Lithuania

Partial country profile LT EU European Union

All countries can be selected. A scientific country assessment, however, exists only where we found and checked reliable sources.

Applicable frameworks: Lithuania · European Union · International reference framework (Codex, WHO, FAO)

At a glance

Data availability by topic
TopicApplicable frameworks
Pesticides and pesticide residuesLithuania Data quality: moderate
European Union Data quality: high
Veterinary medicines and antibioticsLithuania Data quality: high
European Union Data quality: moderate
Hormonal growth promotersEuropean Union Data quality: moderate
Contaminants (heavy metals, PFAS, PCBs, dioxins, nitrate)European Union Data quality: moderate
Mycotoxins (mould toxins)European Union Data quality: moderate
Pathogens (Salmonella, Campylobacter, etc.)Lithuania Data quality: moderate
European Union Data quality: high
Additives and processingEuropean Union Data quality: moderate
Animal husbandry and feedEuropean Union Data quality: moderate
Controls, imports, recalls, labellingLithuania Data quality: moderate
European Union Data quality: moderate
Drinking waterLithuania Data quality: moderate
European Union Data quality: low

National profile: Lithuania

Lithuania applies EU food law; this profile only adds national monitoring results. In 2024, Lithuania reported 4643 pesticide residue samples to EFSA; 0.41 % exceeded an MRL. Sampling is mostly risk-based, so this rate cannot be compared directly with other countries. Sales of veterinary antimicrobials for food-producing animals were 53.9 mg/PCU in 2024 (EU: 89.6 mg/PCU). Salmonella was found in 2.1 % of tested adult laying-hen flocks and 2.2 % of broiler flocks under the national control programme in 2024. JMP estimates that 96.7 % of the population used safely managed drinking water in 2024.

Research scope: National add-on profile; EU law is in the EU profile and is not repeated. Data were taken only from EU-wide comparable sources: the EFSA 2024 pesticide residue report and its data visualisation CSV files (per reporting country), the EMA ESUAvet 2024 report (Tables 2, A9 and Annex 7), the EFSA/ECDC One Health 2024 Zoonoses Report (Tables 20–21), and WHO/UNICEF JMP estimates via the World Bank API. Competent authority websites were checked by HTTP request. Not covered: hormones, contaminants, mycotoxins, additives, husbandry_feed. The EFSA National Summary Report on pesticides (EN-10002) and EFSA veterinary drug residue report (EN-9913) were not accessible (HTTP 403).

Last checked: 25 October 2026

Pesticides and pesticide residues – Lithuania

Data quality: moderate Last checked: 25 October 2026

A. What is legally allowed or banned?
EU law applies (Regulation (EC) No 396/2005; see EU profile). No national MRLs.
B. What is actually used in production?
Not documented in the sources reviewed.
C. Which residues or levels were measured?
EFSA 2024 EU report on pesticide residues, data visualisation 'Reporting country' (MANCP incl. EU MACP subset), country of sampling Lithuania: 4643 samples; 0.41 % with quantified residues; 0.41 % above the legal limit (MRL); 0.41 % non-compliant after measurement uncertainty; 160.89 samples per 100,000 inhabitants. Sample origin (share of samples): domestic 100.00 %, other EU/EEA reporting country 0.00 %, third country 0.00 %, unknown 0.00 %. Lithuania reported a quantification rate of only 0.41 % and 100 % domestic samples; this differs strongly from other countries and suggests a different analytical scope or reporting approach (not explained in the sources read).
D. Which health risks are demonstrated?
EFSA concluded for the EU as a whole that 'the estimated dietary risk was found to be low for most of the EU subpopulation groups and assessed substances'. No country-specific risk conclusion was used.
E. How robust are the data?
National control programmes are risk-based by law (Regulation (EU) 2021/1355) and target products with suspected problems; the share of imports, products and analytical scope (number of pesticides analysed) differs by country. Country rates are therefore NOT directly comparable with each other, and they describe food sampled on that country's market (domestic and imported), not domestic production only. Only the small EU MACP subset is random. The EFSA National Summary Report (EN-10002) with national explanations could not be accessed (HTTP 403).
Indicators
IndicatorValueYearSamplesSampling designScopeSource
Pesticides: samples above the maximum residue level
pest_mrl_exceed_pct
EFSA MANCP + EU MACP, by reporting country
EU MACP (random) + national MANCP (risk-based) samples by country of sampling; excludes Reg. (EU) 2019/1793 increased import controls. Sample origin (share of samples): domestic 100.00 %, other EU/EEA reporting country 0.00 %, third country 0.00 %, unknown 0.00 %.
0.41 % of samples above MRL (numerical exceedance)20244,643mixedall foodsRS-EUMS-01
Pesticides: non-compliant samples (after measurement uncertainty)
pest_noncompliant_pct
EFSA MANCP + EU MACP, by reporting country
New metric id, see the project's research log.
0.41 % of samples non-compliant (MRL exceeded after measurement uncertainty)20244,643mixedall foodsRS-EUMS-01
Pesticides: samples with measurable residues
pest_quantified_pct
EFSA MANCP + EU MACP, by reporting country
Depends strongly on the national analytical scope and LOQs.
0.41 % of samples with ≥1 residue at or above LOQ20244,643mixedall foodsRS-EUMS-01

Sources: RS-EUMS-01, R-SRC-20, RS-EUMS-02

Veterinary medicines and antibiotics – Lithuania

Data quality: high Last checked: 25 October 2026

A. What is legally allowed or banned?
EU law applies (Regulation (EU) 2019/6, Regulation (EU) No 37/2010; see EU profile). In all ESUAvet countries antimicrobial VMPs and medicated feed can only be dispensed with a veterinary prescription (ESUAvet 2024, Annex 7).
B. What is actually used in production?
ESUAvet 2024 (EMA): sales of antimicrobial VMPs for food-producing animals 16.3 tonnes of active substance, 26.6 mg/kg animal biomass (ESUAvet indicator, Table 2); 53.9 mg/PCU in 2024 (ESVAC methodology, Table A9; 2023: 42.5; 2018: 32.7). EU aggregate 2024: 46.1 mg/kg and 89.6 mg/PCU. National measures reported by the country (ESUAvet Annex 7): Since 2023 veterinarians submit use data by email using a template; since 2025 wholesalers must report farm-level sales. ESUAvet advises caution with Lithuanian data up to 2019.
C. Which residues or levels were measured?
Residue monitoring of veterinary drugs per country was not compiled (EFSA report EN-9913 on 2024 residue monitoring not accessed).
D. Which health risks are demonstrated?
Not assessed at national level in the sources reviewed.
E. How robust are the data?
Sales data, not use per species. mg/PCU and mg/kg divide sales by an estimated animal biomass; countries with many small ruminants, fish or exports of young animals can be advantaged or disadvantaged by the denominator. mg/PCU (old ESVAC denominator, weight at treatment) is used only to track the EU 2030 target; mg/kg (live weight from Eurostat) gives lower values. Changes in national data providers affect trends (see country footnotes). Annex 7 policy text is self-reported by the countries.
Indicators
IndicatorValueYearSamplesSampling designScopeSource
Antimicrobial sales, animals (mg/PCU)
amu_mg_per_pcu
ESUAvet 2024, Annex 6 Table A9 (ESVAC methodology)
Sales census reported by distributors/MAHs, not a sample. 2023: 42.5; 2018 (baseline): 32.7.
53.9 mg active substance per kg PCU (food-producing animals incl. horses and farmed fish)2024–representativedomestic productsR-SRC-23
Antimicrobial sales, animals (mg/kg biomass)
amu_mg_per_kg_biomass
ESUAvet 2024, Table 2
Sales of mandatory-scope antimicrobial VMPs (antibiotic activity only); sales census.
26.6 mg active substance per kg animal biomass (food-producing animals)2024–representativedomestic productsR-SRC-23
Antimicrobial sales, animals (tonnes)
amu_tonnes
ESUAvet 2024, Table 2
Absolute tonnes depend on animal population size; not for comparison between countries.
16.3 tonnes of active substance sold for food-producing animals2024–representativedomestic productsR-SRC-23

Sources: R-SRC-23

Pathogens (Salmonella, Campylobacter, etc.) – Lithuania

Data quality: moderate Last checked: 25 October 2026

A. What is legally allowed or banned?
EU law applies (Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 and target regulations; Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005; see EU profile).
B. What is actually used in production?
Not documented beyond the national control programmes.
C. Which residues or levels were measured?
Adult laying-hen flocks 2024 (Table 20): 47 flocks tested, 1 (2.1 %) positive for Salmonella spp., 1 (2.1 %) positive for target serovars (S. Enteritidis/S. Typhimurium incl. monophasic); EU 4.0 % and 1.6 %; EU target ≤2 % target serovars. Broiler flocks before slaughter 2024 (Table 21): 228 flocks tested, 5 (2.2 %) positive for Salmonella spp., 0 (0.0 %) positive for target serovars; EU 4.3 % and 0.29 %; EU target ≤1 % target serovars. Met the laying-hen target under the rule that MSs with fewer than 50 adult flocks may have one positive flock (Reg. (EU) No 517/2011).
D. Which health risks are demonstrated?
Not assessed per country in the sources used. The EU report names Salmonella in eggs and egg products as the agent/food pair of most concern at EU level.
E. How robust are the data?
Flock-level results from national control programmes combine official and operator samples; sampling intensity, sampler mix and laboratory methods differ. EFSA found official samples detected significantly higher prevalence than operator samples in 11 MSs for broilers. Flock prevalence is not retail-food contamination. Comparable between countries only with caution.
Indicators
IndicatorValueYearSamplesSampling designScopeSource
Salmonella: laying-hen flocks
salmonella_layer_flocks_pct
National Salmonella control programme (Reg. (EC) No 2160/2003), EFSA/ECDC One Health 2024 Zoonoses Report Table 20
Combined official and food business operator sampling.
2.1 % of adult laying-hen flocks positive for Salmonella spp.202447mixeddomestic productsR-SRC-21
Salmonella (target serovars): laying-hen flocks
salmonella_layer_flocks_target_pct
Same as above
New metric id (EU reduction target indicator, target ≤2 %), see the project's research log.
2.1 % of adult laying-hen flocks positive for target serovars (SE, ST incl. monophasic)202447mixeddomestic productsR-SRC-21
Salmonella: broiler flocks
salmonella_broiler_flocks_pct
National Salmonella control programme, EFSA/ECDC One Health 2024 Zoonoses Report Table 21
Combined official and food business operator sampling.
2.2 % of broiler flocks positive for Salmonella spp.2024228mixeddomestic productsR-SRC-21
Salmonella (target serovars): broiler flocks
salmonella_broiler_flocks_target_pct
Same as above
New metric id (EU reduction target indicator, target ≤1 %), see the project's research log.
0 % of broiler flocks positive for target serovars (SE, ST incl. monophasic)2024228mixeddomestic productsR-SRC-21

Notes on foods

  • Eggs: See laying-hen flock values.
  • Poultry: See broiler flock values.

