Research and analysis

Quarter 3 2023 report on the pesticide residues monitoring programme: introduction, results summary and actions taken by HSE

Updated 25 September 2024

Chair’s comments

During this year’s surveillance programme, we are measuring up to 414 different pesticides in each of the foods we survey. The Quarter 3 programme for Great Britain surveyed 797 samples of 24 different foods (see findings by food in Great Britain for a full list). The majority of samples were collected between the beginning of July and the end of September 2023. The Quarter 3 programme for Northern Ireland products of animal origin surveyed 76 samples of 4 different foods (see findings by food in Northern Ireland for a full list).

Of the 797 Q3 Great Britain samples, we found residues in 452 of them and of these, 21 samples contained residues over the maximum residue level (MRL). Of the 76 Q3 Northern Ireland products of animal origin samples, we found residues in 6 of them and of these, no samples contained residues over the MRL.

HSE undertakes screening and detailed risk assessments, as required, for the pesticide residues found. This is to determine whether the residues present could lead to someone eating an amount above a level that is considered safe. HSE also produces detailed risk assessments for every case where the actual residue level found could lead to an intake above the safety levels.

Following screening assessment, we needed to consider the potential short-term health effects of only a small minority of the residues found in more detail. In all of these cases, we concluded that effects on health were either unlikely or not expected. Full details are presented in HSE risk assessment methodology. All other residues found did not cause any concern for health.

These detailed considerations on the risk assessments as well as links to underlying information are covered in our reports for dried beans, beans with pods, oranges, rice and soft citrus. We also needed to consider the potential genotoxic health effects of omethoate, dichlorvos, monocrotophos and chlorpyrifos found in a small number of samples. These pesticides are not authorised in the UK but can on occasions be found in some imported food. We concluded that at the levels present, a risk of an adverse effect on health due to genotoxicity would be low.

None of the individual commodity long-term exposure screening assessments performed in this quarter (for each of the pesticides found in this report) indicated any potential for adverse long-term health effects. This was based on the assessment of dietary intakes as below the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) or other established long-term health based reference values.

Full details of suppliers and retailers of the food sampled, and full analytical results, are available on data.gov.uk as ODS (Open Document Spreadsheet) files. We hope this data format is useful for people wanting to look at the individual results in more detail.

Since the UK left the EU, we report the results for samples collected in Great Britain (GB) separately from those collected in Northern Ireland (NI). Surveys have been titled throughout the report as either GB or NI to make clear where the samples were collected. Samples collected in GB are subject to GB MRLs. GB MRLs are set by inclusion in a new GB MRL statutory Register, implemented and updated by means of a database. For samples collected in Northern Ireland, certain aspects of EU food law, including compliance with EU set MRLs, continue to apply under the terms of the Windsor Framework. In the detailed data files HSE is, for 2023 results, still separating out EU from non-EU origin foods in the results.

We asked suppliers and the authorities of the exporting countries for an explanation of our findings. Any responses we have received specifically for publication are available in the Sample details section.

If you have any feedback or comments on the monitoring programme or the reports produced, send them to HSE at PesticidesResiduesTeam@hse.gov.uk.

Ann Davison
Chair of the Expert Committee on Pesticide Residues in Food

Consumer risk summary

HSE screens each residue detected for any consumer health issues to identify which need to be considered in more detail. We comment on any risks HSE considered in detail in our full report, and HSE’s risk assessments are also published.

HSE liaises with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) on consumer risk assessment and the FSA also takes part in our meetings.

