamination.

1.6 Fish products and crustaceans

Priority Ranking	Product Category	Hazard	Specific sampling guidance
High	Fish products and crustaceans	Salmonella, Vibrio, Listeria monocytogenes	Cooked crustaceans. Include AMR of pathogens, in particular resistance to front-line clinically relevant drugs. Note: if testing for AMR, please store relevant isolates on agar slopes and then test them all together at the end of the NMP period, or in two batches throughout the year.
High	Fish products and crustaceans	Listeria monocytogenes	Smoked fish (for example, salmon, haddock and kippers) or cured fish intended to be eaten as bought. Note: if testing for AMR, please store relevant isolates on agar slopes and then test them all together at the end of the NMP period, or in two batches throughout the year.
High	Fish products and crustaceans	Veterinary medicine residues	Crustaceans: test for chloramphenicol, sulphonamides, nitrofurans and antimicrobials. Aquaculture/farmed products, particularly from Vietnam, India and Bangladesh, and to a lesser extent China: test for antimicrobials (including trimethoprim, macrolides), and dyes (for example, malachite green and crystal violet and their metabolites). Aquaculture from South Korea for antibiotics, with a focus on ciprofloxacin and enrofloxacin.
Medium	Fish products and crustaceans	Cadmium	Checks should include molluscs, cephalopods and sardines. Crustaceans (white meat only) and muscle meat of fish would be low priority.
Medium	Fish products and crustaceans	Mercury (total mercury and methylmercury)	Mercury accumulates in all fish, particularly larger predatory oily fish. RASFF reports are common in imports from Asia and Indonesia, so priority should be considered for species from those areas.
Medium	Fish products and crustaceans	Histamine	In tuna, and other fishery products from fish species associated with a high amount of histidine
Medium	Fish products and crustaceans	Lead	Checks should include cephalopods. Maximum levels exist for muscle meat in fish, crustaceans (white meat only).
Medium	Fish products and crustaceans	Irradiation	In dried fish
Medium	Fish products and crustaceans	Inorganic arsenic (speciated)	Muscle meat of fish and crustaceans [footnote 1]
Low	Fish products and crustaceans	Aflatoxins	Smoked/dried fish powder from west African countries, for example, Bonga powder
Low	Fish products and crustaceans	E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus	Imitation crab claws from India. These are ready-to-cook (and not ready-to-eat).
Low	Fish products and crustaceans	Nematode parasites	Parasitic infestation in wild-caught fresh fish only
Low	Fish products and crustaceans	BaP (Benzo(a)pyrene), PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons)	Dried/smoked fish and fishery products. Does not apply to fresh fish, crustaceans or cephalopods.
Low	Fish products and crustaceans	Dioxins / PCBs	Oily fish only. Fish liver – limits set at a level that would indicate a moderate rate of non-compliance but rarely consumed in UK.

1.7 Eggs

Priority Ranking	Product Category	Hazard	Specific sampling guidance
Medium	Eggs	Veterinary medicine residues	Test for antimicrobials and coccidiostats, including eggs from Albania
Medium	Eggs	Dioxins/ PCBs	Limits apply only to hen eggs and hen egg products. Free range/organic eggs in particular are known to accumulate dioxins.
Medium	Eggs	Salmonella	Ready-to-eat foods and egg products containing raw egg, excluding products where the manufacturing process or the composition of the product will eliminate the salmonella risk

1.8 Milk and milk products

Priority Ranking	Product Category	Hazard	Specific sampling guidance
High	Milk and milk products	Listeria monocytogenes, salmonella, E. coli and STEC	Cheeses, made from raw milk, or milk that may have undergone a lower heat treatment than pasteurisation
Medium	Milk and milk products	Salmonella, E. coli, Enterobacteriaceae (as a marker for Cronobacter as per (AEUL) 2073/2005)	Dried infant formulae and dried dietary foods for special medical purposes intended for infants below six months of age. Dried follow-on formulae.
Medium	Milk and milk products	Salmonella, Enterobacteriaceae	Milk powder and whey powder. Ice cream containing milk ingredients, excluding products where the manufacturing process or the composition of the product will eliminate the salmonella risk.
Medium	Milk and milk products	Veterinary medicine residues	Bovine milk antimicrobials (including compounds with human safety risk like Tilmicosin). Steroids, particularly from Colombia (including Oestradiol or Estradiol). NSAIDs such as Diclofenac and Meloxicam, and the inclusion of Permethrin under the existing vet med panel.
Low	Milk and milk products	Staphylococcal enterotoxins (to be carried out on samples with coagulase positive Staphylococci test results greater than 105 cfu/g)	Cheeses made from raw milk. Cheeses made from milk that has undergone a lower heat treatment than pasteurisation. Ripened cheeses made from milk or whey that has undergone pasteurisation or a stronger heat treatment. Unripened soft cheeses (fresh cheeses) made from milk or whey that has undergone pasteurisation or a stronger heat treatment.
Low	Milk and milk products	Enterobacter sakazakii, now renamed Cronobacter spp, see assimilated EU law (AEUL) 2073/2005	Dried infant formulae and dried dietary foods for special medical purposes intended for infants below six months of age
Low	Milk and milk products	Aflatoxin M1	Raw milk, heat treated milk and milk for the manufacture of milk-based products. Infant formulae and follow-on formulae, including infant milk and follow-on milk.
Low	Milk and milk products	Lead / Cadmium	Milk and milk products, including infant formula and follow on formula
Low	Milk and milk products	Cereulide toxin	Infant formula, follow on formula, food for special medical purposes
Low	Milk and milk products	Glycidyl esters (GE), 3-MCPD esters	Infant formula and follow on formula. Note: there are no MLs for 3-MCPD esters for infant formula and follow-on formula in GB assimilated EU law (AEUL).

