Pesticide residues in food: results of monitoring programme
Results from the government’s monitoring of pesticide residues in food, reviewed by the Expert Committee on Pesticide Residues in Food (PRiF).
The government monitors home-produced and imported food to check for any pesticide residues. We do this in order to check 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 Level (MRL)
- human dietary intakes of residues in foods are within acceptable levels
The Health and Safety Executive carries out the monitoring, with results reviewed by the Expert Committee on Pesticide Residues in Food (PRiF).
About the monitoring programme
As part of our national pesticides regimes Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) is required to monitor food for pesticide residues and to carry out a number of specific surveys each year. The food surveys and the pesticides tested are agreed jointly by the three devolved administrations. A list of required surveys set by the EU is conducted in Northern Ireland.
Each UK administration also has a national monitoring programme. These programmes ensure that all the major components of the national diet are sampled (milk, bread, potatoes, fruit and vegetables, cereals and related products, and animal products). The programme is not designed to provide a representation of residues in the diet – it is risk-based and looks more at those commodities likely to contain residues.
Samples from retailers (supermarkets, independent shops and market stalls) are bought from across the UK by trained purchasers from a market research company.
The Rural Payment Agency’s Horticultural Marketing Inspectors also collect some of our Great Britain samples from a range of points in the supply chain, such as wholesale markets, retail depots, ports and import points. The samples they will be collecting varies each year depending on foods being surveyed.
Animal and Plant Health Agency’s Plant Health and Seed Inspectors collect samples of potatoes from a range of points in the Great Britain supply chain including potato merchants, processors (such as crisp and frozen chip factories) and ports.
We test for a range of pesticides in the following food groups:
- fruit and vegetables
- animal products
- cereal products
- infant food
Our quarterly reports include full details of the pesticides for which we carry out tests.
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.
Competent Authorities designate OLs. The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the ministers of the devolved administrations are the Competent Authorities responsible for designating OLs to monitor maximum residue levels of pesticides in or on food and feed for Great Britain.
The Health and Safety Executive will exercise this function on behalf of the Competent Authorities.
Quarterly reports
We 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.
School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme
The Department of Health funds the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme as part of the ‘5 a day’ programme to increase fruit and vegetable consumption. The Department of Health commission their own testing.
Earlier results are available on the National Archives website.
Annual reports - Expert Committee on Pesticide Residues in Food (PRiF)
Annual monitoring results
Results from monitoring to check food for pesticide residues, including industry data and reports on UK crop sectors.
Multi-annual Great Britain control plan for pesticide residues
Specifies particular foodstuffs to be sampled over a three 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.
Updates to this page
Published 21 December 2015Last updated 10 December 2024 + show all updates
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Added the quarterly monitoring results for 2024.
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Added the 'Pesticide residues in food: quarterly monitoring results for 2022'.
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Added multi-annual Great Britain control plan for pesticide residues to collection.
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Updated the page to reflect post transition rules and added a new section 'Designation of Official Laboratories for pesticide residue analysis'.
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Added the quarterly monitoring results for 2020.
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Added the 2019 quarterly report publication.
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Added the quarterly monitoring results for 2018.
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Added the PRiF 2016 annual report, the monitoring results for quarter 1 2017 and the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme results for spring and summer term 2017.
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Added School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme 2016 to 2017 results.
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Added a new publication, quarterly monitoring results for 2016.
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Added the annual monitoring results from 2015, including industry data and reports on UK crop sectors, and the annual report from the Expert Committee on Pesticide Residues in Food.
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Added the rolling monitoring results for 2016
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Updated with School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme results for 2015.
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First published.