Table 1a: Overview of the survey results for Q3 Great Britain with links to detailed information

Survey title (where samples collected)	Number of pesticides sought	Samples tested	Detailed risk assessment presented?	MRL exceedances (samples)
Beans (dried)	414	24	1	1
Beans with pods	405	24	1	4
Bread	408	157	No	0
Carrots	385	30	No	1
Cauliflower	382	12	No	1
Fish (oily)	112	37	No	0
Grapes	406	23	No	0
Infant formula	409	24	No	0
Kiwi fruit	384	30	No	0
Lemons	377	30	No	1
Milk	112	78	No	0
Onions	405	18	No	0
Orange juice	404	24	No	0
Oranges	409	24	3	3
Pears	412	25	No	0
Peas with edible pods	380	29	No	5
Pineapples	381	24	No	0
Potatoes	406	31	No	1
Poultry meat	116	24	No	1
Pulses (dahls/lentils)	408	24	No	2
Rice	414	24	1	0
Snacks (cereal)	403	26	No	0
Soft citrus	406	31	2	1
Spring onions	401	24	No	0

Table 1b: Overview of the survey results for Q3 Northern Ireland products of animal origin with links to detailed information

Survey title (where samples collected)	Number of pesticides sought	Samples tested	Detailed risk assessment presented?	MRL exceedances (samples)
Fish (oily)	39	12	No	0
Liver	40	31	No	0
Milk	39	21	No	0
Poultry meat	43	12	No	0

Samples collected in GB must comply with GB set MRLs unless the goods are qualifying Northern Ireland goods and are subject to unfettered access under the terms of the UK Internal Market Act 2020. For samples collected in Northern Ireland, under the Windsor Framework, certain aspects of EU food law, including compliance with EU MRLs apply.

Other issues

Suspected unauthorised uses

HSE passed details to the enforcement team of samples grown in Great Britain or Northern Ireland that contained a residue which does not have a plant protection product (PPP) with that active authorised for use on that crop, in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. These were:

• 2 UK samples of carrots containing linuron - after examination of spray records, HSE concluded that there was no evidence of misuse
• one UK sample of peas with edible pods containing spinosad. HSE contacted the supplier, the most probable explanation was spray drift from authorised use in adjacent fields in close proximity to the harvest dates. HSE has given appropriate information regarding duties under the PPP legislation.

Details of possible unauthorised uses from previous surveys are provided in issues arising from this report, follow-up from previous reports and plans for the quarter 4 report.

Organic samples with residues

HSE writes to the suppliers of samples of organic produce if they contain a pesticide residue which is not permitted under retained organic regulation Commission Regulation (EC) No 889/2008. Defra’s Organic Farming branch and the organic certification organisation are also informed.

• one Italian sample of organic carrots containing linuron
• one UK sample of organic salmon fillets containing DDT

Further information

You can find more information on the individual sample details in the Pesticide Residues in Food Quarterly Data.

This includes:

• brand name, sampling point and origin information
• pesticides sought and residues found
• HSE detailed risk assessments

Introduction to the work of the Expert Committee on Pesticide Residues in Food (PRiF)

The UK Expert Committee on Pesticide Residues in Food (the PRiF) is established to provide independent scientific advice to:

• Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra)
• Health and Safety Executive (HSE) (accountable to the Department of Work and Pensions)
• Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for Northern Ireland (DAERA)
• Food Standards Agency (FSA)
• Scottish Government
• Welsh Government

Their full terms of reference are available at PRiF Terms of Reference and Code of Practice.

In relation to the published reports this includes advice on:

1. The government’s presentation of findings resulting from monitoring programmes of pesticide residues in food in Great Britain (GB) and Northern Ireland (NI). In particular to ensure that results can be readily and appropriately understood by the public.

2. Planned and ad-hoc government programmes to monitor pesticide residues in foodstuffs. In particular on foods to be surveyed (taking account of changing diets), availability of produce, location and frequency of sampling and pesticides to be sought.

3. The determination of likely causes of adverse findings detected in government (and where relevant other national and international) monitoring programmes for pesticide residues in food.

The PRiF was established in 2011. Members have a broad range of expertise relating to the food supply industry. Previously this work was carried out by the Pesticide Residues Committee.

The chair, Ann Davison, has worked in consumer affairs for most of her career, running consumer organisations and networks. The committee also includes members with expertise in food science, public interest and food production and supply.

Information on the membership of the committee can be found at Expert Committee on Pesticide Residues in Food (PRiF).

