What does it mean when residue levels fall above or below the MRL?

The latest annual residue report confirms that the vast majority of food tested (96%) contained no residues or residues below the MRL. Very occasionally, residues occur at levels above MRLs, 4.4% in the latest report. This can happen because pesticides are not applied correctly or because exceptional climatic or crop conditions occurred, for example a hot humid summer with high incidence of fungus in crops. Because of the very wide safety margins used while setting MRLs, residue levels above MRLs do not usually mean that there is a concern.

Watch our webinar on pesticide residues and MRLs.