Sources: R-SRC-21

Controls, imports, recalls, labelling – Lithuania

Data quality: moderate Last checked: 25 October 2026

A. What is legally allowed or banned?
Official controls follow Regulation (EU) 2017/625 (see EU profile). National competent authorities (as named by EFSA Appendix A of the 2024 pesticide report and/or ESUAvet 2024 Annex 7): State Food and Veterinary Service (VMVT / SFVS) (https://vmvt.lt/).
B. What is actually used in production?
Not reviewed (no national control statistics compiled).
C. Which residues or levels were measured?
Not compiled.
D. Which health risks are demonstrated?
Not applicable.
E. How robust are the data?
Homepages were checked by HTTP request on 2026-10-25. Not reachable or bot-protected (name taken from EFSA/EMA documents, URL not verified): State Food and Veterinary Service (VMVT / SFVS).

Sources: RS-LT-01, R-SRC-20, R-SRC-23

Drinking water – Lithuania

Data quality: moderate Last checked: 25 October 2026

A. What is legally allowed or banned?
EU Drinking Water Directive (EU) 2020/2184 transposed nationally (see EU profile).
B. What is actually used in production?
Not reviewed.
C. Which residues or levels were measured?
WHO/UNICEF JMP estimate (via World Bank WDI indicator SH.H2O.SMDW.ZS, last updated 2026-10-08): 96.7 % of the population used safely managed drinking water services in 2024.
D. Which health risks are demonstrated?
Not assessed.
E. How robust are the data?
Modelled national estimate; 'safely managed' combines accessibility, availability and freedom from faecal and priority chemical contamination. It does not report specific contaminants. Comparable across countries by design.
Indicators
IndicatorValueYearSamplesSampling designScopeSource
Safely managed drinking water (WHO/UNICEF)
water_safely_managed_pct
WHO/UNICEF JMP
Retrieved via World Bank API (SH.H2O.SMDW.ZS).
96.7 % of population2024–representativeall foodsR-SRC-61

Sources: R-SRC-61

Sources – Lithuania (7)
  1. RS-EUMS-01: The 2024 European Union report on pesticide residues in food – data visualisation (Annex I), CSV files 'MANCP-Reporting-country' and 'MANCP-Sample-origin-per-country-of-sampling' – EFSA (2026). https://multimedia.efsa.europa.eu/pesticides-report-2024/static/media/MANCP-Reporting-country.542d740b22edf453a2b2.csv (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  2. R-SRC-20: The 2024 European Union report on pesticide residues in food – EFSA (2026). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42095190/ (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  3. RS-EUMS-02: National summary reports on pesticide residue analyses performed in 2024 (EFSA Supporting Publications EN-10002) – EFSA (2026). https://doi.org/10.2903/sp.efsa.2026.EN-10002 (Not verified, accessed 2026-10-25)
  4. R-SRC-23: European Sales and Use of Antimicrobials for Veterinary Medicine (ESUAvet) – Annual surveillance report for 2024 (EMA/CVMP/ESUAVET/376993/2025) – European Medicines Agency (2025). https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/report/european-sales-use-antimicrobials-veterinary-medicine-annual-surveillance-report-2024_en.pdf (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  5. R-SRC-21: The European Union One Health 2024 Zoonoses Report – EFSA and ECDC (2025). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41377167/ (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  6. RS-LT-01: Official website(s) of the competent authorities of Lithuania – State Food and Veterinary Service (VMVT / SFVS) (2026). https://vmvt.lt/ (Not verified, accessed 2026-10-25)
  7. R-SRC-61: World Bank World Development Indicators API – SH.H2O.SMDW.ZS (source: WHO/UNICEF JMP) – World Bank / WHO-UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (2026). https://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/AUT;BEL;BGR;HRV;CYP;CZE;DNK;EST;FIN;FRA;GRC;HUN;IRL;ITA;LVA;LTU;LUX;MLT;NLD;POL;PRT;ROU;SVK;SVN;ESP;SWE;NOR;ISL;LIE/indicator/SH.H2O.SMDW.ZS?format=json&per_page=2000&date=2018:2025 (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)

European Union

The EU sets one legal framework for all 27 member states: maximum residue levels for pesticides and veterinary drugs, maximum levels for contaminants, a positive list for additives, microbiological criteria, and rules on animal husbandry, feed and labelling. Pesticides and veterinary antibiotics are used in EU farming under these rules; growth promoters, hormonal growth promoters, beta-agonists for fattening and bST in dairy cows are banned, and routine or preventive group use of antibiotics is restricted. In 2024 most food samples complied with pesticide limits: 1.2 % of the representative EU programme samples were non-compliant, with higher rates for products from third countries than from the EU. Salmonella reduction targets for poultry flocks are met at EU level, but Campylobacter remains the most reported food-borne infection, and EFSA finds that part of the population exceeds the tolerable intakes for PFAS and dioxins. Most monitoring outside the coordinated programme is risk-based, so percentages are not prevalence estimates and are not directly comparable with other countries' surveys.

Research scope: EU food, feed, veterinary-medicine, contaminant, additive, hygiene, labelling, welfare and drinking-water legislation was read through the EU Publications Office Cellar service, because eur-lex.europa.eu blocks scripted access; in-force flags were checked. EU monitoring was taken from the EFSA 2024 pesticide report and the EFSA/ECDC One Health 2024 zoonoses report (full texts via Europe PMC), the EMA ESUAvet 2024 report (PDF), the EFSA news on 2024 veterinary-drug residues, EFSA opinions on PFAS, dioxins and aflatoxins (abstracts), and the Commission's ACN 2025 annual report. EEA: EFSA pesticide and veterinary-drug reports and the zoonoses and ESUAvet reports include Iceland and Norway. Under the EEA Agreement (Annex I) live-animal legislation does not apply to Iceland and veterinary legislation does not apply to Liechtenstein while the EC–Switzerland agricultural agreement extends to it (EEA Joint Committee Decision 44/2025); incorporation of each act into the EEA Agreement was not checked act by act. Not accessible or not done: the EFSA veterinary-drug technical report (EN-9913), EU-wide aflatoxin M1 and nitrate occurrence percentages, EU heavy-metal occurrence data, the consolidated EEA Annex I (HTTP 403), and an EU-level JMP value (none in the World Bank API).

Last checked: 25 October 2026

Pesticides and pesticide residues – European Union

Data quality: high Last checked: 25 October 2026

A. What is legally allowed or banned?
Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 sets EU-wide maximum residue levels (MRLs) for food and feed; where no specific MRL exists a default of 0,01 mg/kg applies (Art. 18(1)(b)). EFSA must publish an annual residue report (Art. 32). Pesticide active substances are approved at EU level; products are authorised nationally. Increased import checks for listed product/country combinations are set in Implementing Reg. (EU) 2019/1793.
B. What is actually used in production?
Pesticides are used in EU agriculture under EU approval and national authorisation. EU-wide use quantities were not researched here (see DE for German sales data).
C. Which residues or levels were measured?
EFSA 2024 report (27 MS + Iceland + Norway). EU-coordinated programme (representative, 12 commodities incl. chicken eggs and bovine fat): 9,842 samples; 43.1 % without quantifiable residues; 2.4 % above MRL; 1.2 % non-compliant. By origin: EU/reporting-country products 1.8 % above MRL (n 7,467), third-country products 4.8 % (n 1,978). National programmes (EU MACP + MANCP, partly risk-based): 86,449 samples; 58.4 % without quantifiable residues; 3.3 % above MRL; 1.8 % non-compliant; EU-market origin 2.1 % above MRL (n 57,574), third-country origin 8.3 % (n 18,184); 12.4 % unknown origin. Increased import controls (risk-based, at the border): 39,433 samples, 5.5 % above MRL, 3.6 % non-compliant; these consignments did not enter the market. Animal products: 19,995 samples, 93.1 % without quantifiable residues, 0.5 % above MRL.
D. Which health risks are demonstrated?
EFSA's probabilistic assessment for 2022–2024: 'the estimated dietary risk was found to be low for most of the EU subpopulation groups'. Chronic: for 333 of 334 substances the probability of exceeding the ADI was below 1 in 1,000,000; pyrimethanil 0.200 %–1.242 % (median) in seven population groups. Acute: for 55 substances the probability of exceeding the ARfD ranged from 0.001 % to 0.6075 %.
E. How robust are the data?
High for the EU MACP (harmonised, representative design). National programme figures mix objective and selective sampling and over-represent suspect products. 'Above MRL' (numerical) and 'non-compliant' (after measurement uncertainty) must not be mixed. 12.4 % unknown origin limits origin comparisons.
Indicators
IndicatorValueYearSamplesSampling designScopeSource
Pesticides: samples above the maximum residue level
pest_mrl_exceed_pct
EU coordinated multiannual control programme (EU MACP)
Non-compliant after measurement uncertainty: 1.2 %.
2.4 % of samples above MRL (numerical)20249,842representativeall foodsRS-EU-04
Pesticides: samples above the maximum residue level
pest_mrl_exceed_pct
EU MACP, products of reporting-country origin
Non-compliant 0.8 %. Includes domestic and other EU/EEA origin.
1.8 % of samples above MRL (numerical)20247,467representativeEU originRS-EU-04
Pesticides: samples above the maximum residue level
pest_mrl_exceed_pct
EU MACP, products of third-country origin
Non-compliant 2.6 %.
4.8 % of samples above MRL (numerical)20241,978representativeorigin outside the EURS-EU-04
Pesticides: samples above the maximum residue level
pest_mrl_exceed_pct
National programmes (EU MACP + MANCP)
Non-compliant 1.8 %. Partly risk-based.
3.3 % of samples above MRL (numerical)202486,449mixedall foodsRS-EU-04
Pesticides: samples above the maximum residue level
pest_mrl_exceed_pct
National programmes, EU-market origin
Non-compliant 1.0 %.
2.1 % of samples above MRL (numerical)202457,574mixedEU originRS-EU-04
Pesticides: samples above the maximum residue level
pest_mrl_exceed_pct
National programmes, third-country origin
Non-compliant 5.2 %.
8.3 % of samples above MRL (numerical)202418,184mixedorigin outside the EURS-EU-04
Pesticides: samples above the maximum residue level
pest_mrl_exceed_pct
Increased import controls under Impl. Reg. (EU) 2019/1793
Non-compliant 3.6 %; border checks on listed high-risk combinations.
5.5 % of samples above MRL (numerical)202439,433risk-basedimportsRS-EU-04
Pesticides: samples above the maximum residue level
pest_mrl_exceed_pct
National programmes, animal products
93.1 % without quantifiable residues.
0.5 % of samples above MRL (numerical)202419,995mixedall foodsRS-EU-04
Pesticides: samples with measurable residues
pest_quantified_pct
EU MACP
Computed as 100 − 43.1 % without quantifiable residues (54.5 % within MRL + 2.4 % above).
56.9 % of samples with quantifiable residues20249,842representativeall foodsRS-EU-04
Pesticides: samples with measurable residues
pest_quantified_pct
National programmes (EU MACP + MANCP)
Computed as 100 − 58.4 % without quantifiable residues.
41.6 % of samples with quantifiable residues202486,449mixedall foodsRS-EU-04

Notes on foods

  • Eggs: Chicken eggs were in the 2024 EU MACP; MRL exceedance rate 1.4 % (2021: 0 %; 2018: 0.1 %); n for eggs not extracted.
  • Red meat: Bovine fat in the 2024 EU MACP: MRL exceedance rate 0.2 %.
  • Fruit and vegetables: In the EU MACP, sweet peppers had the largest rise in exceedance rate (4.7 % in 2024); grapefruit 3.7 %; bananas 1.6 %.
  • Cereals and rice: Wheat grain in the EU MACP: exceedance rate 0.5 % (2024).
  • Fish and seafood: 21 countries reported 1,063 fish samples; quantified residues mainly copper, chlorate and DDT; no MRLs above LOQ set for fish.