UK National Monitoring Programmes

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), working under Defra, and the Scottish and Welsh Governments’ authority has official responsibility to organise a monitoring programme of GB food for pesticide residues. Similarly, HSE working under the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural affairs authority has official responsibility to organise a monitoring programme of NI food for pesticide residues, including participating in the EU multi-annual control programme.

The programmes are made up of a risk-based rolling programme of surveys and statutory programmes required by GB or EU law. It is a surveillance programme, which is designed based upon evidence gathered in the previous years, including previous results, PRiF advice and border control information. For efficiency reasons, the Northern Ireland programme may differ in that some lower priority (primarily imported) foods or processed foods are not included. If the GB survey identifies issues in these foods, then they would be included in future testing in Northern Ireland.

These surveys are not an enforcement programme, and the survey design is generally not adjusted during the year. HSE are responsible for considering the safety of people who eat the food (in co-operation with the Food Standards Agency if necessary) and for following up adverse or unexpected results. HSE are also responsible for determining whether food is compliant with the law, specifically, whether any pesticide residue found is within the MRL.

MRLs reflect levels of pesticides that could occur in food which has been treated in accordance with good agricultural practice. Where pesticides do not give rise to readily detectable residues, or are not authorised for use on particular commodities, MRLs are set at the lowest level which can be identified in routine laboratory analysis. This provides a mechanism for statutory controls on pesticides in food which is put into circulation and for monitoring the correct use of these chemicals.

Table 2: 2023 Survey design

GB surveys that have an asterisk are a requirement of the Multi-annual Great Britain control plan for pesticide residues.

NI surveys that have an asterisk are a requirement of the EU Coordinated Programme – Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/741.

Fruit and vegetables

Food	Sampling points	Sampled during	Reporting
Beans with pods (GB)	Retail outlets and Supply chain	Quarterly	Rolling and quarterly
Beans with pods (NI)	Retail outlets	Quarterly	Quarterly
Brussel sprouts (NI)	Retail outlets	Quarter 3 and 4	Quarter 3 and 4
Carrot (GB)*	Retail outlets and Supply chain	Quarterly	Quarterly
Carrot (NI)*	Retail outlets	Quarterly	Quarterly
Cauliflower (GB)*	Retail outlets	Quarterly	Quarterly
Cauliflower (NI)*	Retail outlets	Quarterly	Quarterly
Grapes (GB)	Retail outlets and Supply chain	Quarterly	Rolling and quarterly
Grapes (NI)	Retail outlets	Quarterly	Quarterly
Kiwi fruit (GB)*	Retail outlets and Supply chain	Quarterly	Quarterly
Kiwi fruit (NI)*	Retail outlets	Quarterly	Quarterly
Lemons (GB)	Retail outlets and Supply chain	Quarterly	Quarterly
Lemons (NI)	Retail outlets	Quarterly	Quarterly
Onions (GB)*	Retail outlets	Quarterly	Quarterly
Onions (NI)*	Retail outlets	Quarterly	Quarterly
Oranges (GB)*	Retail outlets and Supply chain	Quarterly	Quarterly
Oranges (NI)*	Retail outlets	Quarterly	Quarterly
Pears (GB)*	Retail outlets and Supply chain	Quarterly	Quarterly
Pears (NI)*	Retail outlets	Quarterly	Quarterly
Peas with edible pods (GB)	Retail outlets	Quarter 1 and 3	Quarter 1 and 3
Peas with edible pods (NI)	Retail outlets	Quarter 1 and 3	Quarter 1 and 3
Peas without pods (GB)	Retail outlets	Quarter 2 and 4	Quarter 2 and 4
Peas without pods (NI)	Retail outlets	Quarter 2 and 4	Quarter 2 and 4
Pineapple (GB)	Retail outlets	Quarterly	Quarterly
Pineapple (NI)	Retail outlets	Quarterly	Quarterly
Potato (GB)*	Retail outlets and Supply chain	Quarterly	Rolling and quarterly
Potato (NI)*	Retail outlets	Quarterly	Quarterly
Soft citrus (GB)	Retail outlets and Supply chain	Quarterly	Quarterly
Soft citrus (NI)	Retail outlets	Quarterly	Quarterly
Spring onions (GB)	Retail outlets	Quarter 3	Quarter 3
Spring onions (NI)	Retail outlets	Quarter 2 and 3	Quarter 2 and 3