1.9 Equine

Priority Ranking	Product Category	Hazard	Specific sampling guidance
Medium	Equine	Veterinary medicine residues	Testing for Phenylbutazone (Bute), targeted to equines from Mexico and South America in general
Medium	Equine	Salmonella	Ready-to-eat minced meat, meat products and meat preparations intended to be eaten raw
Low	Equine	Salmonella	Minced meat and meat preparations intended to be eaten cooked
Low	Equine	Lead / Cadmium	Include offal (kidney and liver)

1.10 Animal fats and marine oils

Priority Ranking	Product Category	Hazard	Specific sampling guidance
Low	Animal fats and marine oils	Dioxins / PCBs	Animal fats and marine oils are included in Regulation (EC) 1881/2006 as amended, and UK assimilated legislation. Limits are as for the source animal except for mixed animal fat, which may be at higher risk of non-compliance because the limits are lower than those for beef / lamb / poultry fat.
Low	Animal fats and marine oils	Glycidyl esters (GE), 3-MCPD esters	Fish oils, marine oils. Note: GB assimilated EU law (AEUL) have GE MLs for fish oils, but not marine oils/animal fats; EU and NI regulations extend to other marine organisms. There are no MLs for 3-MCPD esters for this group in GB AEUL, although there are in EU and NI regulations.

1.11 (Processed) animal protein products

Priority Ranking	Product Category	Hazard	Specific sampling guidance
Low	(Processed) Animal and marine protein products	Salmonella	Gelatine and collagen (Microbiological criterion 1.10 in Annex I of Regulation (EC) 2073/2005 specifically gelatine, and UK assimilated legislation). Supplements glucosamine/chondroitin if there are suspicions (subject to laboratory availability).
Low	(Processed) Animal and marine protein products	Heavy metals: lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium, arsenic, copper, zinc	Gelatine (and collagen) if there are suspicions (subject to laboratory availability)

1.12 Honey

Priority Ranking	Product Category	Hazard	Specific sampling guidance
Medium	Honey	Veterinary medicine residues: antimicrobials (including Chloramphenicol, Nitrofurans); antiparasitic agents (including Amitraz, Coumafos)	Country specific focuses for honey from: China, African countries, Madagascar (nitrofuran metabolite semicarbazide) and Albania. Results should be checked for compliance with pharmacologically active substance MRLs as set under Regulation (EC) 37/2010 as amended, and UK assimilated legislation. Care should be taken when reporting these results to make clear the legislation or other basis for sampling. Note: The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), is responsible for the animal health aspects of imports of honey. Read our importing products of animal origin guidance.
Medium	Honey	Pesticide residues	Honey from China, and from African countries. Sampling for pesticides should be in line with EC Directive 2002/63, and UK assimilated legislation. Analysis should be in line with SANTE/12682/2019 or its replacement, and UK assimilated legislation. In Northern Ireland analysis should be by a NI or EU official laboratory. GB results should be checked for compliance with GB pesticide MRLs as set in the GB MRL statutory register. This is also the case for goods entering NI from GB via the NI Retail Movement Scheme (NIRMS). Non-NIRMS goods in NI should be assessed for compliance with EU pesticide MRLs. Care should be taken when reporting these results to make clear the legislation or other basis for sampling.

