The 2018 European Union Report on pesticide residues - the EU-coordinated programme results

According to Regulation (EU) No 2017/660 (i.e. the EUCP Regulation), reporting countries sampled different food products: aubergines, bananas, broccoli, cultivated fungi, grapefruit, melons, sweet peppers, table grapes, wheat grain, virgin olive oil, chicken eggs and bovine fat. The outcome of the analysis of these samples are presented in this data visualization. Whenever possible comparison with 2015 EUCP results has been carried out.

The terminology used throughout the description of the data refers to:

  • Samples without quantifiable residues i.e. results where the analytes were not present in concentrations at or exceeding the limit of quantification (LOQ). The LOQ is the smallest concentration of an analyte that can be quantified. It is commonly defined as the minimum concentration of the analyte in the test sample that can be determined with acceptable precision and accuracy.
  • Samples with quantified residues below or equal to the MRL refer to samples contained quantified residues of one or several pesticides in concentrations below or at the MRL but above the LOQ.
  • Samples with quantified residues above the MRL for one or several pesticides, refers to samples exceeding the legal limit as reported by the Member States
  • Bar chart presents the number of samples taken under EUCP by reporting country. Bulgaria did not provide samples flagged as EUCP. Finland was not able to send all their data set by the legal deadline. Denmark complied with the EUCP Regulation; however, Denmark coded as national, EUCP samples during EFSA’s data collection.
  • Pie chart presents the number and the percentage contribution of samples taken under EUCP by food group.
  • Bar chart presents the frequency of quantification versus MRL exceedances for 2018. The percentages of samples with residues at or above the LOQ but below or equal to the MRL are included as blue bars. The percentages of samples exceeding the MRLS are included as orange bars. The figure in brackets next to the name of the pesticide refer to the number of samples analysed. The number and percentage of samples exceeding the legal limit are based on the judgement of the reporting country.
  • Table presents for each substance exceeding the MRL, the country of origin and the EU status in 2018 in accordance with the Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009.
  • Bar chart presents the frequency of quantification versus MRL exceedances for 2018 compared to 2015 (if included in the EUCP). The percentages of samples with residues at or above the LOQ but below or equal to the MRL are included as blue bars (dark blue bars presenting the percentage in 2018 and light blue bars the percentage in 2015). The percentages of samples exceeding the MRLS are included as orange bars (dark orange bars presenting the percentage in 2018 and light orange bars the percentage in 2015). The number and percentage of samples exceeding the legal limit are based on the judgement of the reporting country.
  • Pie charts presents the number and the percentage of samples free of quantifiable residues (residues below the LOQ) and of samples with single and multiple residues (residues ≥ LOQ).