Animal products

Food	Sampling points	Sampled during	Reporting
Fish (oily) (GB)	Retail outlets	Quarters 2, 3 and 4	Quarters 2, 3 and 4
Fish (oily) (NI)	Retail outlets	Quarterly	Quarterly
Liver (bovine) (GB)*	Retail outlets	Quarters 1, 2 and 4	Quarters 1, 2 and 4
Liver (bovine) (NI)*	Retail outlets	Quarterly	Quarters 2, 3 and 4
Milk (GB)	Retail outlets	Quarterly	Quarterly
Milk (NI)	Retail outlets	Quarterly	Quarterly
Poultry meat (GB)*	Retail outlets	Quarterly	Quarterly
Poultry meat (NI)*	Retail outlets	Quarterly	Quarterly

Cereal products

Food	Sampling points	Sampled during	Reporting
Bread (GB)	Retail outlets	Quarters 2, 3 and 4	Quarter 3 and 4
Bread (NI)	Retail outlets	Quarters 2, 3 and 4	Quarter 3 and 4
Rice (GB)*	Retail outlets	Quarterly	Quarterly
Rice (NI)*	Retail outlets	Quarterly	Quarterly
Rye flour (GB)*	Retail outlets	Quarter 2 and 4	Quarter 2 and 4
Rye flour (NI)*	Retail outlets	Quarterly	Quarterly

Miscellaneous products

Food	Sampling points	Sampled during	Reporting
Beans (dried) (GB)*	Retail outlets	Quarterly	Quarterly
Beans (dried) (NI)*	Retail outlets	Quarterly	Quarterly
Crisps (potato based) (GB)	Retail outlets	Quarter 4	Quarter 4
Infant formula (GB)*	Retail outlets	Quarter 3	Quarter 3
Infant formula (NI)*	Retail outlets	Quarter 3	Quarter 3
Orange juice (GB)	Retail outlets	Quarter 3 and 4	Quarter 3 and 4
Pulses (dahls or lentils) (GB)	Retail outlets	Quarter 3	Quarter 3
Snacks (cereal based) (GB)	Retail outlets	Quarter 3	Quarter 3
Snacks (speciality) (GB)	Retail outlets	Quarter 4	Quarter 4

Sampling points

• retail outlets: samples bought by market research contractor shoppers
• supply chain: samples taken by inspectors from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) from a range of points in the supply chain (wholesalers, retail depots, ports and import points)

Reporting

• results for certain higher-priority foods are produced, followed up and published more frequently at data.gov.uk
• all results are published in the quarterly report (some surveys are included in every quarter, some are every other quarter and some in just one quarter)

Some of the results for samples collected in Northern Ireland are running behind the planned reporting schedule. The results will be published as soon as they are available.

Table 3a: Summary of results for Q3 Great Britain

Food	Analysed	With residues at or below the MRL	With residues above the MRL	With residues of non-approved pesticides (UK only)	With multiple residues	Organic samples tested	Organic samples with residues
Beans (dried)	24	14	1	0	8	0	0
Beans with pods	24	8	4	0	9	1	0
Bread	157	150	0	0	79	1	0
Carrot	30	12	1	2	7	10	1
Cauliflower	12	4	1	0	0	0	0
Fish (oily)	37	6	0	0	0	1	1
Grapes	23	23	0	0	22	0	0
Infant formula	24	0	0	0	0	1	0
Kiwi fruit	30	20	0	0	4	2	0
Lemons	30	26	1	0	27	3	0
Milk	78	1	0	0	0	20	0
Onions	18	3	0	0	0	8	0
Orange juice	24	3	0	0	2	3	0
Oranges	24	19	3	0	22	2	0
Pears	25	23	0	0	20	2	0
Peas with edible pods	29	16	5	1	14	0	0
Pineapples	24	18	0	0	8	0	0
Potatoes	31	9	1	0	3	0	0
Poultry meat	24	0	1	0	0	1	0
Pulses (dahls or lentils)	24	17	2	0	15	3	0
Rice	24	11	0	0	6	5	0
Snacks (cereal based)	26	6	0	0	0	2	0
Soft citrus	31	28	1	0	29	2	0
Spring onions	24	14	0	0	9	5	0

