Pesticide residues in EU food in 2024: over 125,000 samples, 98.8% compliant in the coordinated programme — EFSA reports increased import controls separately for the first time
On 5 May 2026 the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published the EU report on pesticide residues in food for 2024, based on results from over 125,000 samples. As in previous years, EFSA considers the risk to consumer health to be low.
- The report covers three programmes. Under the EU-coordinated programme 9,842 samples of aubergines, bananas, broccoli, cultivated fungi, grapefruits, melons, sweet peppers, table grapes, virgin olive oil, wheat grain, bovine fat and chicken eggs were taken; 98.8% were compliant (98.7% in 2021, when the same basket was analysed).
- In this programme 43.1% of samples had no measurable residues, 54.5% contained residues within maximum residue levels (MRLs), and MRLs were exceeded in 2.4%; 1.2% were confirmed non-compliant after taking measurement uncertainty into account.
- The multiannual national control programmes (MANCP) covered 86,449 samples: 98.2% compliant, 58.4% without measurable residues, MRLs exceeded in 3.3%, of which 1.8% non-compliant. National programmes take into account, among other things, past non-compliance, pesticide use patterns and the capabilities of national laboratories.
- For the first time, increased import controls at EU borders — where the consignment waits for the laboratory result — are shown separately: of 39,433 samples, 38.3% had no quantifiable residues, 56.2% were within limits, around 5.5% exceeded limits and 3.6% were non-compliant and kept off the EU market. The data are available in EFSA’s visualisation tool.
Source: EFSA — Pesticide residues in food: latest data released (5.05.2026)