Sources: RS-EU-03, RS-EU-04, RS-EU-30

Veterinary medicines and antibiotics – European Union

Data quality: moderate Last checked: 25 October 2026

A. What is legally allowed or banned?
Regulation (EU) 2019/6 (applies since 28 January 2022): antimicrobials not to be used routinely or to compensate for poor hygiene or husbandry; not for growth promotion or yield increase; prophylaxis only in exceptional cases and, for antibiotics, only for an individual animal; metaphylaxis only with high risk of spread and no alternatives (Art. 107); antimicrobial prescriptions valid five days (Art. 105). Regulation (EU) 2019/4: medicated feed with antimicrobials 'shall not be used for prophylaxis' (Art. 17(3)). Antibiotics other than coccidiostats/histomonostats banned as feed additives since 1 January 2006 (Reg. 1831/2003). Implementing Reg. (EU) 2022/1255 reserves listed antimicrobials (e.g. carbapenems, glycopeptides, oxazolidinones) for humans. Since 3 September 2026 the growth-promotion and reserved-antimicrobial bans also apply to animals and products imported from third countries (Del. Reg. 2023/905, Impl. Reg. 2026/1189). MRLs and prohibited substances: Reg. (EU) No 37/2010. Third countries need an approved residue control plan per commodity (Impl. Reg. 2021/405).
B. What is actually used in production?
Veterinary antimicrobials are used in EU livestock. ESUAvet 2024: EU (27) sales 89.6 mg/PCU, 24.3 % below 2018 (118.3); target for 2030 59.2 mg/PCU; sales rose in 2023 and 2024 after a low in 2022. 86.0 % of sales were product forms mainly used for group treatment. AMEG category B substances (fluoroquinolones, 3rd/4th-generation cephalosporins, polymyxins, other quinolones) were 6.0 % of sales.
C. Which residues or levels were measured?
EFSA (2024 data, EU + Iceland + Norway): 0.13 % (629 of 493,664) samples non-compliant for veterinary drug residues and other substances; risk-based production plan 0.16 %, randomised surveillance plan 0.22 %, risk-based third-country import plan 0.2 %.
D. Which health risks are demonstrated?
No EU-level quantitative health-risk conclusion on residues was read (EFSA technical report not accessible). The legal measures are motivated by antimicrobial resistance.
E. How robust are the data?
Sales in mg/PCU are a population-corrected sales indicator, not use per species; national data collection changes affect trends. Residue figures come from mainly risk-based plans; only the randomised plan approximates prevalence.
Indicators
IndicatorValueYearSamplesSampling designScopeSource
Veterinary drugs: non-compliant samples
vetdrug_noncompliant_pct
EU residue monitoring (Reg. 2017/625, Del. Reg. 2022/1644), EU + IS + NO
Risk-based production plan 0.16 %; randomised plan 0.22 %; import plan 0.2 % (n of sub-plans not read).
0.13 % of samples non-compliant2024493,664mixedall foodsRS-EU-14
Antimicrobial sales, animals (mg/PCU)
amu_mg_per_pcu
ESUAvet, EU-27 aggregate
EU + Iceland + Norway: 85.6 mg/PCU. 2018 reference 118.3; 2030 target 59.2.
89.6 mg/PCU (sales, food-producing animals)2024–unknownall foodsRS-EU-13

Notes on foods

  • Poultry: Only countries listed with an approved residue control plan for poultry may export poultry meat to the EU (Impl. Reg. 2021/405).
  • Eggs: Same requirement applies to eggs.
  • Dairy: Same requirement applies to milk.

Sources: RS-EU-05, RS-EU-06, RS-EU-07, RS-EU-08, RS-EU-09, RS-EU-10, RS-EU-11, RS-EU-12, RS-EU-13, RS-EU-14

Hormonal growth promoters – European Union

Data quality: moderate Last checked: 25 October 2026

A. What is legally allowed or banned?
Directive 96/22/EC: thyrostatics, stilbenes and oestradiol 17beta are prohibited (List A); beta-agonists are prohibited with narrow derogations (List B); other oestrogenic, androgenic and gestagenic substances are provisionally prohibited (Annex III). Administering them to farm or aquaculture animals is banned (Art. 3); limited therapeutic or zootechnical use only by a veterinarian on identified animals, not by implant (Arts 4–5). Imports of animals or meat treated with List A substances are banned; third countries authorising stilbenes or thyrostatics cannot be on import lists (Art. 11). Council Decision 1999/879/EC prohibits marketing and administering bovine somatotrophin (bST) to dairy cows. Individual beta-agonists such as ractopamine are not named in the text read; the ban is defined by substance group.
B. What is actually used in production?
Use for growth promotion is illegal in the EU; no data on illegal use beyond residue findings.
C. Which residues or levels were measured?
Residue plans test for group A (prohibited) substances; EU-level group A results were not separately extracted (see DE: 9 of 38,459 risk-based samples non-compliant in 2023).
D. Which health risks are demonstrated?
Not assessed here.
E. How robust are the data?
Legal status is clear from primary texts; measured data only at national level here.

Notes on foods

  • Red meat: Hormonal growth promoters and beta-agonists for fattening are banned; imports must comply (Dir. 96/22/EC Art. 11).
  • Dairy: bST use in dairy cows is banned (Decision 1999/879/EC).

Sources: RS-EU-15, RS-EU-16

Contaminants (heavy metals, PFAS, PCBs, dioxins, nitrate) – European Union

Data quality: moderate Last checked: 25 October 2026

A. What is legally allowed or banned?
Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915 (Reg. 1881/2006 not in force since 24 May 2023) sets maximum levels. Examples: dioxins (sum dioxins / dioxins + dl-PCBs) poultry meat 1,75 / 3,0 pg/g fat, eggs 2,5 / 5,0 pg/g fat, raw milk and dairy 2,0 / 4,0 pg/g fat, fish muscle 3,5 / 6,5 pg/g wet weight; PFAS sum of 4: eggs 1,7 ug/kg, meat of bovine/pig/poultry 1,3 ug/kg, fish muscle (general) 2,0 ug/kg; lead: raw milk 0,020 mg/kg, meat 0,10 mg/kg, fish 0,30 mg/kg; cadmium meat 0,050 mg/kg; mercury fish (most species) 0,50 mg/kg; nitrate: fresh spinach 3 500 mg/kg, lettuce 2 000–5 000 mg/kg, rucola up to 7 000 mg/kg.
B. What is actually used in production?
Not applicable (environmental and process contaminants, not intentionally used).
C. Which residues or levels were measured?
EU-level occurrence percentages for PFAS, dioxins, heavy metals and nitrate were not extracted in this work (see DE for German monitoring).
D. Which health risks are demonstrated?
EFSA 2020: TWI 4.4 ng/kg bw per week for the sum of PFOA, PFNA, PFHxS, PFOS; fish meat, fruit and eggs contributed most; 'parts of the European population exceed this TWI, which is of concern'. EFSA 2018: TWI 2 pg TEQ/kg bw per week for dioxins and dl-PCBs; mean and P95 intakes of adolescents, adults and elderly 2.1–10.5 and 5.3–30.4 pg TEQ/kg bw per week, 'a considerable exceedance of the TWI'.
E. How robust are the data?
EFSA opinions read as abstracts only. Exceeding a TWI describes long-term intake at population level; it does not mean that a single food is unsafe. Maximum levels are legal limits, not health thresholds.

Notes on foods

  • Eggs: EFSA lists eggs and egg products among the main PFAS contributors; dioxins and dl-PCBs transfer to eggs.
  • Fish and seafood: Fish meat is a main PFAS contributor (EFSA 2020).
  • Dairy: Dioxins and dl-PCBs transfer to milk (EFSA 2018).

Sources: RS-EU-17, RS-EU-18, RS-EU-19

Mycotoxins (mould toxins) – European Union

Data quality: moderate Last checked: 25 October 2026

A. What is legally allowed or banned?
Reg. (EU) 2023/915: aflatoxin M1 0,050 ug/kg in raw milk, heat-treated milk and milk for milk products; 0,025 ug/kg in infant, follow-on and young-child formulae; groundnuts for direct consumption B1 2,0 / sum 4,0 ug/kg; ochratoxin A dried vine fruits 8,0 ug/kg; deoxynivalenol unprocessed cereals 1 000 ug/kg. Increased import checks for aflatoxins in listed products (Impl. Reg. 2019/1793).
B. What is actually used in production?
Not applicable (natural toxins).
C. Which residues or levels were measured?
No EU-wide AFM1 exceedance percentage was extracted. ACN 2025: for mycotoxins, 77 % of notifications result from border checks; aflatoxins and ochratoxin A in figs most reported among fruit; aflatoxins in groundnuts and pistachios dominate nut notifications.
D. Which health risks are demonstrated?
EFSA 2020 (more than 200,000 analytical results): milk and fermented milk products are the main contributors to AFM1 exposure; margins of exposure below 10,000 for AFB1 and, in some surveys of younger age groups, for AFM1 – 'This raises a health concern.'
E. How robust are the data?
EFSA opinion read as abstract only; RASFF/ACN counts reflect border control intensity, not prevalence.

Notes on foods

  • Dairy: AFM1 limit 0,050 ug/kg (milk); EFSA identifies liquid milk as main AFM1 source.
  • Legumes and nuts: Groundnut limits and import checks; aflatoxins dominate nut notifications in ACN 2025.

