Türkiye
Partial country profile TR Western Asia / Middle East
All countries can be selected. A scientific country assessment, however, exists only where we found and checked reliable sources.
Applicable frameworks: Türkiye · International reference framework (Codex, WHO, FAO)
At a glance
| Topic | Applicable frameworks |
|---|---|
| Pesticides and pesticide residues | Türkiye Data quality: moderate |
| Veterinary medicines and antibiotics | Türkiye Data quality: low |
| Hormonal growth promoters | Türkiye Data quality: very low |
| Contaminants (heavy metals, PFAS, PCBs, dioxins, nitrate) | Türkiye Data quality: low |
| Mycotoxins (mould toxins) | Türkiye Data quality: low |
| Pathogens (Salmonella, Campylobacter, etc.) | Türkiye Data quality: very low |
| Additives and processing | international framework only International reference framework (Codex, WHO, FAO) Data quality: high |
| Animal husbandry and feed | Türkiye Data quality: low |
| Controls, imports, recalls, labelling | Türkiye Data quality: moderate |
| Drinking water | Türkiye Data quality: moderate |
National profile: Türkiye
Türkiye is an EU candidate country. Its Turkish Food Codex sets pesticide and veterinary-drug residue limits that are being aligned with EU law, but the European Commission reported 'no progress' in 2025 and asked Türkiye to meet EU pesticide limits. Domestic produce is checked against national limits for pesticides licensed in Türkiye; imports against a separate list. The ministry's national pesticide monitoring found 13.9 % (2023) and 14.2 % (2024) non-compliant samples, but products were chosen by risk, so this is not an average for all food. At the EU border, Turkish dried figs, pistachios, peppers, citrus, vine leaves and spices are under increased checks; RASFF notifications are frequent, mainly for aflatoxins and pesticides. For animal products, Türkiye has an EU-approved residue plan for poultry, aquaculture, milk, eggs and honey; EU audits found it generally fit for purpose with shortcomings.
Research scope: Searched the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (GKGM) website, the Resmî Gazete (pesticide and veterinary-drug MRL regulations), FAOLEX, the European Commission Türkiye 2025 Report, DG SANTE audit reports (2020 residues, 2023 dairy, 2024 pyrrolizidine alkaloids, 2025 pesticides), EU Implementing Regulations 2021/405 and 2019/1793, the RASFF Window (2023-2025), Eurostat Comext and PubMed. Annexes with the MRL lists, the TÜİK pesticide-use statistics (JavaScript portal) and any published national residue-monitoring report were not read. Not covered: additives, husbandry/feed rules beyond the EU Commission's comments, microbiological control programmes, antimicrobial-use (sales) data.
Last checked: 25 October 2026
Pesticides and pesticide residues – Türkiye
Data quality: moderate Last checked: 25 October 2026
- A. What is legally allowed or banned?
- Turkish Food Codex Regulation on MRLs of Pesticides (RG 27.09.2021 No. 31611), annexes replaced on 07.01.2025 and amended again in November 2025. Domestic plant products: national MRLs for pesticides licensed in Türkiye (Annex 2); imported products and animal products: Annex 3 MRLs; banned or unlicensed substances: LOD or 0.01 mg/kg. The regulation states that Reg. (EC) 396/2005 was 'taken into account'. Plant protection products are authorised as products; a new active substance must be approved in the EU or a G8 country. DG SANTE (2025) found some authorised products with substances not approved in the EU and some Turkish MRLs that differ from EU MRLs (e.g. acetamiprid).
- B. What is actually used in production?
- 5 303 plant protection products registered (Nov 2025). Sales are tracked with QR codes and require a prescription by an adviser; growers of 33 'risky' crops must keep a Producer Registry Book (all growers from 2026). About 3.5 million growers, about 90 % registered. The competent authority states that many EU notifications for peppers and pomegranates concern substances approved in Türkiye but without an EU MRL above the 0.01 mg/kg default.
- C. Which residues or levels were measured?
