Monitoring data on the presence of residues of veterinary medicines and contaminants in animals and animal-derived food released by EFSA show high rates of compliance with recommended safety levels. Presence of prohibited substances was also low.
The percentage of samples that exceeded maximum levels was 0.35% for the year 2017. This figure is within the range of 0.25%-0.37% reported over the previous 10 years.
Non-compliance for chemical contaminants such as metals was higher than for other groups of substances, with cadmium, lead, mercury and copper the most frequently identified.
Data has been collected by EFSA from Members States for the first time. In the past, this information was submitted to the European Commission.