Sources: RS-EU-17, RS-EU-20, RS-EU-30, RS-EU-31

Pathogens (Salmonella, Campylobacter, etc.) – European Union

Data quality: high Last checked: 25 October 2026

A. What is legally allowed or banned?
Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 obliges national Salmonella control programmes in poultry with Union targets: at most 2 % of adult laying-hen flocks positive for S. Enteritidis/Typhimurium (Reg. 517/2011) and at most 1 % of broiler flocks (Reg. 200/2012). Reg. (EC) No 2073/2005: fresh poultry meat – S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium not detected in 25 g (n=5, c=0); process hygiene criterion for Campylobacter on broiler neck skin 1000 CFU/g (max 15 of 50 samples above).
B. What is actually used in production?
Control programmes are run by Member States; vaccination and on-farm measures were not researched.
C. Which residues or levels were measured?
EFSA/ECDC 2024: laying-hen flocks 4.0 % Salmonella spp. and 1.6 % target serovars (n 38,918 flocks); broiler flocks 4.3 % and 0.29 % (n 313,902). Fresh meat from broilers 4.9 % Salmonella-positive (n 95,954 units). Campylobacter on broiler neck skins above 1000 CFU/g: 24.3 % of 15,431 official samples and 16.4 % of 67,042 operator samples. 14 MS and UK (Northern Ireland) met all poultry Salmonella targets. Human cases 2024: campylobacteriosis 168,396 (55.3 per 100,000), salmonellosis 79,703 (18.6 per 100,000).
D. Which health risks are demonstrated?
Campylobacteriosis is the most reported zoonosis (63.7 % of cases) with a significant increasing trend 2020–2024. Salmonella in eggs and egg products was the agent/food pair of most concern; broiler meat was most often implicated in strong-evidence Campylobacter outbreaks.
E. How robust are the data?
Flock data come from national control programmes (official + operator samples) and are comparable across MS for target serovars. Meat data mix designs. Official samples show higher positive rates than operator own-checks. Human rates depend on surveillance systems.
Indicators
IndicatorValueYearSamplesSampling designScopeSource
Salmonella: laying-hen flocks
salmonella_layer_flocks_pct
National Salmonella control programmes (Reg. 2160/2003), EU-27 + XI
Target serovars (S. Enteritidis/Typhimurium): 1.6 %.
4 % of adult laying-hen flocks positive for Salmonella spp.202438,918mixedall foodsRS-EU-21
Salmonella: broiler flocks
salmonella_broiler_flocks_pct
National Salmonella control programmes, EU-27 + XI
Target serovars: 0.29 %.
4.3 % of broiler flocks positive for Salmonella spp.2024313,902mixedall foodsRS-EU-21
Salmonella: poultry meat
salmonella_poultry_meat_pct
Member State reporting to EFSA (various sampling contexts)
Not a harmonised retail survey.
4.9 % of fresh broiler meat sampling units Salmonella-positive202495,954mixedall foodsRS-EU-21
Campylobacter: broilers
campylobacter_broiler_pct
Official controls, Reg. 2073/2005 PHC, 17 MS
Operator own-checks: 16.4 % of 67,042. This is a count-above-limit share, not a prevalence of Campylobacter presence.
24.3 % of broiler neck-skin samples above 1000 CFU/g (process hygiene criterion)202415,431mixedall foodsRS-EU-21

Notes on foods

  • Eggs: Salmonella in eggs and egg products was the agent/food pair of most concern in 2024 outbreaks.
  • Poultry: Broiler flocks meet the EU target for target serovars at EU level (0.29 %); Campylobacter on carcases remains frequent.

Sources: RS-EU-21, RS-EU-22, RS-EU-23, RS-EU-24

Additives and processing – European Union

Data quality: moderate Last checked: 25 October 2026

A. What is legally allowed or banned?
Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008: only additives on the Union list may be used, under set conditions (Art. 4); inclusion requires no safety concern, technological need and no misleading of consumers (Art. 6); additives authorised before 2009 are re-evaluated by EFSA (Art. 32). Six listed azo-type colours (e.g. E 110, E 104, E 122) require the warning 'may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children' (Annex V). Titanium dioxide (E 171) was removed from the Union list by Reg. (EU) 2022/63 after EFSA concluded in 2021 that a genotoxicity concern could not be ruled out; foods made under the old rules could be placed on the market until 7 August 2022.
B. What is actually used in production?
Not documented here.
C. Which residues or levels were measured?
Not researched.
D. Which health risks are demonstrated?
EFSA 2021 on E 171: 'can no longer be considered safe when used as a food additive' (as quoted in Reg. 2022/63).
E. How robust are the data?
Legal texts read; the Union list itself was not read.

Sources: RS-EU-25, RS-EU-26

Animal husbandry and feed – European Union

Data quality: moderate Last checked: 25 October 2026

A. What is legally allowed or banned?
Directive 1999/74/EC: unenriched (battery) cages prohibited since 1 January 2012; enriched cages remain allowed EU-wide with at least 750 cm2 per hen (600 cm2 usable), nest, litter and perches. Eggs carry a producer code showing farming method and site (Del. Reg. 2023/2465). TSE Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 Art. 7: feeding animal protein to ruminants is prohibited; Annex IV extends and qualifies the ban for other species. Reg. (EU) 2021/1372 re-allowed processed animal protein (PAP) from pigs in poultry feed and PAP from poultry in pig feed, plus insect PAP, under strict separation; feeding PAP of the same species (intra-species recycling) remains prohibited (Reg. 1069/2009 Art. 11). Antibiotic growth promoters banned in feed since 2006.
B. What is actually used in production?
Housing shares across the EU were not researched (see DE).
C. Which residues or levels were measured?
Not applicable.
D. Which health risks are demonstrated?
Not assessed.
E. How robust are the data?
Legal texts read; Annex IV of 999/2001 read only in part.

Notes on foods

  • Eggs: Cage eggs from enriched cages remain legal at EU level; national rules can be stricter (see DE).
  • Poultry: Poultry may be fed porcine PAP and insect PAP since 2021; not poultry PAP.

Sources: RS-EU-27, RS-EU-28, RS-EU-29, RS-EU-09

Controls, imports, recalls, labelling – European Union

Data quality: moderate Last checked: 25 October 2026

A. What is legally allowed or banned?
Regulation (EU) 2017/625 governs official controls by Member States and at the border; Reg. 178/2002 bans unsafe food and sets up EFSA and RASFF. Implementing Reg. 2019/1793 raises border check frequencies for listed product/country/hazard combinations, reviewed at least every six months. Labelling: Reg. 1169/2011 (food information); origin labelling for fresh, chilled and frozen pig, sheep, goat and poultry meat ('Reared in' / 'Slaughtered in', Impl. Reg. 1337/2013, since 1 April 2015); beef: born, fattened and slaughtered countries (Reg. 1760/2000); eggs: producer code (Del. Reg. 2023/2465).
B. What is actually used in production?
Controls are carried out by national authorities; frequency depends on risk.
C. Which residues or levels were measured?
ACN 2025: 10,490 notifications (+11 %); Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium notified most; fruits and vegetables 18 % of notifications, 78 % of them for non-EU products; pesticide residues the most frequent issue. 39,433 import samples under 2019/1793 in 2024 (EFSA).
D. Which health risks are demonstrated?
Not applicable.
E. How robust are the data?
Notification counts reflect control intensity, notification practice and trade volume; they are not prevalence data.

Notes on foods

  • Poultry: Origin label 'Reared in / Slaughtered in' mandatory for fresh poultry meat.
  • Red meat: Beef labels state birth, fattening and slaughter countries.
  • Eggs: Producer code on each egg identifies farming method and production site; its meaning must be explained on or in the pack (individual code digits not re-read here).

Sources: RS-EU-01, RS-EU-02, RS-EU-30, RS-EU-31, RS-EU-32, RS-EU-33, RS-EU-34, RS-EU-27, RS-EU-37, RS-EU-36

Drinking water – European Union

Data quality: low Last checked: 25 October 2026

A. What is legally allowed or banned?
Directive (EU) 2020/2184 (recast; repealed 98/83/EC from 13 January 2023): E. coli 0/100 ml; nitrate 50 mg/l; pesticides 0,10 ug/l per substance; arsenic 10 ug/l; lead 10 ug/l, falling to 5 ug/l by 12 January 2036; bisphenol A 2,5 ug/l; 'Sum of PFAS' 0,10 ug/l and/or 'PFAS Total' 0,50 ug/l, to be met by 12 January 2026; risk-based approach.
B. What is actually used in production?
Not applicable.
C. Which residues or levels were measured?
No EU-wide compliance figure was read; no EU-level JMP value in the World Bank API (see DE).
D. Which health risks are demonstrated?
Not assessed.
E. How robust are the data?
Directive text read via Cellar.