- National pesticide residue monitoring (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, domestic and export market, 28 risk-selected products, >430 substances): 726 of 5 204 samples non-compliant in 2023 (13.9 %), 710 of 4 986 in 2024 (14.2 %), 538 of 2 537 up to 1 August 2025 (21.2 %). Pre-harvest inspection programme: about 20 740 inspections in 2024; non-compliant samples 'generally around 1%'. EU side: EFSA 2023 data show a 4.4 % EU-MRL exceedance rate for food imported from Türkiye; EU border rejections for pesticides 2024: vine leaves 14/37 checked consignments, oranges 8/293, mandarins 8/892. RASFF pesticide notifications on Turkish food: 164 (2023), 140 (2024), 96 (Jan-Nov 2025). Peer-reviewed market studies: 30 % of 493 market samples above MRLs (Toptanci 2021); 11.6 % of 3 044 Aegean samples above Turkish MRLs, 2012-2016 (Kazar Soydan 2021).
- D. Which health risks are demonstrated?
- No official Turkish dietary risk assessment was found. The Aegean study reported hazard quotients mostly close to 0.
- E. How robust are the data?
- The national figures come from risk-oriented product selection with random choice of operators, and the benchmark (Turkish or EU MRL) is not stated in the audit report; they cannot be compared with the EU coordinated (random) programme. EU border data reflect increased-check regimes for selected products. Studies are regional or convenience samples, abstracts only.
| Indicator | Value | Year | Samples | Sampling design | Scope | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pesticides: non-compliant samples (after measurement uncertainty) pest_noncompliant_pct MAF national pesticide residue monitoring (as reported by DG SANTE) 28 risk-selected products, domestic and export market; benchmark not specified. | 13.9 % of samples non-compliant | 2023 | 5,204 | risk-based | all foods | RS-TR-07 |
| Pesticides: non-compliant samples (after measurement uncertainty) pest_noncompliant_pct MAF national pesticide residue monitoring (as reported by DG SANTE) | 14.2 % of samples non-compliant | 2024 | 4,986 | risk-based | all foods | RS-TR-07 |
| Pesticides: non-compliant samples (after measurement uncertainty) pest_noncompliant_pct MAF national pesticide residue monitoring (as reported by DG SANTE) Partial year. | 21.2 % of samples non-compliant | 2025 (to 1 Aug) | 2,537 | risk-based | all foods | RS-TR-07 |
| Pesticides: samples above the maximum residue level pest_mrl_exceed_pct EFSA data on EU monitoring (Türkiye-origin food) EU sampling of imported Turkish food; n not given in the audit. | 4.4 % of samples above EU MRL | 2023 | – | mixed | origin outside the EU | RS-TR-07 |
| Border controls: rejections border_rejection_pct EU border checks under Reg. 2019/1793 – vine leaves Vine leaves; 2025: 25 % (4/16). | 37.8 % of checked consignments rejected (pesticides) | 2024 | 37 | risk-based | origin outside the EU | RS-TR-07 |
| Pesticides: samples above the maximum residue level pest_mrl_exceed_pct Toptanci et al. market survey Benchmark not stated in abstract. | 30 % of samples above MRL | publ. 2021 | 493 | unknown | domestic products | RS-TR-16 |
| Pesticides: samples above the maximum residue level pest_mrl_exceed_pct Kazar Soydan et al., Aegean region | 11.6 % of samples above Turkish MRL | 2012-2016 | 3,044 | unknown | domestic products | RS-TR-17 |
Notes on foods
- Fruit and vegetables: Highest EU attention: peppers, lemons, mandarins, oranges, pomegranates, tomatoes, vine leaves (pesticides). Chlorpyrifos was the most frequent finding in one 2021 market study.
Sources: RS-TR-02, RS-TR-03, RS-TR-06, RS-TR-07, RS-TR-12, RS-TR-13, RS-TR-16, RS-TR-17, RS-TR-22
Veterinary medicines and antibiotics – Türkiye
Data quality: low Last checked: 25 October 2026
- A. What is legally allowed or banned?
