Residues of veterinary medicinal products

Food-producing animals may be treated with veterinary medicines to prevent or cure disease. Veterinary medicines contain pharmacologically active substances which may leave residues in the food from treated animals. Food may also contain residues of pesticides and contaminants to which animals have been exposed. In all cases, food residue levels should not harm the consumer.

Obligations

• EU countries must implement control plans for residues of pharmacologically active substances to detect the illegal use or misuse of authorised veterinary medicines in food-producing animals and investigate the reasons for residue violations. They also control the presence of pesticide residues and contaminants in food
• Non-EU countries exporting food of animal origin to the EU must also implement control plans for residues of pharmacologically active substances, pesticides and contaminants which guarantee an equivalent level of food safety

I. Scientific advice

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is responsible for assessing Maximum Residue Limits for pharmacologically active substances present in veterinary medicinal products marketed in the EU.

II. Residue testing

EU countries must check food-producing animals and food of animal origin for the presence of residues of pharmacologically active substances. The legislation governing the design and implementation of control plans is as follows:

• Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/1644
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1646
• The compiled document summarises legal requirements for control plans on such residues
• Regulation (EU) 2021/808 - Rules for validating analytical methods used in the residue control plan and official sample treatment (see Laboratory Analysis)

Implementation of control plans for residues

EU annual reports on the results from the monitoring of veterinary medicinal product residues and other substances in live animals and animal products:

• 2022 and interactive dashboard
• 2021 and interactive dashboard
• 2020 and interactive dashboard
• 2019
• 2018
• 2017
• 2016
• 2015
• 2014
• 2013
• 2012
• 2011
• 2010
• 2009
• 2008

III. Laboratory analysis

Specific EU legislation outlines the laboratory analysis and correct interpretation of results.

Regulation (EU) 2021/808 establishes:

• Criteria and procedures to validate analytical methods, ensuring the quality and comparability of the results of official laboratories
• Common criteria for the interpretation of test results
• Sampling procedures and official sample treatment

Guidelines for implementation of Regulation (EU) 2021/808:

• EURL Guidance Document on Screening Method Validation.
• EURL Guidance Document on the quality control during routine analysis (ongoing method performance verification)
• EURL guidance on minimum method performance requirements (MMPRs) for specific pharmacologically active substances in specific animal matrices
• EURL Guidance Document on confirmation method validation
• EURL Guidance document on the extension of quantitative confirmation methods

IV. Non-EU imports

EU rules affect trading partners worldwide. Non-EU countries wanting to export to the EU must ensure the same level of food/feed safety as that of the EU. For more detailed information, please refer to the Guidelines on EU requirements for entry of animals and products of animal origin: Control plan for pharmacologically active substances, pesticides and contaminants. These Guidelines are available in English, español, français, and português, below.

EU Reference Laboratories

European Reference laboratories coordinate the network of National Reference Laboratories providing support to obtain high quality and reliable results.

Legislation

Legislation regarding monitoring of residues of veterinary medicinal products, residue limits and veterinary medicinal products. See more