On 5 May 2026, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published its 2024 European Union Report on Pesticide Residues in Food, presenting the latest official monitoring results on pesticide residues in food products across the EU, Iceland, and Norway.
According to the report, EFSA assessed pesticide residue levels and dietary exposure risks based on samples collected through both the EU-coordinated control programme and national monitoring programmes. The overall findings indicate that the vast majority of food products placed on the EU market complied with existing regulatory limits, while consumer health risks from dietary exposure were considered low.
Under the EU-coordinated multiannual control programme, 9,842 food samples were analysed, covering products including aubergines, bananas, broccoli, cultivated fungi, grapefruits, peppers, table grapes, virgin olive oil, wheat, bovine fat, and eggs. EFSA reported that 98.8% of the samples complied with EU legislation, while 1.2% were identified as non-compliant.
In parallel, national control programmes conducted by participating countries analysed 86,449 samples, with an overall compliance rate of 98.2% and a non-compliance rate of 1.8%.
EFSA also carried out acute and chronic dietary exposure assessments to evaluate potential consumer health impacts from pesticide residues in food. The Authority concluded that the estimated exposure levels were unlikely to pose a concern for consumer health.
One notable development in this year’s report is the separate publication of results from “reinforced import controls.” These controls target products, countries of origin, and risk categories considered to require increased scrutiny at EU borders. In 2024, 39,433 import control samples were analysed, of which 3.6% were found to be non-compliant. Non-compliant consignments were prevented from entering the EU food market.
The report reflects the EU’s ongoing regulatory approach toward pesticide residue management and food safety oversight. Within the EU framework, pesticide active substances and maximum residue levels (MRLs) are regulated under EU legislation, while EFSA provides scientific risk assessments to support regulatory decision-making by the European Commission and Member States.
For food exporters and supply chain stakeholders, the report highlights the continued importance of monitoring EU MRL requirements, strengthening pesticide management practices, and maintaining robust compliance verification systems for products entering the European market.
Overall, the 2024 findings indicate that pesticide residue compliance across the EU food supply remains consistently high, while border control measures continue to evolve toward more targeted and risk-based supervision.
Source: European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), 2024 European Union Report on Pesticide Residues in Food (2026).