Sources: RS-EU-35

Sources – European Union (37)
  1. RS-EU-03: Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 on maximum residue levels of pesticides in or on food and feed – European Parliament and Council (2005). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2005/396/oj (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  2. RS-EU-04: The 2024 European Union report on pesticide residues in food – EFSA (2026). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42095190/ (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  3. RS-EU-30: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 on temporary increase of official controls and emergency measures for certain goods from certain third countries; consolidated 30.06.2026 – European Commission (2019). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2019/1793/oj (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  4. RS-EU-05: Commission Regulation (EU) No 37/2010 on pharmacologically active substances and MRLs in foodstuffs of animal origin; consolidated 16.08.2026 – European Commission (2010). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2010/37/oj (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  5. RS-EU-06: Regulation (EU) 2019/6 on veterinary medicinal products; consolidated 28.01.2022 – European Parliament and Council (2019). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/6/oj (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  6. RS-EU-07: Regulation (EU) 2019/4 on the manufacture, placing on the market and use of medicated feed – European Parliament and Council (2019). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/4/oj (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  7. RS-EU-08: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1255 designating antimicrobials or groups of antimicrobials reserved for treatment of certain infections in humans – European Commission (2022). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2022/1255/oj (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  8. RS-EU-09: Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 on additives for use in animal nutrition; consolidated 27.03.2021 – European Parliament and Council (2003). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2003/1831/oj (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  9. RS-EU-10: Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/905 on the prohibition of use of certain antimicrobials in animals or products exported from third countries into the Union – European Commission (2023). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2023/905/oj (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  10. RS-EU-11: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1189 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405 (antimicrobial restrictions; new Annex XVIa) – European Commission (2026). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2026/1189/oj (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  11. RS-EU-12: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405 – lists of third countries authorised for entry of animals and goods for human consumption; consolidated 03.09.2026 – European Commission (2021). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2021/405/oj (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  12. RS-EU-13: European Sales and Use of Antimicrobials for Veterinary Medicine (ESUAvet) – Annual surveillance report for 2024 (EMA/CVMP/ESUAVET/376993/2025) – European Medicines Agency (2025). https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/report/european-sales-use-antimicrobials-veterinary-medicine-annual-surveillance-report-2024_en.pdf (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  13. RS-EU-14: EFSA news 'Veterinary drug residues in food: what's the latest in the EU?' (2024 monitoring data; technical report doi 10.2903/sp.efsa.2026.EN-9913) – EFSA (2026). https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/news/veterinary-drug-residues-food-whats-latest-eu (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  14. RS-EU-15: Council Directive 96/22/EC prohibiting hormonal, thyrostatic substances and beta-agonists in stockfarming; consolidated 18.12.2008 – Council of the EU (1996). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/1996/22/oj (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  15. RS-EU-16: Council Decision 1999/879/EC concerning the placing on the market and administration of bovine somatotrophin (BST) – Council of the EU (1999). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec/1999/879/oj (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  16. RS-EU-17: Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915 on maximum levels for certain contaminants in food (repealing Reg. 1881/2006); consolidated 19.08.2026 – European Commission (2023). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/915/oj (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  17. RS-EU-18: Risk to human health related to the presence of perfluoroalkyl substances in food – EFSA CONTAM Panel (2020). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32994824/ (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  18. RS-EU-19: Risk for animal and human health related to the presence of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in feed and food – EFSA CONTAM Panel (2018). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32625737/ (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  19. RS-EU-20: Risk assessment of aflatoxins in food – EFSA CONTAM Panel (2020). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32874256/ (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  20. RS-EU-31: Alert and Cooperation Network – 2025 Annual Report – European Commission (DG SANTE) (2026). https://food.ec.europa.eu/document/download/5266bb47-4b7e-4558-9910-4c66519cbe7f_en?filename=acn_annual-report_2025.pdf (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  21. RS-EU-21: The European Union One Health 2024 Zoonoses Report – EFSA and ECDC (2025). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41377167/ (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  22. RS-EU-22: Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 on the control of salmonella and other specified food-borne zoonotic agents; consolidated 21.04.2021 – European Parliament and Council (2003). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2003/2160/oj (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  23. RS-EU-23: Commission Regulations (EU) No 517/2011 (laying hens) and No 200/2012 (broilers) – Union Salmonella reduction targets – European Commission (2011/2012). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2011/517/oj ; https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2012/200/oj (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  24. RS-EU-24: Commission Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 on microbiological criteria for foodstuffs; consolidated 01.07.2026 – European Commission (2005). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2005/2073/oj (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  25. RS-EU-25: Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives – European Parliament and Council (2008). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2008/1333/oj (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  26. RS-EU-26: Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/63 amending Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 as regards titanium dioxide (E 171) – European Commission (2022). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/63/oj (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  27. RS-EU-27: Council Directive 1999/74/EC (protection of laying hens) and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2465 (marketing standards for eggs) – Council of the EU / European Commission (1999/2023). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/1999/74/oj ; https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2023/2465/oj (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  28. RS-EU-28: Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 laying down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain TSEs; consolidated 12.03.2025 – European Parliament and Council (2001). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2001/999/oj (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  29. RS-EU-29: Commission Regulation (EU) 2021/1372 amending Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 (feeding non-ruminant farmed animals with protein derived from animals) – European Commission (2021). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1372/oj (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  30. RS-EU-01: Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 (General Food Law); consolidated 01.01.2026 – European Parliament and Council (2002). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2002/178/oj (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  31. RS-EU-02: Regulation (EU) 2017/625 on official controls; consolidated 05.01.2025 – European Parliament and Council (2017). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2017/625/oj (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  32. RS-EU-32: Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers; consolidated 01.04.2025 – European Parliament and Council (2011). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2011/1169/oj (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  33. RS-EU-33: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1337/2013 – country of origin or place of provenance for fresh, chilled and frozen meat of swine, sheep, goats and poultry – European Commission (2013). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2013/1337/oj (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  34. RS-EU-34: Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 establishing a system for the identification and registration of bovine animals and regarding the labelling of beef – European Parliament and Council (2000). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2000/1760/oj (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  35. RS-EU-37: RASFF Window – public notification search (consolidated backend) – European Commission (RASFF) (2026). https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/search (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  36. RS-EU-36: Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 44/2025 of 14 March 2025 amending Annex I (Veterinary and phytosanitary matters) to the EEA Agreement [2025/1027] – EEA Joint Committee (2025). https://www.efta.int/sites/default/files/documents/legal-texts/eea/other-legal-documents/adopted-joint-committee-decisions/2025%20-%20English/044-2025.pdf (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  37. RS-EU-35: Directive (EU) 2020/2184 on the quality of water intended for human consumption (recast) – European Parliament and Council (2020). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2020/2184/oj (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)

International reference framework (Codex, WHO, FAO)

Codex Alimentarius, run by FAO and WHO, sets international food standards: maximum residue limits for pesticides and veterinary drugs, maximum levels for contaminants such as aflatoxins and lead, additive rules and hygiene codes. These standards are voluntary. A country is bound only by its own law, but under WTO rules Codex is the reference point in trade disputes. Codex accepts some hormonal growth promoters and ractopamine; the ractopamine limits were adopted in 2012 by a vote of 69 to 67, and many countries, including the EU and China, still ban it. WHO recommends stopping antibiotic use for growth promotion and for routine prevention in healthy animals; WOAH reports that 22% of reporting countries still allowed growth promoters in 2022. WHO estimates that unsafe food caused about 866 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths in 2021, with the highest burden in Africa and South-East Asia. There is no international monitoring that measures residues in each country's food; such data come from national programmes.

Research scope: International reference framework: Codex Alimentarius (standards, MRL databases, CAC 2012 report), WHO (antimicrobial guidelines and MIA List, GEMS/Food, Drinking-water Guidelines, foodborne disease burden estimates 2015 and 2026), FAO (JECFA/JMPR, INFOSAN), WOAH ANIMUSE 9th report, WHO/UNICEF JMP and IARC classifications, all read from primary documents in October 2026. These are voluntary references, not laws of any country; they are shown when a country has no researched profile. Not covered or not verifiable: WOAH animal-welfare housing chapters, a 10th ANIMUSE report (not found), the post-2012 Codex status of bovine somatotropin from a primary report, and Codex positions on PFAS (no ML exists).

Last checked: 25 October 2026

Pesticides and pesticide residues – International reference framework (Codex, WHO, FAO)

Data quality: moderate Last checked: 25 October 2026

A. What is legally allowed or banned?
International reference only. Codex texts are voluntary references. They become binding only when a country adopts them into national law. Under the WTO SPS Agreement, measures based on Codex are presumed consistent; stricter national rules are allowed if they are scientifically justified. National law decides what is allowed in a given country. Codex sets maximum residue limits (CXLs) for pesticide/commodity combinations. Scientific basis: the Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR, since 1963) evaluates toxicology (acceptable daily intake, acute reference dose) and residue data; the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues proposes the limits; the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) adopts them. The Codex database lists MRLs and extraneous MRLs adopted up to CAC 49 (July 2026). Up to 2024, CAC had adopted 6,453 MRLs and 63 EMRLs. A Codex MRL applies at the point of entry into a country or into trade channels. Codex does not approve or ban pesticide active substances; registration and bans are national decisions.
B. What is actually used in production?
Not documented at the international level. Codex and JMPR do not collect data on actual pesticide use.
C. Which residues or levels were measured?
No international monitoring programme reports MRL exceedance rates. WHO GEMS/Food collects contaminant and residue data submitted voluntarily by national institutions (more than 9 million analytical results in total). These data are not representative samples and are not published as exceedance rates per country.
D. Which health risks are demonstrated?
JMPR derives health-based guidance values (ADI, ARfD) and dietary exposure estimates (IESTI for short-term, IEDI with GEMS/Food cluster diets for long-term intake). Exceeding an MRL is non-compliance with a legal limit; whether it is a health concern depends on estimated intake relative to the ADI/ARfD (the JMPR approach). The 2026 WHO foodborne disease burden estimates did not include pesticide residues because of insufficient data.
E. How robust are the data?
High for the legal reference values (official, current database). There are no globally comparable data on use or residue levels. Country exceedance rates depend on national MRLs, sampling design (random vs risk-based) and laboratory scope, so they cannot be compared with Codex values directly.

Notes on foods

  • Fruit and vegetables: Codex MRLs exist for many fruit and vegetable commodities; national MRLs can be lower or higher.
  • Cereals and rice: Codex MRLs apply to cereal grains as traded (raw agricultural commodity).

Sources: RS-INT-01, RS-INT-02, RS-INT-05, RS-INT-07, RS-INT-36, RS-INT-21, RS-INT-29

Veterinary medicines and antibiotics – International reference framework (Codex, WHO, FAO)

Data quality: moderate Last checked: 25 October 2026

A. What is legally allowed or banned?
International reference only. Codex texts are voluntary references. They become binding only when a country adopts them into national law. Under the WTO SPS Agreement, measures based on Codex are presumed consistent; stricter national rules are allowed if they are scientifically justified. National law decides what is allowed in a given country. Codex MRLs and risk management recommendations (RMRs) for veterinary drug residues are listed in CXM 2-2024, based on JECFA evaluations. RMRs state that there is no safe residue level and that authorities should prevent residues by not using the substance in food-producing animals: carbadox, chloramphenicol, chlorpromazine, dimetridazole, furazolidone, gentian violet, ipronidazole, malachite green, metronidazole, nitrofural, olaquindox, ronidazole and stilbenes. Antimicrobial resistance: Codex CXC 61-2005 (amended 2021) states that responsible use does not include growth promotion with medically important antimicrobials; medically important antimicrobials should be used only for treatment, control or prevention under professional oversight. Codex CXC 54-2004 states antibiotics should not be used in feed for growth promotion without a public health safety assessment. WHO guidelines (2017) recommend an overall reduction in use of medically important antimicrobials in food-producing animals, complete restriction for growth promotion and for prevention in healthy animals (strong recommendations, low-quality evidence), and suggest not using critically important antimicrobials for group control and not using highest-priority ones for treatment (conditional, very low-quality evidence). The WHO MIA List (2024) classes 3rd/4th-generation cephalosporins, quinolones, polymyxins (e.g. colistin) and phosphonic acid derivatives (fosfomycin) as highest priority critically important (HPCIA).
B. What is actually used in production?
WOAH ANIMUSE, 9th report (2025, data year 2022): 70,648 tonnes of antimicrobials reported for animals by 107 participants (adjusted estimate up to 74,035 t). Biomass-adjusted use 89-93 mg/kg (71% of global animal biomass covered); terrestrial food animals 95-98 mg/kg; aquatic 21 mg/kg. Trend panel of 85 participants (62% of biomass): 102 mg/kg in 2020 to 97 mg/kg in 2022 (-5%). Regional changes 2020-2022: Africa -20%, Americas -4%, Europe -23%, Asia-Pacific -2%, Middle East +43% (Middle East participants cover only 17% of the region's biomass). Tetracyclines (28.29%) and penicillins (17.75%) were the largest classes; fluoroquinolones 3.7%, polymyxins 1.8%, 3rd/4th-gen cephalosporins 0.9%. In 2022, 34 of 157 Members (22%) still reported antimicrobial growth promoter use; 112 (71%) reported it is no longer authorised. Colistin as a growth promoter was still reported by 8 participants. Regional mg/kg levels by country are not published in the report; only 38 of 111 quantitative reporters made national reports public, and 39 Members had public reports on the ANIMUSE portal by January 2025.
C. Which residues or levels were measured?
No international programme measures veterinary drug residues in food. Residue monitoring is national (see country profiles). Codex CXG 71-2009 gives guidance for designing national residue control programmes.
D. Which health risks are demonstrated?
JECFA evaluations (ADI, recommended MRLs) are the scientific basis of Codex veterinary drug MRLs. WHO (2017) systematic reviews: where antimicrobial use in animals was restricted, AMR prevalence in animal bacteria was 10-20% lower and multidrug resistance 24-32% lower; in humans (13 studies meta-analysed) AMR prevalence was 24% lower in intervention groups. The 2026 WHO foodborne disease estimates did not include antimicrobial-resistant bacteria because of insufficient data.
E. How robust are the data?
ANIMUSE data are mostly sales and import data, not farm-level use. Coverage differs by region; participants and methods change between years. mg/kg biomass values are estimates; WOAH reports ranges. Country-level data are public only for Members that choose to publish.
Indicators
IndicatorValueYearSamplesSampling designScopeSource
Antimicrobial sales, animals (mg/kg biomass)
amu_mg_per_kg_biomass
WOAH ANIMUSE 9th report - trend panel
Global, 85 participants reporting 2020-2022 consistently, 62% of global animal biomass; mostly sales/import data. 2020 value: 102 mg/kg. n = number of participating countries/territories, not samples.
97 mg antimicrobial per kg estimated animal biomass202285mixedall foodsRS-INT-24
Antimicrobial sales, animals (mg/kg biomass)
amu_mg_per_kg_biomass
WOAH ANIMUSE 9th report - 2022 cross-section
Global range 89-93 mg/kg depending on coverage adjustment; 107 participants, 71% of global animal biomass; food-producing animals only. 'value' is the lower bound, 'value_upper' the upper bound.
89 mg antimicrobial per kg estimated animal biomass (range)2022107mixedall foodsRS-INT-24
Antimicrobial sales, animals (tonnes)
amu_tonnes
WOAH ANIMUSE 9th report
Reported total; WOAH's coverage-adjusted estimate is up to 74,035 t. n = participants.
70648 tonnes of antimicrobial agents (reported)2022107mixedall foodsRS-INT-24
Countries using growth promoters (share)
agp_use_members_pct
WOAH ANIMUSE 9th report
34 of 157 participants; self-reported legal/practice status, not measured use.
22 % of WOAH reporting Members still using antimicrobial growth promoters2022157mixedall foodsRS-INT-24