- Turkish Food Codex regulation on classification and MRLs of pharmacologically active substances in animal food (RG 07.03.2017 No. 30000), aligned with Reg. (EC) 470/2009 and Reg. (EU) 37/2010; Part 2 of Annex 1 lists substances prohibited at any level. DG SANTE (2020): only registered substances may be used in food-producing animals; veterinary-medicine rules transposed from EU law. For exports to the EU, Türkiye is listed in Annex XVIa of Reg. 2021/405 for poultry, aquaculture, milk, eggs, honey and casings, i.e. it gives guarantees on the EU ban on antimicrobials for growth promotion and on EU-reserved antimicrobials (Art. 118(1) Reg. 2019/6). Whether a national ban on antimicrobial growth promoters applies to all domestic production was not verified.
- B. What is actually used in production?
- Antimicrobial sales or use data (mg/PCU) for Türkiye were not found. Studies report residues that indicate use, including prohibited chloramphenicol in farmed sea bream/sea bass (one city, ELISA).
- C. Which residues or levels were measured?
- National residue monitoring plan (EU-approved for poultry, aquaculture, milk, eggs, honey): 73 (2018) and 47 (2019) non-compliant results, mostly antimicrobials; 18 and 12 in honey for antibiotics/sulphonamides; 11 for anticoccidials in eggs (2019); cases of the nitrofuran metabolite AOZ in eggs. Poultry sampling (3 228 planned) was below the EU minimum (11 131) in 2020. Studies: chloramphenicol detected in up to 18.3 % of 82 farmed fish (Afyonkarahisar); antibiotics detected in all unbranded animal products sampled in Hatay (sample size not stated).
- D. Which health risks are demonstrated?
- No Turkish official risk assessment found.
- E. How robust are the data?
- Counts of non-compliant results without denominators; EU-export chain focus; studies are small and local, partly ELISA screening.
Notes on foods
- Fish and seafood: Türkiye is EU-listed for aquaculture finfish; one local study found chloramphenicol in retail sea bream/sea bass.
- Eggs: Anticoccidial and nitrofuran-metabolite findings in the 2019 national plan.
Sources: RS-TR-04, RS-TR-08, RS-TR-11, RS-TR-20, RS-TR-21, RS-TR-23
Hormonal growth promoters – Türkiye
Data quality: very low Last checked: 25 October 2026
- A. What is legally allowed or banned?
- Tebliğ 2003/18 prohibits giving stilbenes, antithyroid substances, anabolic steroids, resorcylic acid lactones (incl. zeranol) and beta-agonists to food-producing animals for anabolic purposes, and prohibits marketing animal food containing them; therapeutic/zootechnical use only on veterinary prescription. Whether this instrument is still the current text was not verified.
- B. What is actually used in production?
- not documented
- C. Which residues or levels were measured?
- No published Turkish hormone-residue results were found. The EU-approved residue plan covers poultry, aquaculture, milk, eggs, honey – not bovine meat.
- E. How robust are the data?
- Legal text only; no monitoring data located.
Contaminants (heavy metals, PFAS, PCBs, dioxins, nitrate) – Türkiye
Data quality: low Last checked: 25 October 2026
- A. What is legally allowed or banned?
- A Turkish Food Codex contaminants regulation exists (RG 29.12.2011 No. 28157, cited by DG SANTE); in 2020 it had no maximum level for lead in honey. National limits for pyrrolizidine alkaloids in oregano and cumin apply from 31.12.2024 and are higher than EU limits.
- B. What is actually used in production?
- not documented
- C. Which residues or levels were measured?
- Lead in honey above the EU ML (0.1 mg/kg) in 15.8 % (2018) and 21.4 % (2019) of national residue-plan honey samples; these were not counted as non-compliant. RASFF 2023-2025: pyrrolizidine alkaloids in oregano/cumin 26/26/21 notifications; EU increased checks on oregano (30 %) and cumin (50 %).
- E. How robust are the data?