Table 3b: Summary of results for Q3 Northern Ireland products of animal origin

Food	Analysed	With residues at or below the MRL	With residues above the MRL	With residues of non- approved pesticides (UK only)	With multiple residues	Organic samples tested	Organic samples with residues
Fish (oily)	12	4	0	0	0	0	0
Liver	31	2	0	0	0	0	0
Milk	21	0	0	0	0	11	0
Poultry meat	12	0	0	0	0	0	0

Table 4: Summary of MRL Exceedances for Q3 Great Britain

Some shorthand has been used in this table. The symbol * means maximum residue levels set at the limit of determination (LOD MRL). These MRLs are set at a default level, for example, at the limit of determination (LOD) where analytical methods can reasonably detect the presence of the pesticide. Either insufficient trials data are available on which to set a maximum residue level, or there may be no use of the pesticide on that crop permitted. However, they may be permitted elsewhere.

Beans (dried)

Sample ID	Food	Country of origin	Pesticide detected	Residue detected (mg per kg)	MRL (mg per kg)	MRL exceedance after allowing for measurement uncertainty	Sent to FSA for consideration
4068/2023	Black eye beans	UK	chlorpyrifos	0.02	0.01*	Yes	Yes
4068/2023	Black eye beans	UK	fosetyl-Al (sum)	2.5	2*	No	No

Beans with pods

Sample ID	Food	Country of origin	Pesticide detected	Residue detected (mg per kg)	MRL (mg per kg)	MRL exceedance after allowing for measurement uncertainty	Sent to FSA for consideration
0212/2023	Gwar beans	India	thiophanate-methyl	0.3	0.1*	Yes	No
0458/2023	Yard long beans	Thailand	bifenthrin	0.03	0.01*	Yes	No
0458/2023	Yard long beans	Thailand	diflubenzuron	0.06	0.01*	Yes	No
0458/2023	Yard long beans	Thailand	dimethomorph	0.3	0.01*	Yes	No
0458/2023	Yard long beans	Thailand	fipronil (sum)	0.07	0.005*	Yes	No
0458/2023	Yard long beans	Thailand	omethoate	0.2	0.01*	Yes	Yes
0458/2023	Yard long beans	Thailand	prochloraz (sum)	0.1	0.03*	Yes	No
0458/2023	Yard long beans	Thailand	propiconazole	0.06	0.01*	Yes	No
0698/2023	Guar beans	India	thiophanate-methyl	0.3	0.1*	Yes	No
6556/2023	Valore papdi beans	India	monocrotophos	0.2	0.01*	Yes	Yes

Carrots

Sample ID	Food	Country of origin	Pesticide detected	Residue detected (mg per kg)	MRL (mg per kg)	MRL exceedance after allowing for measurement uncertainty	Sent to FSA for consideration
0183/2023	Carrots	UK	linuron	0.02	0.01*	No	No

Cauliflower

Sample ID	Food	Country of origin	Pesticide detected	Residue detected (mg per kg)	MRL (mg per kg)	MRL exceedance after allowing for measurement uncertainty	Sent to FSA for consideration
1034/2023	Frozen cauliflower florets	UK	chlorate	0.08	0.06	No	No

Lemons

Sample ID	Food	Country of origin	Pesticide detected	Residue detected (mg per kg)	MRL (mg per kg)	MRL exceedance after allowing for measurement uncertainty	Sent to FSA for consideration
0681/2023	Lemons	South Africa	buprofezin	0.02	0.01*	Yes	No