Notes on foods

  • Poultry: Codex/WHO texts apply to all food animals; WHO 2017 recommends no routine preventive use in healthy flocks.
  • Fish and seafood: WOAH 2022: aquatic food animals 21 mg/kg; fluoroquinolones were 15.8% of aquatic use (3.9 mg/kg). Codex RMR: malachite green and gentian violet should not be used.

Sources: RS-INT-08, RS-INT-10, RS-INT-11, RS-INT-17, RS-INT-18, RS-INT-19, RS-INT-20, RS-INT-24, RS-INT-35, RS-INT-29

Hormonal growth promoters – International reference framework (Codex, WHO, FAO)

Data quality: high Last checked: 25 October 2026

A. What is legally allowed or banned?
International reference only. Codex texts are voluntary references. They become binding only when a country adopts them into national law. Under the WTO SPS Agreement, measures based on Codex are presumed consistent; stricter national rules are allowed if they are scientifically justified. National law decides what is allowed in a given country. Codex (CXM 2-2024) treats several hormonal growth promoters as acceptable when used according to good practice: estradiol-17beta, progesterone and testosterone in cattle have MRL 'unnecessary' (JECFA: residues from growth-promoter use are unlikely to pose a hazard). Numeric MRLs exist for trenbolone acetate (cattle muscle 2, liver 10 ug/kg), zeranol (muscle 2, liver 10 ug/kg) and melengestrol acetate (muscle 1, liver 10, kidney 2, fat 18 ug/kg). Beta-agonists: ractopamine MRLs for cattle and pigs (muscle 10, liver 40, kidney 90, fat 10 ug/kg; ADI 0-1 ug/kg bw) were adopted at CAC 35 in July 2012 by secret ballot, 69 votes to 67 with 7 abstentions, without consensus; China, Norway and the EU recorded opposition and the EU stated its ban would remain. Zilpaterol MRLs for cattle (kidney 3.3, liver 3.5, muscle 0.5 ug/kg) were adopted at CAC 46 (2023). Stilbenes (e.g. diethylstilbestrol): Codex RMR - no safe level, should not be used. Somatotropins: porcine somatotropin ADI/MRL 'not specified' (CAC 26, 2003). Draft MRLs for bovine somatotropin (bST/rbST, dairy) were 'held at Step 8' since 1999 according to the 2012 CAC report; CXM 2-2024 contains no bST MRL. Codex MRLs do not oblige any country to permit these substances. In the WTO EC-Hormones dispute (DS26), the Appellate Body (1998) found the EC import ban inconsistent with SPS Article 5.1 (risk assessment), but the ban remained part of EU law.
B. What is actually used in production?
Not documented internationally. Use of hormonal implants, beta-agonists and bST is authorised in some countries and banned in others (see country profiles).
C. Which residues or levels were measured?
No international residue monitoring. National programmes test for hormones and beta-agonists.
D. Which health risks are demonstrated?
JECFA evaluations underpin the Codex values (e.g. ractopamine ADI 0-1 ug/kg bw; estradiol-17beta ADI 0-0.05 ug/kg bw). At CAC 35 (2012) the EU delegation stated that EFSA had concluded the data were insufficient to propose ractopamine MRLs and that risks to human health had not been sufficiently ruled out. This profile records the positions; it does not resolve the scientific disagreement.
E. How robust are the data?
High for the legal status of Codex texts (primary documents). The scientific assessment differs between JECFA and some national authorities; the ractopamine standard was adopted by a narrow vote, not by consensus.

Notes on foods

  • Red meat: Codex values exist for hormonal growth promoters and ractopamine/zilpaterol in cattle (and ractopamine in pigs).
  • Dairy: No Codex MRL for bovine somatotropin (rbST) as of CXM 2-2024.
  • Poultry: Codex lists no hormonal growth promoter MRLs for poultry.

Sources: RS-INT-08, RS-INT-09, RS-INT-05, RS-INT-06, RS-INT-35

Contaminants (heavy metals, PFAS, PCBs, dioxins, nitrate) – International reference framework (Codex, WHO, FAO)

Data quality: moderate Last checked: 25 October 2026

A. What is legally allowed or banned?
International reference only. Codex texts are voluntary references. They become binding only when a country adopts them into national law. Under the WTO SPS Agreement, measures based on Codex are presumed consistent; stricter national rules are allowed if they are scientifically justified. National law decides what is allowed in a given country. Codex General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food and Feed (CXS 193-1995, last amended 2025) lists maximum levels for international trade. Examples (mg/kg): lead - milk 0.02, meat of cattle/pigs/sheep 0.1, poultry meat 0.1, fish 0.3, cereal grains 0.2, leafy vegetables 0.3, fruiting vegetables 0.05, infant formula 0.01; inorganic arsenic - husked rice 0.35, polished rice 0.2; methylmercury - tuna 1.2, shark 1.6, marlin 1.7, alfonsino 1.5, orange roughy 0.8, pink cusk-eel 1.0. CXS 193 contains no maximum levels for dioxins, PCBs or PFAS; Codex has a code of practice to reduce dioxins and PCBs in food and feed (CXC 62-2006) and to reduce lead (CXC 56-2004) and arsenic in rice (CXC 77-2017).
B. What is actually used in production?
Not applicable (contaminants are not intentionally used).
C. Which residues or levels were measured?
WHO GEMS/Food holds more than 9 million analytical results submitted by national institutions (records by region, e.g. WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region 15,064 in total, none added in the past year as of the access date). The data can be browsed online but are not representative surveys and are not summarised as national compliance rates.
D. Which health risks are demonstrated?
JECFA withdrew its tolerable weekly intakes for lead and inorganic arsenic in 2010 because they were no longer considered health-protective (lead: IQ and blood-pressure effects; inorganic arsenic: lung cancer BMDL). WHO 2026 foodborne disease estimates (data year 2021): chemical hazards accounted for 73% of foodborne deaths, mostly inorganic arsenic (42%) and lead (31%); inorganic arsenic and lead were among the leading causes of foodborne DALYs. PFAS were not included for lack of data. IARC classifies TCDD dioxin and PCB-126 in Group 1 (Volume 100F).
E. How robust are the data?
Codex MLs: high (primary text). Burden estimates: model-based with wide uncertainty intervals. GEMS/Food data: heterogeneous, non-representative.
Indicators
IndicatorValueYearSamplesSampling designScopeSource
Share of chemical causes in foodborne deaths
fbd_chemical_deaths_share_pct
WHO foodborne disease burden estimates, 2026 edition
Global model-based estimate (not a sampling result); 9 chemical hazards included; inorganic arsenic 42% and lead 31% of chemical-related deaths.
73 % of foodborne deaths due to chemical hazards2021–mixedall foodsRS-INT-29

Notes on foods

  • Fish and seafood: Codex methylmercury MLs apply to specific large predatory species; lead ML for fish 0.3 mg/kg.
  • Cereals and rice: Codex inorganic arsenic ML: polished rice 0.2 mg/kg, husked rice 0.35 mg/kg.
  • Dairy: Codex lead ML for milk 0.02 mg/kg.

Sources: RS-INT-12, RS-INT-41, RS-INT-21, RS-INT-22, RS-INT-29, RS-INT-31, RS-INT-33

Mycotoxins (mould toxins) – International reference framework (Codex, WHO, FAO)

Data quality: moderate Last checked: 25 October 2026

A. What is legally allowed or banned?
International reference only. Codex texts are voluntary references. They become binding only when a country adopts them into national law. Under the WTO SPS Agreement, measures based on Codex are presumed consistent; stricter national rules are allowed if they are scientifically justified. National law decides what is allowed in a given country. CXS 193-1995: aflatoxin M1 in milk 0.5 ug/kg. Total aflatoxins (ug/kg): almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios, Brazil nuts 10 (ready-to-eat) / 15 (for further processing); peanuts for further processing 15; dried figs 10; chili pepper and nutmeg 20; maize grain for further processing 15; maize flour/meal 10; husked rice 20; polished rice 5; sorghum for further processing 10; cereal-based foods for infants and young children 5. MLs also exist for deoxynivalenol, fumonisins, ochratoxin A and patulin. Codex codes of practice cover aflatoxin B1 in feed for dairy animals (CXC 45-1997), peanuts (CXC 55-2004), tree nuts (CXC 59-2005), cereals (CXC 51-2003), dried figs and spices.
B. What is actually used in production?
Not applicable.
C. Which residues or levels were measured?
GEMS/Food holds about 1.09 million total-aflatoxin records and about 0.19 million aflatoxin B1 records (all regions, voluntarily submitted). No representative global prevalence figure exists.
D. Which health risks are demonstrated?
IARC classifies aflatoxins as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1; Monographs Volume 100F). JECFA (2001), cited in CXS 193: the additional liver-cancer risk predicted with aflatoxin M1 limits of 0.05 or 0.5 ug/kg is very small; hepatitis B carriers might benefit from lower aflatoxin intake. The 2026 WHO burden estimates excluded growth impairment from aflatoxin exposure.
E. How robust are the data?
Codex MLs: high. Occurrence data: not representative; strong regional and climatic variation.