- Honey figures from targeted plan samples; RASFF counts reflect export checks.
| Indicator | Value | Year | Samples | Sampling design | Scope | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contaminants: samples above the maximum level contam_ml_exceed_pct Turkish national residue monitoring plan (as reported by DG SANTE) 2018: 15.8 %. n not stated. | 21.4 % of honey samples with lead above EU ML 0.1 mg/kg | 2019 | – | targeted | domestic products | RS-TR-08 |
Notes on foods
- Honey, sugar, sweets: Lead in honey above the EU level in about 1 in 5 plan samples (2019).
Mycotoxins (mould toxins) – Türkiye
Data quality: low Last checked: 25 October 2026
- A. What is legally allowed or banned?
- EU-export controls: dried figs (aflatoxins and ochratoxin A, 30 % checks) and pistachios (aflatoxins, 50 %) require an official certificate under Reg. 2019/1793 Annex II. National AFM1 limits are referred to in studies (Turkish Food Codex) but the text was not read.
- B. What is actually used in production?
- not documented
- C. Which residues or levels were measured?
- RASFF notifications mentioning aflatoxin/ochratoxin on Turkish products: 65 (2023), 205 (2024), 248 (2025) – mostly dried figs (43/155/178) and pistachios. AFM1: 3.3 % of 120 raw milk samples above the legal limit in Çanakkale, 2014-2015 (Eker 2019).
- E. How robust are the data?
- RASFF reflects EU checks on exported nuts and dried fruit; the AFM1 study is local and old.
| Indicator | Value | Year | Samples | Sampling design | Scope | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aflatoxin M1: samples above the limit aflatoxin_m1_exceed_pct Eker et al., Çanakkale ELISA. | 3.3 % of raw milk samples above legal limit | 2014-2015 | 120 | unknown | domestic products | RS-TR-18 |
Notes on foods
- Legumes and nuts: Dried figs and pistachios are the main RASFF mycotoxin items.
- Dairy: Local AFM1 study only.
Pathogens (Salmonella, Campylobacter, etc.) – Türkiye
Data quality: very low Last checked: 25 October 2026
- A. What is legally allowed or banned?
- Not researched in detail. EU: Türkiye has 'yet to integrate One Health into the zoonosis control system' (Commission 2025).
- B. What is actually used in production?
- not documented
- C. Which residues or levels were measured?
- Salmonella in 42.66 % of 150 chicken meat samples in one province (Siriken 2015). RASFF 2023-2025: Salmonella notifications 21/30/18, mainly sesame paste/tahini and spices; EU increased checks for Salmonella in sesame seeds (30 %).
- E. How robust are the data?
- No national Salmonella control programme data found; single small study.
| Indicator | Value | Year | Samples | Sampling design | Scope | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salmonella: poultry meat salmonella_poultry_meat_pct Siriken et al., one province Culture + immunomagnetic separation. | 42.66 % of chicken meat samples positive | publ. 2015 | 150 | unknown | domestic products | RS-TR-19 |
Animal husbandry and feed – Türkiye
Data quality: low Last checked: 25 October 2026
- A. What is legally allowed or banned?
- Commission 2025: rules on slaughterhouses, long journeys and the transition to enriched cage systems for laying hens are 'still not implemented'; no EU-compliant system for animal by-products; raw milk strategy and specifications not adopted.
- B. What is actually used in production?
- not documented
- E. How robust are the data?
- EU accession assessment only.
Controls, imports, recalls, labelling – Türkiye
Data quality: moderate Last checked: 25 October 2026
- A. What is legally allowed or banned?
- Law 5996 (2010) on veterinary services, plant health, food and feed is the legal basis; the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (GKGM) is the competent authority with 81 provincial directorates.
- B. What is actually used in production?
- DG SANTE (2025) found cooperation on RASFF follow-up effective, but hygiene/HACCP verification for EU-certified commodities insufficient. DG SANTE carried out a residue-plan mission in Sep-Oct 2026 (report pending).
- C. Which residues or levels were measured?
- EU imports from Türkiye 2024: 579 259 t vegetables and 834 214 t fruit and nuts. RASFF notifications with origin Türkiye: 361 (2023), 494 (2024), 486 (2025).
- E. How robust are the data?