1.13 Pet food

Priority Ranking	Product Category	Hazard	Specific sampling guidance
High	Pet food (including frozen)	Lead	Pet food made from game meat – maximum levels in place
High	Animal by- products to be used as animal feed	Salmonella	Raw frozen feeder mice and rats intended to be used as animal feed. Raw frozen chicks from Ukraine.
High	Pet food (including frozen)	Salmonella, E. coli, STEC, Enterobacteriaceae, Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter and Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) where possible (Colistin resistance, Carbapenem-resistance, ESBL)	Raw pet food. Note: if testing for AMR, please store relevant isolates on agar slopes and then test them all together at the end of the NMP period, or in two batches throughout the year.
Medium	Pet food (including frozen)	Salmonella, Enterobacteriaceae and Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) where possible (Colistin resistance, Carbapenem-resistance, ESBL)	Cat and dog food to be tested for pathogens, indicator bacteria and AMR. Dog chews, particularly from China, India and Türkiye. Mealworms from China. Note: if testing for AMR, please store relevant isolates on agar slopes and then test them all together at the end of the NMP period, or in two batches throughout the year.
Medium	Pet food (including frozen)	Veterinary medicine residues	Chicken or duck fillet

2. National Monitoring Plan: Imported food not of animal origin (FNAO)

Sampling priorities from April 2026 to March 2027:

2.1 Nuts and seeds products

Priority Ranking	Product Category	Hazard	Specific Sampling Guidance
High	Nuts and seed products	E. coli, salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes	Potentially ready-to-eat commodities: tahini and halva from various countries, particularly from Israel
High	Nuts and seed products	E. coli, salmonella	Potentially ready-to-eat commodities: nut spreads, sesame seeds, cumin seeds
High	Nuts and seed products	Aflatoxins	Almonds (including ground/flour) particularly from Australia and USA Groundnuts (including spreads/flour) particularly from Türkiye Kuli kuli (peanut product) particularly from Ghana and Nigeria Suya mix (peanut powder) particularly from Nigeria. Brazil nuts Pistachios particularly from USA (also imported via Türkiye) Hazelnuts, walnuts, other tree nuts and mixed nuts, nut spreads and butters Melon seeds (egusi) particularly from Ghana (seed or ground) Chia seeds Ogbono (African melon seed).
Medium	Nuts and seed products	Pesticide residues [footnote 2]	Cumin seeds (including ground/powder), particularly from Türkiye
Medium	Nuts and seed products	Cyanide (hydrocyanic acid)	Apricot kernels
Low	Nuts and seed products	Pesticide residues [footnote 2]	Dried mung beans

2.2 Herbs and spices

Priority Ranking	Product Category	Hazard	Specific Sampling Guidance
High	Herbs and spices	Salmonella, Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC), Listeria monocytogenes	Potentially ready-to-eat commodities: paan (betel) leaves, coriander leaves and other herbs (fresh or dried). Sweet peppers (Capsicum annuum) (Food – crushed or ground) from China.
High	Herbs and spices	Salmonella, E. coli	Potentially ready-to-eat commodities: pepper (black, pink and white), paprika powder, chilli powder, spice mixtures
High	Herbs and spices	Aflatoxins	Nutmeg (whole and ground), paprika powder, chilli powder
High	Herbs and spices	Sudan dyes	Ground turmeric from Bangladesh, crushed pepper from China, paprika powder from Russia, spices and sumac from Türkiye
Medium	Herbs and spices	Undeclared allergens, colours/dyes or sulphites	Spice mixtures, curry powder, garlic powder
Medium	Herbs and spices	Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs)	Cumin and oregano, from various countries, including Türkiye (EU/NI controlled since Dec 2021). GB does not have MLs at present, Compliance with general food safety requirements would be the basis for any enforcement action.
Medium	Herbs and spices	Pesticide residues [footnote 2]	Dried spices: ground ginger, ground coriander, paprika powder, chilli powder. Fresh ginger, coriander roots and leaves. Dried herbs, particularly from India. Fresh herbs (including basil and mint), particularly from Cambodia. Gotukola from Sri Lanka. Vanilla from India, vanilla extract from USA
Low	Herbs and spices	Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP)	Ginger; oregano.

