Data on the presence of residues of veterinary medicines and contaminants in animals and animal-derived food show high rates of compliance with safety levels set by the European Union, according to EFSA’s latest report. The report summarises monitoring data collected in 2019.
A total of 671,642 samples were reported by Member States, Iceland and Norway. They consisted of 368,594 targeted samples and 5,016 suspect samples reported under Council Directive 96/23/EC, and of 2,342 samples collected at import and 295,690 samples collected in the framework of programmes developed under the national legislation.
The percentage of samples that exceeded maximum levels was 0.32%. This figure is within the range of 0.25%-0.37% reported over the previous 10 years.
Compared to the previous two years, non-compliance increased slightly for antithyroid agents and steroids and decreased slightly for resorcylic acid lactones, prohibited substances, antibacterials, anticoccidials, and dyes.
For chemical elements (including metals), non-compliance was higher than in 2018, but lower than 2017.
24 March 2021/ EFSA/ European Union.
https://www.efsa.europa.eu