The European Safety Authority (ESA) has released its annual EU Pesticide Residues Monitoring Report, with results from the study indicating that the vast majority of foods across the bloc are compliant with maximum residue limits (MRLs).
According to the report, 96 per cent of samples taken during the trial period were under the EU's legal MRL limits, the European Crop Protection Association (ECPA) reported.
Friedhelm Schmider, director general of the ECPA, said that the findings demonstrated the safety of the food consumed in Europe, and confirmation of the efforts made by European agriculture to maintain food safety.
'Once again the report confirms that the risk residues might actually pose are far outweighed by the benefits of an affordable, balanced and healthy diet that pesticides help improve,' he said. 'Remember that pesticides fight the plant diseases, insect infestations and fungus attacks that undermine our rich supply of safe, affordable, nutritious food.'
The report adds that current MRL levels are set so far below levels that could pose a risk to humans that safety is completely assured, with even products exceeding MRLs not necessarily posing a threat to consumers.
'Plant protection products undergo exhaustive government regulated testing to set strict standards for application so that their use presents no health to human health,' Mr Schmider said. 'Further, as a sector leader, our industry works well beyond mere compliance to ensure that pesticides are used correctly. We help train farmers across Europe in the safe handling, application and disposal of pesticides – safety is paramount at every stage.
'The report's findings bear out the consistency and excellence of the safety performance of European agriculture,' he concluded.
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