Food safety regulators in the European Union monitor pesticide residues in food to ensure they do not exceed the limits set by the EU, thereby preventing health risks. In 2023 (the latest reporting year), the EU, Iceland, and Norway collected a total of 133,000 food samples, covering food from all continents. Of these samples, 98% met the EU's limit standards, with 58% of the samples showing no quantifiable pesticide residues. Over the past 10 years, the proportion of compliant samples has remained consistently high and stable, with an average of 97.8%.
The samples originated from: 54% from the EU, 4% from unknown sources, and 42% from regions outside the European Economic Area. When samples do not comply with regulations, measures taken include: halting, where the EU EFSA can block the batch of food at the border; penalties, where EFSA can impose punitive measures such as fines; and withdrawal, where in serious cases, EFSA can remove the product from the market and/or issue warnings or compensation to consumers.