2.3 Fruit and vegetables

Priority Ranking	Product Category	Hazard	Specific Sampling Guidance
High	Fruit and vegetables	Salmonella, E. coli, Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC), Listeria monocytogenes	Potentially ready-to-eat commodities: peppers (sweet or bell), salad leaves, prepared fresh vegetables; enoki mushrooms particularly from Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, fresh coconut. Sprouts: all bean sprouts, alfalfa sprouts, other sprouted seeds. Melons (including cantaloupe) particularly from Brazil and Mexico. Raisins (dried grapes) particularly from Türkiye dried dates.
High	Fruit and vegetables	Aflatoxins	Dried figs, chilli peppers (fresh or dried)
Medium	Fruit and vegetables	Pesticide residues [footnote 2]	Dried beans particularly from Ghana. Fresh beans, yardlong beans particularly from Sri Lanka. Okra; peppers (sweet or bell); spinach. Chilli peppers (peppers of genus Capsicum, other than sweet) from Rwanda, and Uganda (fresh or dried), particularly for clothianidin. Fresh sprouts (including from mung beans). Tomatoes from Türkiye; spring onions and carrots from Egypt. Aubergines/eggplants (Solanum aethiopicum) from Burkina Faso. Seem beans, helmet beans from Bangladesh. Dried bean flour from Nigeria. Vine fruits/raisins, pomegranates, mangoes (fresh or dried) particularly from Brazil. Apples and guava from India. Prepared fresh fruit, dried dates. Citrus fruit particularly from Egypt. Granadilla (Passiflora ligularis) and passion fruit (Passiflora edulis), particularly from Colombia and Thailand. Sugar apples (Annona squamosa) from Egypt. Green papaya (Carica papaya) from Mexico. Pineapples from Ghana. Pears from China and Türkiye Strawberries from Egypt. Grapes (white, seedless) from Türkiye. Durian from Vietnam. Zara lemons (Citrus medica) from Bangladesh for pesticide residues Mango (Mangifera indica) (Food)   from Egypt for pesticide residues. Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) (Food – fresh and chilled) from India for pesticide residues Limes from Brazil for pesticide residues. Sichuan peppercorn from China- pesticides residues. Pickled lime from India- pesticide residues (ethylene oxide).
Medium	Fruit and vegetables	Norovirus / Hepatitis A virus	Frozen sweetcorn, frozen raspberries, other small fruit and berries
Medium	Fruit and vegetables	Ochratoxin A	Vine fruits / raisins particularly from Uzbekistan; dried figs and mulberries particularly from Türkiye; soya beans
Low	Fruit and vegetables	Cadmium	Avocados and asparagus, particularly from Peru
Low	Fruit and vegetables	Undeclared sulphites	Dried apricots, dried dates, other dried or candied/mixed fruits. Coconut (desiccated, dried, flour)
Low	Fruit and vegetables	Iodine	Seaweed and kelp (from China, Japan and Korea)

2.4 Grain products

Priority Ranking	Product Category	Hazard	Specific sampling guidance
Medium	Grain products	Aflatoxins	Banku mix (made from fermented corn flour) from Ghana
Medium	Grain products	Sudan dyes	Couscous from Lebanon; Fufu flour from Ghana
Medium	Grain products	Heavy metals, including inorganic arsenic	Rice from Vietnam and Thailand
Low	Grain products	Non-permitted colours	Fruit bars and breakfast cereals from USA

2.5 Other FNAO products

Priority Ranking	Product Category	Hazard	Specific Sampling Guidance
High	Edible oils	Sudan dyes	Palm oil, particularly from Ivory Coast and Nigeria
Medium	Edible oils	3-MPCD and PAH (Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons)	Palm oil, other edible oils
Medium	Tea	Pesticide residues [footnote 2]	Tea leaves (Camellia sinensis), especially from India
Medium	Food additives	Pesticide residues [footnote 2]: ethylene oxide	Xanthan gum from China. Guar gum/locust bean gum from India. Sauces; mixed condiments and seasonings; mustard flours and meals and prepared mustard from India. Calcium carbonate from India. Mixtures of food additives containing locust bean gum from Malaysia and Türkiye.
Medium	Confectionery	Non-permitted thickening / gelling additives: konjac (choking hazard)	Boba balls for bubble tea and Boba jellies from China and Taiwan
Low	Confectionery	Non-permitted colours	From USA, China, Japan, Brazil and Colombia. Erythrosine in tapioca balls
Low	Soft drinks	Non-permitted colours	Fizzy drinks: Fanta and Smoov Chapman from Ghana and Nigeria
Low	Soft drinks	Non-permitted preservatives (benzoic acid)	Soft drinks from Nigeria, Ghana and USA
Low	Wine	Undeclared sulphites	Wine
Low	Food supplements	Pesticide residues [footnote 2]: ethylene oxide	Various food supplements from India

1. the EU has set a maximum level for inorganic arsenic in fish and other seafood. Testing for inorganic arsenic Regulation – EU – 2023/915 – EN – EUR-Lex ↩

2. Sampling for pesticides should be in line with EC Directive 2002/63, and UK assimilated legislation. Analysis should be in line with SANTE/12682/2019 or its replacement, and UK assimilated legislation. In Northern Ireland analysis should be by a NI or EU official laboratory. GB results should be checked for compliance with GB pesticide MRLs as set in the GB MRL statutory register. This is also the case for goods entering NI from GB via the NI Retail Movement Scheme (NIRMS). Non-NIRMS goods in NI should be assessed for compliance with EU pesticide MRLs. Care should be taken when reporting these results to make clear the legislation or other basis for sampling. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