The latest data of the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) shows that in 2020, only 0.19% of the food samples contained residues from veterinary drugs that exceed the legally permitted maximum levels. This is an improvement over 2019’s 0.30% compliancy rate, and the lowest figure of the past 11 years. Compliancy rates increased for numerous substances, including antithyroid agents, steroids and resorcylic acid lactones as well as anthelmintics, organochlorine compounds, organophosphorus compounds, dyes and “other substances”.

Non-compliancy rates vary across product groups – pigs and poultry having the lowest non-compliancy rates while honey, farmed game and will game were the most non-compliant. Most – 9 out of 12 – food groups reported a non-compliancy rate than 1%.

The detailed data can be found and viewed via an interactive data visualization tool at the EFSA’s webpage.