Oranges

Sample ID	Food	Country of origin	Pesticide detected	Residue detected (mg per kg)	MRL (mg per kg)	MRL exceedance after allowing for measurement uncertainty	Sent to FSA for consideration
2271/2023	Blood oranges	South Africa	glufosinate (sum)	0.3	0.05	Yes	No
2333/2023	Valencia oranges	South Africa	chlorfenapyr	0.02	0.01*	No	No
6558/2023	Late navel oranges	South Africa	ethephon	0.07	0.05*	No	No

Peas with edible pods

Sample ID	Food	Country of origin	Pesticide detected	Residue detected (mg per kg)	MRL (mg per kg)	MRL exceedance after allowing for measurement uncertainty	Sent to FSA for consideration
2915/2023	Tender and crisp mange tout	Peru	chlorothalonil	0.03	0.01*	Yes	No
2915/2023	Tender and crisp mange tout	Peru	Iprodione	0.06	0.01*	Yes	No
0838/2023	Trimmed sugar snap peas	Kenya	chlorothalonil	0.09	0.01*	Yes	No
0900/2023	Trimmed sugar snap peas	Peru	fipronil (sum)	0.007	0.005*	No	No
0934/2023	Trimmed sugar snap peas	Kenya	chlorothalonil	0.08	0.01*	Yes	No
4245/2023	Sugar snaps	Kenya	chlorothalonil	0.3	0.01*	Yes	No

Potatoes

Sample ID	Food	Country of origin	Pesticide detected	Residue detected (mg per kg)	MRL (mg per kg)	MRL exceedance after allowing for measurement uncertainty	Sent to FSA for consideration
0279/2023	Cara potatoes	Egypt	haloxyfop (sum)	0.03	0.01*	Yes	No

Poultry meat

Sample ID	Food	Country of origin	Pesticide detected	Residue detected (mg per kg)	MRL (mg per kg)	MRL exceedance after allowing for measurement uncertainty	Sent to FSA for consideration
3913/2023	Lean turkey mince	UK	BAC (sum)	0.3	0.1	Yes	No

Pulses (dahls or lentils)

Sample ID	Food	Country of origin	Pesticide detected	Residue detected (mg per kg)	MRL (mg per kg)	MRL exceedance after allowing for measurement uncertainty	Sent to FSA for consideration
0931/2023	Red split lentils	UK	procymidone	0.2	0.01*	Yes	No
1121/2023	Red lentils	UK	procymidone	0.02	0.01*	No	No

Soft citrus

Sample ID	Food	Country of origin	Pesticide detected	Residue detected (mg per kg)	MRL (mg per kg)	MRL exceedance after allowing for measurement uncertainty	Sent to FSA for consideration
2922/2023	Tangerines	South Africa	amitraz (sum)	0.1	0.05*	Yes	No

Samples collected in GB must comply with GB set MRLs unless the goods are qualifying Northern Ireland goods and are subject to unfettered access under the terms of the UK Internal Market Act for 2020. For samples collected in Northern Ireland, under the Windsor Framework, certain aspects of EU food law, including compliance with EU set MRLs, continue to apply.

MRL adjusted to take into account the effect of processing. Further information can be found in the Issues arising in this report section.

Action taken by HSE

HSE wrote to:

• the suppliers of all samples containing residues above the MRL
• the authorities of the exporting countries of all samples containing residues above the MRL
• the suppliers of GB and NI samples that contained residues of actives which do not have a plant protection product authorised for the crop they were detected in.
• the Organics branch of Defra about samples that were labelled as organic and contained any residues of pesticides which is not permitted under retained organic regulation Commission Regulation (EC) No 889/2008
• the suppliers and certification organisation of all organic samples containing any residues of pesticides which is not permitted under retained organic regulation Commission Regulation (EC) No 889/2008

Recipients of the letters are given 4 weeks to provide a statement for inclusion in the report. The Expert Committee on Pesticide Residues in Food reviews any replies received.

Supplier responses

None.

This document is part 1 of 4 of the Quarter 3 2023 report.

Next: Quarter 3 2023 report on the pesticide residues monitoring programme: findings by food in Great Britain and UK detailed risk assessments.

Quarterly reports homepage.