- Export-oriented assessments.
Drinking water – Türkiye
Data quality: moderate Last checked: 25 October 2026
- A. What is legally allowed or banned?
- National drinking-water standards were not researched.
- B. What is actually used in production?
- not documented
- C. Which residues or levels were measured?
- WHO/UNICEF JMP 2024: at least basic drinking water 95.99 % of the population; no 'safely managed' estimate is published for this country in the World Bank series.
- E. How robust are the data?
- JMP figures are modelled, internationally harmonised estimates; they are the only comparable drinking-water indicator used here. They do not report individual contaminants.
| Indicator | Value | Year | Samples | Sampling design | Scope | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At least basic drinking water water_basic_pct WHO/UNICEF JMP (via World Bank WDI) Lower service level than 'safely managed'. | 95.99 % of population with at least basic drinking water | 2024 | – | unknown | all foods | RS-TR-14 |
Sources: RS-TR-14
Sources – Türkiye (23)
- RS-TR-02: Türk Gıda Kodeksi Pestisitlerin Maksimum Kalıntı Limitleri Yönetmeliği (Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Maximum Residue Limits of Pesticides), Resmî Gazete 27.09.2021 No. 31611 (mükerrer) – Tarım ve Orman Bakanlığı (2021). https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/eskiler/2021/09/20210927M1-1.htm (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
- RS-TR-03: Regulation amending the Turkish Food Codex Regulation on MRLs of Pesticides, Resmî Gazete 07.01.2025 No. 32775 (mükerrer) – Tarım ve Orman Bakanlığı (2025). https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/eskiler/2025/01/20250107M1-1.htm (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
- RS-TR-06: Commission Staff Working Document SWD(2025) 756 – Türkiye 2025 Report (Chapter 12 Food safety, veterinary and phytosanitary policy) – European Commission (2025). https://www.ab.gov.tr/siteimages/birimler/kpb/trkiye-report-2025.pdf (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
- RS-TR-07: DG SANTE audit 2025-0208, Türkiye, 4-20 November 2025: controls of pesticides in food of plant origin intended for export to the EU (final report, Ares(2026)5037227) – European Commission, DG SANTE (2026). https://ec.europa.eu/food/audits-analysis/audit-report/details/5014 (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
- RS-TR-12: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 (consolidated 30.06.2026), Annex I and II – entries for Türkiye and other MENA countries – European Commission (2019). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2019/1793/oj (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
- RS-TR-13: RASFF Window – notifications with origin Türkiye, validated 2023-2025 (own query) – European Commission (RASFF) (2026). https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/search (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
- RS-TR-16: Levels of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables in the Turkish domestic markets – Toptanci İ, Kiralan M, Ramadan MF (2021). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33759100/ (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
- RS-TR-17: Evaluation of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables from the Aegean region of Turkey and assessment of risk to consumers – Kazar Soydan D, Turgut N, Yalçın M et al. (2021). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33507511/ (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
- RS-TR-22: Notifications on Pesticide Residues in the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) – Pigłowski M (2022). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35886374/ (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
- RS-TR-04: Türk Gıda Kodeksi Hayvansal Gıdalarda Bulunabilecek Farmakolojik Aktif Maddelerin Sınıflandırılması ve Maksimum Kalıntı Limitleri Yönetmeliği (veterinary drug MRLs), Resmî Gazete 07.03.2017 No. 30000 – Gıda, Tarım ve Hayvancılık Bakanlığı (2017). https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/eskiler/2017/03/20170307-4.htm (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
- RS-TR-08: DG SANTE audit 2020-6997, Turkey, 19 Oct-18 Dec 2020 (remote): residues and contaminants in live animals and animal products including controls on veterinary medicinal products – European Commission, DG SANTE (2021). https://ec.europa.eu/food/audits-analysis/audit-report/details/4407 (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
- RS-TR-11: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405 (consolidated 03.09.2026), Annex -I and Annex XVIa – entries for Türkiye – European Commission (2021). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2021/405/oj (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