Notes on foods

  • Dairy: Codex aflatoxin M1 ML 0.5 ug/kg in milk; national limits can be lower (see country profiles).
  • Legumes and nuts: Codex total aflatoxin MLs 10-15 ug/kg for tree nuts and peanuts depending on processing.
  • Cereals and rice: Codex total aflatoxin MLs for maize (15 / 10 ug/kg) and rice (20 husked / 5 polished).

Sources: RS-INT-12, RS-INT-41, RS-INT-21, RS-INT-33, RS-INT-29

Pathogens (Salmonella, Campylobacter, etc.) – International reference framework (Codex, WHO, FAO)

Data quality: moderate Last checked: 25 October 2026

A. What is legally allowed or banned?
International reference only. Codex texts are voluntary references. They become binding only when a country adopts them into national law. Under the WTO SPS Agreement, measures based on Codex are presumed consistent; stricter national rules are allowed if they are scientifically justified. National law decides what is allowed in a given country. Codex General Principles of Food Hygiene (CXC 1-1969, revised 2020 and 2022) set out good hygiene practice and HACCP. Specific codes and guidelines: Campylobacter and Salmonella in chicken meat (CXG 78-2011, farm-to-consumption approach without numeric targets), eggs and egg products (CXC 15-1976, rev. 2007: Salmonella Enteritidis monitoring and vaccination may reduce risk where SE is associated with poultry or eggs), meat hygiene (CXC 58-2005), milk and milk products (CXC 57-2004), fresh fruits and vegetables (CXC 53-2003), Listeria monocytogenes (CXG 61-2007), STEC in beef, leafy vegetables, raw milk and sprouts (CXG 99-2023). JEMRA provides microbiological risk assessments.
B. What is actually used in production?
Not documented internationally; control programmes are national.
C. Which residues or levels were measured?
No international prevalence monitoring of pathogens in food. WHO burden estimates (2026 edition, data year 2021, 42 hazards): 866 million illnesses (95% UI 680-1090 million), 1.52 million deaths (0.783-2.51 million), 57.1 million DALYs (39.4-81.1 million). Biological hazards caused about 860 million illnesses. Non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica, inorganic arsenic and lead caused the most DALYs. Children under 5 (9% of the population) had nearly one third of cases. The first WHO estimates (2015, data year 2010, 31 hazards) gave 33 million DALYs; WHO states the 2026 edition supersedes all earlier estimates. National estimates for every WHO Member State are available in the WHO Global Health Observatory.
D. Which health risks are demonstrated?
Foodborne disease burden is highest in the African and South-East Asia regions (nearly three quarters of illnesses, 60% of deaths). WHO states many cases could be prevented by improved water, sanitation and hygiene, pasteurisation and access to health care.
E. How robust are the data?
Burden estimates are model-based (systematic reviews, meta-regression, expert elicitation for foodborne attribution) with wide uncertainty. They are not measured case counts and should not be ranked against national surveillance numbers. Many hazards (e.g. AMR bacteria) are not included.
Indicators
IndicatorValueYearSamplesSampling designScopeSource
Foodborne illnesses (million)
fbd_illnesses_million
WHO foodborne disease burden estimates, 2026 edition (FERG)
Global model-based estimate, 42 hazards; 95% UI 680-1090 million.
866 million foodborne illnesses per year2021–mixedall foodsRS-INT-31
Foodborne deaths (million)
fbd_deaths_million
WHO foodborne disease burden estimates, 2026 edition (FERG)
Global model-based estimate, 42 hazards; 95% UI 0.783-2.51 million.
1.52 million foodborne deaths per year2021–mixedall foodsRS-INT-31
Foodborne disease burden (DALYs, million)
fbd_dalys_million
WHO foodborne disease burden estimates, 2026 edition (FERG)
Global model-based estimate, 42 hazards; 95% UI 39.4-81.1 million.
57.1 million DALYs2021–mixedall foodsRS-INT-31
Foodborne disease burden (DALYs, million)
fbd_dalys_million
WHO FERG first estimates (2015)
31 hazards; superseded by the 2026 edition and not directly comparable (different hazard set and methods).
33 million DALYs2010–mixedall foodsRS-INT-27

Notes on foods

  • Poultry: Codex CXG 78-2011 targets Campylobacter and Salmonella in chicken meat; no numeric international targets.
  • Eggs: Codex CXC 15-1976 (rev. 2007) addresses Salmonella Enteritidis control incl. vaccination.
  • Fruit and vegetables: Codex CXC 53-2003 and CXG 99-2023 (STEC in leafy vegetables and sprouts).

Sources: RS-INT-41, RS-INT-14, RS-INT-15, RS-INT-16, RS-INT-04, RS-INT-27, RS-INT-28, RS-INT-29, RS-INT-30, RS-INT-31

Additives and processing – International reference framework (Codex, WHO, FAO)

Data quality: high Last checked: 25 October 2026

A. What is legally allowed or banned?
International reference only. Codex texts are voluntary references. They become binding only when a country adopts them into national law. Under the WTO SPS Agreement, measures based on Codex are presumed consistent; stricter national rules are allowed if they are scientifically justified. National law decides what is allowed in a given country. Codex General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA, CXS 192-1995, revised up to 2026): only listed additives are recognised as suitable under the standard; an additive is considered only if JECFA has assigned an ADI (or found it safe on other criteria) and Codex has given it an INS number. Use levels are set per food category. Countries keep their own positive lists, which can be narrower or wider.
B. What is actually used in production?
Not documented internationally.
C. Which residues or levels were measured?
No international monitoring of additive use levels; JECFA estimates intake when evaluating additives.
D. Which health risks are demonstrated?
Aspartame (INS 951): IARC (2023) classified it as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B, limited evidence); JECFA (2023) kept the ADI of 0-40 mg/kg bw. IARC classifications describe strength of evidence for hazard, not the size of risk. Processed meat (a processing category, not an additive): IARC Group 1 (colorectal cancer; about 18% higher risk per 50 g eaten daily). Red meat: IARC Group 2A. These are listed here as international reference classifications; claim-level evidence is handled in the project's study files.
E. How robust are the data?
High for the legal reference (primary text). IARC and JECFA answer different questions (hazard vs risk at given intake).

Notes on foods

  • Red meat: IARC: processed meat Group 1, red meat Group 2A (2015, Monographs Vol. 114).

Sources: RS-INT-13, RS-INT-39, RS-INT-34, RS-INT-32, RS-INT-35

Animal husbandry and feed – International reference framework (Codex, WHO, FAO)

Data quality: low Last checked: 25 October 2026

A. What is legally allowed or banned?
International reference only. Codex texts are voluntary references. They become binding only when a country adopts them into national law. Under the WTO SPS Agreement, measures based on Codex are presumed consistent; stricter national rules are allowed if they are scientifically justified. National law decides what is allowed in a given country. Codex Code of Practice on Good Animal Feeding (CXC 54-2004, amended 2024): antibiotics should not be used in feed for growth promotion without a public health safety assessment; animal products that could carry the BSE agent should not be fed to ruminants; undesirable substances (e.g. mycotoxins, contaminants) in feed should be identified and minimised; feed traceability and records. CXS 193 includes feed MLs only where transfer to food of animal origin is relevant. Aflatoxin B1 in feed for dairy animals is covered by CXC 45-1997. WOAH standards: the Terrestrial Code chapter 6.10 on responsible and prudent use of antimicrobials (cited in the ANIMUSE report). WOAH animal-welfare chapters on housing (e.g. cages) were not verified in this research.
B. What is actually used in production?
WOAH ANIMUSE (2022 data): 22% of reporting Members still allowed or used antimicrobial growth promoters; most reported were bacitracin, tylosin and avilamycin.
C. Which residues or levels were measured?
Not documented internationally.
D. Which health risks are demonstrated?
See vet_drugs (antimicrobial resistance) and mycotoxins (aflatoxin M1 transfer from feed to milk).
E. How robust are the data?
Codex text: high. No international data on housing systems or feed compliance.

Notes on foods

  • Dairy: Aflatoxin B1 in dairy feed transfers to milk as aflatoxin M1 (CXC 45-1997; CXS 193).

Sources: RS-INT-17, RS-INT-12, RS-INT-24

Controls, imports, recalls, labelling – International reference framework (Codex, WHO, FAO)

Data quality: moderate Last checked: 25 October 2026

A. What is legally allowed or banned?
International reference only. Codex texts are voluntary references. They become binding only when a country adopts them into national law. Under the WTO SPS Agreement, measures based on Codex are presumed consistent; stricter national rules are allowed if they are scientifically justified. National law decides what is allowed in a given country. Codex texts on food import and export inspection and certification (e.g. CXG 20-1995, CXG 26-1997, equivalence CXG 53-2003, traceability CXG 60-2006) guide national control systems. There is no international food inspection authority: official controls, recalls and border checks are national. INFOSAN (FAO/WHO) is a voluntary network of national food safety authorities from almost all FAO and WHO members; it shares information on incidents involving internationally traded food. WTO SPS Agreement: Codex standards are the benchmark for food-safety measures in trade disputes.
B. What is actually used in production?
Not applicable.
C. Which residues or levels were measured?
INFOSAN does not publish per-country alert statistics comparable to RASFF. Not documented.
D. Which health risks are demonstrated?
Not applicable.
E. How robust are the data?
Codex and WTO texts: high. Implementation varies by country.