- RS-TR-20: Chloramphenicol and sulfonamide residues in sea bream (Sparus aurata) and sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fish from aquaculture farm – Doğan YN, Pamuk Ş, Gürler Z (2020). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32681328/ (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
- RS-TR-21: Antibiotic residues in animal products in Hatay, Turkey – Sungur Ş, Karaja K, Köroğlu M et al. (2025). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40072922/ (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
- RS-TR-23: GKGM news 12.10.2026: DG SANTE mission on the National Residue Monitoring Plan (28 Sep-9 Oct 2026) – Tarım ve Orman Bakanlığı – GKGM (2026). https://www.tarimorman.gov.tr/GKGM/Haber/1370/Avrupa-Komisyonu-Dg-Sante-Heyeti-Tarafindan-Ulusal-Kalinti-Izleme-Planina-Yonelik-Misyon-Ziyareti-Gerceklestirildi (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
- RS-TR-05: Tebliğ No. 2003/18 on hormones and similar substances prohibited or restricted for food-producing animals (Gıda Değeri Olan Hayvanlara Uygulanması Yasaklanan ve Belli Şartlara Bağlanan Hormon ve Benzeri Maddeler Hakkında Tebliğ) – FAOLEX copy – Tarım ve Köyişleri Bakanlığı (2003). https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/tur39698.pdf (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
- RS-TR-09: DG SANTE audit 2024-7980, Türkiye, 27 May-12 June 2024: pyrrolizidine alkaloids in dried oregano and cumin seeds for export to the EU – European Commission, DG SANTE (2024). https://ec.europa.eu/food/audits-analysis/audit-report/details/4844 (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
- RS-TR-18: Detection of aflatoxin M1 in milk and milk products in Turkey – Eker FY, Muratoglu K, Eser AG (2019). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31359252/ (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
- RS-TR-19: Prevalence and characterization of Salmonella isolated from chicken meat in Turkey – Siriken B, Türk H, Yildirim T et al. (2015). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25817042/ (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
- RS-TR-10: DG SANTE audit 2023-7764, Türkiye, 1-19 September 2023: milk and dairy products for export to the EU – European Commission, DG SANTE (2024). https://ec.europa.eu/food/audits-analysis/audit-report/details/4725 (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
- RS-TR-01: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, General Directorate of Food and Control (GKGM) – legal basis page (Hukuki Dayanak) and home page – T.C. Tarım ve Orman Bakanlığı – Gıda ve Kontrol Genel Müdürlüğü (2026). https://www.tarimorman.gov.tr/GKGM/Menu/141/Hukuki-Dayanak (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
- RS-TR-15: Eurostat Comext DS-045409 – EU27 imports of HS 07 (vegetables) and HS 08 (fruit and nuts) from Morocco, Türkiye and Tunisia, 2024-2025 – Eurostat (2026). https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/api/comext/dissemination/statistics/1.0/data/DS-045409 (checked, accessed 2026-10-25)
- RS-TR-14: World Bank WDI – WHO/UNICEF JMP drinking water indicators, Türkiye – World Bank / WHO-UNICEF JMP (2026). https://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/TUR/indicator/SH.H2O.BASW.ZS?format=json (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.
| Indicator | Value | Year | Samples | Sampling design | Scope | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 biomass | 2022 | 85 | mixed | all foods | RS-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) | 2022 | 107 | mixed | all foods | RS-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) | 2022 | 107 | mixed | all foods | RS-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 promoters | 2022 | 157 | mixed | all foods | RS-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.
| Indicator | Value | Year | Samples | Sampling design | Scope | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 hazards | 2021 | – | mixed | all foods | RS-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.
| Indicator | Value | Year | Samples | Sampling design | Scope | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 year | 2021 | – | mixed | all foods | RS-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 year | 2021 | – | mixed | all foods | RS-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 DALYs | 2021 | – | mixed | all foods | RS-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 DALYs | 2010 | – | mixed | all foods | RS-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).
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.
| Indicator | Value | Year | Samples | Sampling design | Scope | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 water | 2024 | – | mixed | all foods | RS-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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
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