Sources: RS-INT-05, RS-INT-03, RS-INT-41, RS-INT-38, RS-INT-37

Drinking water – International reference framework (Codex, WHO, FAO)

Data quality: high Last checked: 25 October 2026

A. What is legally allowed or banned?
International reference only. WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality (4th edition incorporating the 1st and 2nd addenda, 2022) are a scientific starting point for national standards; WHO does not promote a single international standard. Selected guideline values: E. coli or thermotolerant coliforms not detectable in any 100 ml sample; arsenic 0.01 mg/l (provisional); lead 0.01 mg/l (provisional); cadmium 0.003 mg/l; nitrate 50 mg/l (as NO3-); nitrite 3 mg/l (as NO2-). WHO recommends water safety plans and independent surveillance. Codex CXC 48-2001 covers hygiene of bottled/packaged drinking water.
B. What is actually used in production?
WHO/UNICEF JMP defines 'safely managed' drinking water as water from an improved source that is accessible on premises, available when needed and free from faecal and priority chemical contamination. Global 2024: 73.7% of the population used safely managed drinking water (WHO GHO); JMP states 1 in 4 people (2.1 billion) still lack it, including 106 million drinking untreated surface water. Urban 83.5%, rural 60.5%.
C. Which residues or levels were measured?
JMP estimates combine household surveys, censuses and administrative or regulatory data; water quality testing is included in some household surveys (e.g. MICS). Country-level data are published at washdata.org/data and in the WHO Global Health Observatory.
D. Which health risks are demonstrated?
WHO (2026) states that many foodborne illnesses and deaths could be prevented with measures including improved water, sanitation and hygiene. GDWQ guideline values are health-based (e.g. nitrate 50 mg/l based on short-term effects).
E. How robust are the data?
JMP is the globally comparable reference (one definition for all countries). Estimates are modelled; the water-quality component is missing or estimated for many countries.
Indicators
IndicatorValueYearSamplesSampling designScopeSource
Safely managed drinking water (WHO/UNICEF)
water_safely_managed_pct
WHO/UNICEF JMP (via WHO GHO, indicator WSH_WATER_SAFELY_MANAGED)
Global modelled estimate (GHO value 73.735). World Bank WDI world aggregate: 73.67%. JMP text: '1 in 4 ... still lack access'.
73.7 % of population using safely managed drinking water2024–mixedall foodsRS-INT-26

Sources: RS-INT-23, RS-INT-41, RS-INT-25, RS-INT-26, RS-INT-40, RS-INT-29

Sources – International reference framework (Codex, WHO, FAO) (41)
  1. RS-INT-01: About Codex (Codex Alimentarius website) – FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission Secretariat (2026). https://codex.fao.org/about-codex/about-us (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  2. RS-INT-02: About Codex texts – FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission Secretariat (2026). https://codex.fao.org/codex-texts/about-codex-texts (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  3. RS-INT-05: Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) – World Trade Organization (1994 (in force 1995)). https://www.wto.org/english/docs_e/legal_e/15sps_01_e.htm (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  4. RS-INT-07: Codex Pesticide Residues in Food and Feed Database – FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission (2026). https://codex.fao.org/codex-texts/codex-online-databases/pesticides-residues (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  5. RS-INT-36: Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR) - WHO page – World Health Organization (2026). https://www.who.int/groups/joint-fao-who-meeting-on-pesticide-residues-(jmpr) (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  6. RS-INT-21: GEMS/Food - Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment Programme (WHO web page) and GEMS/Food Contaminants database landing page – World Health Organization (2026). https://www.who.int/teams/nutrition-and-food-safety/databases/global-environment-monitoring-system-food-contamination (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  7. RS-INT-29: News release: Unsafe food causes 866 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths annually, young children at highest risk (4 June 2026) – World Health Organization (2026). https://www.who.int/news/item/04-06-2026-unsafe-food-causes-866-million-illnesses-and-1.5-million-deaths-annually--young-children-at-highest-risk (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  8. RS-INT-08: CXM 2-2024 Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) and Risk Management Recommendations (RMRs) for Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods – FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission (2024). https://codex.fao.org/restapi/searchstandard/MRL2e.pdf?lang=en&id=41 (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  9. RS-INT-10: CXC 61-2005 Code of Practice to Minimize and Contain Foodborne Antimicrobial Resistance (amended 2021) – FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission (2005, amended 2021). https://codex.fao.org/restapi/searchstandard/CXC_061e.pdf?lang=en&id=302 (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  10. RS-INT-11: CXG 94-2021 Guidelines on integrated monitoring and surveillance of foodborne antimicrobial resistance; CXG 77-2011 Guidelines for Risk Analysis of Foodborne AMR (rev. 2021) – FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission (2021). https://codex.fao.org/restapi/searchstandard/CXG_94e.pdf?lang=en&id=8037 (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  11. RS-INT-17: CXC 54-2004 Code of Practice on Good Animal Feeding (amended 2008, 2024) – FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission (2004, amended 2024). https://codex.fao.org/restapi/searchstandard/CXC_054e.pdf?lang=en&id=414 (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  12. RS-INT-18: CXG 71-2009 Guidelines for the Design and Implementation of National Regulatory Food Safety Assurance Programmes Associated with the Use of Veterinary Drugs in Food Producing Animals (rev. 2012, 2014) – FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission (2009, rev. 2014). https://codex.fao.org/restapi/searchstandard/CXG_071e_2014.pdf?lang=en&id=7006 (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  13. RS-INT-19: WHO guidelines on use of medically important antimicrobials in food-producing animals – World Health Organization (2017). https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241550130 (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  14. RS-INT-20: WHO List of Medically Important Antimicrobials: a risk management tool for mitigating antimicrobial resistance due to non-human use (WHO MIA List, 7th revision) – World Health Organization (2024). https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/gcp/who-mia-list-2024-lv.pdf?sfvrsn=3320dd3d_2 (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  15. RS-INT-24: Annual Report on Antimicrobial Agents Intended for Use in Animals, 9th report (ANIMUSE) – World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) (2025). https://www.woah.org/app/uploads/2025/05/en-woah-amu-report-2025-final.pdf (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  16. RS-INT-35: Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) - WHO page – World Health Organization (2026). https://www.who.int/groups/joint-fao-who-expert-committee-on-food-additives-(jecfa) (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  17. RS-INT-09: REP12/CAC Report of the 35th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, Rome, 2-7 July 2012 – FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission (2012). https://www.fao.org/input/download/report/772/REP12_CACe.pdf (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  18. RS-INT-06: DS26: European Communities - Measures Concerning Meat and Meat Products (Hormones) - case summary – World Trade Organization (1996-2014). https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/cases_e/ds26_e.htm (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  19. RS-INT-12: CXS 193-1995 General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food and Feed (last amended 2025) – FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission (1995, amended 2025). https://codex.fao.org/restapi/searchstandard/CXS_193e.pdf?lang=en&id=18 (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  20. RS-INT-41: Codex 'Find a Codex text' list (LoadFilter endpoint behind codex.fao.org/codex-texts/find-a-codex-text) – FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission (2026). https://codex.fao.org/codex-texts/find-a-codex-text (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  21. RS-INT-22: GEMS/Food overview fact sheet 'Monitoring exposure to food chemicals' – World Health Organization (2017). https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/food-safety/gems-food/gems-overview-2017.pdf?sfvrsn=d33fae48_2 (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  22. RS-INT-31: WHO estimates of the global, regional, and national burden of 42 foodborne infectious and chemical hazards, 2000-21: an updated data synthesis – Lake RJ, Devleesschauwer B, Majowicz S, et al. (2026). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.langlo.2026.103994 (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  23. RS-INT-33: IARC Monographs Volume 100F: Chemical Agents and Related Occupations (A Review of Human Carcinogens) - publication page – International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) (2012). https://publications.iarc.who.int/123 (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  24. RS-INT-14: CXC 1-1969 General Principles of Food Hygiene (revised 2020, 2022) – FAO and WHO / Codex Alimentarius Commission (1969, rev. 2022 (publ. 2023)). https://codex.fao.org/restapi/searchstandard/CXC_001e.pdf?lang=en&id=23 (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  25. RS-INT-15: CXG 78-2011 Guidelines for the Control of Campylobacter and Salmonella in Chicken Meat – FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission (2011). https://codex.fao.org/restapi/searchstandard/CXG_078e.pdf?lang=en&id=449 (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  26. RS-INT-16: CXC 15-1976 Code of Hygienic Practice for Eggs and Egg Products (rev. 2007) – FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission (1976, rev. 2007). https://codex.fao.org/restapi/searchstandard/CXC_015e.pdf?lang=en&id=355 (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  27. RS-INT-04: Codex and science (FAO/WHO scientific advice bodies) – FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission Secretariat (2026). https://codex.fao.org/about-codex/about-us/science (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  28. RS-INT-27: World Health Organization Global Estimates and Regional Comparisons of the Burden of Foodborne Disease in 2010 – Havelaar AH, Kirk MD, Torgerson PR, et al. (WHO FERG) (2015). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001923 (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  29. RS-INT-28: WHO estimates of the global burden of foodborne diseases: Foodborne Disease Burden Epidemiology Reference Group 2007-2015 – World Health Organization (2015). https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241565165 (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  30. RS-INT-30: WHO estimates of the global burden of foodborne diseases 2000-2021 (2026 edition) - programme page – World Health Organization (2026). https://www.who.int/teams/nutrition-and-food-safety/monitoring-nutritional-status-and-food-safety-and-events/foodborne-disease-estimates/2026-edition (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  31. RS-INT-13: CXS 192-1995 General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA), revised up to 2026, and GSFA online database – FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission (1995, rev. 2026). https://codex.fao.org/restapi/searchstandard/CXS_192e.pdf?lang=en&id=353 (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  32. RS-INT-39: Codex online databases (Veterinary Drug Residues in Foods; GSFA) – FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission (2026). https://codex.fao.org/codex-texts/codex-online-databases (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  33. RS-INT-34: News release: Aspartame hazard and risk assessment results released (14 July 2023) – World Health Organization / IARC / JECFA (2023). https://www.who.int/news/item/14-07-2023-aspartame-hazard-and-risk-assessment-results-released (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  34. RS-INT-32: IARC Press Release No. 240: IARC Monographs evaluate consumption of red meat and processed meat (Monographs Vol. 114) – International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) (2015). https://www.iarc.who.int/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/pr240_E.pdf (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  35. RS-INT-03: Codex and trade – FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission Secretariat (2026). https://codex.fao.org/about-codex/about-us/trade (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  36. RS-INT-38: International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) - FAO page – FAO and WHO (2026). https://www.fao.org/food-safety/emergencies/infosan/en (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  37. RS-INT-37: FAO Food safety and quality - programme page – Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2026). https://www.fao.org/food-safety/en/ (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  38. RS-INT-23: Guidelines for drinking-water quality: fourth edition incorporating the first and second addenda – World Health Organization (2022). https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240045064 (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  39. RS-INT-25: JMP: Drinking water service ladder and 'Progress on household drinking water, sanitation and hygiene 2000-2024: special focus on inequalities' – WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) (2025). https://washdata.org/reports/jmp-2025-wash-households (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  40. RS-INT-26: WHO Global Health Observatory OData API - indicator WSH_WATER_SAFELY_MANAGED (global, total) – World Health Organization (data from WHO/UNICEF JMP) (2026). https://ghoapi.azureedge.net/api/WSH_WATER_SAFELY_MANAGED?$filter=SpatialDimType%20eq%20'GLOBAL' (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
  41. RS-INT-40: World Bank WDI API - SH.H2O.SMDW.ZS, World aggregate – World Bank (source: WHO/UNICEF JMP) (2026). https://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/WLD/indicator/SH.H2O.SMDW.ZS?format=json&date=2015:2024 (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)

← Go to the country overview