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VMPR in Food: Latest EFSA Report Confirms Low Non-Compliance

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published its latest report on veterinary drug residues in food, analysing 2023 data from EU Member States, Iceland, and Norway. The results show that non-compliance remains low, with 0.11 % of samples exceeding legal limits—consistent with previous years. The report is the first to include the division into three control plans, providing valuable insights for risk assessors and control authorities.

The complete report can be accessed on EFSA’s website and is also visualised in the dashboard.

Registration for ANTH0325 now open

We are pleased to invite you to participate in our forthcoming EURL proficiency test ANTH0325 on the determination of anthelmintics in bovine milk. Participation for eligible laboratories is free of charge. However, all matters pertaining to import and customs will need to be arranged by your organisation. The EURL Berlin reserves the right to limit the number of participants from Third Countries. Please find more details on the proficiency test, as well as the proposed time schedule in the official invitation and contact the EURL Berlin should you have any questions.

Revised version of MMPR guidance now available

The revised version (Version 2.1) of the MMPR guidance document is now available. It contains only one change for A3 substances (steroids). The lower MMPR to be applied for the analysis of 17β-oestradiol in meat was necessary to ensure the effective enforcement of the ban on the administration of 17β-oestradiol.

Clarification on the use of HRMS based methods for “plan 2” samples

The SC PAFF (NFTS) endorsed information on the use of non-targeted screening methods and suspect screening methods for analysis of VMP residues in samples taken under the “national randomised surveillance plan for production in the Member States”. Suspect and non-targeted screening methods are effective to identify unexpected illegal uses of authorised, prohibited, and unauthorised pharmacologically active substances – also in cases where no standard substances are available. Even though these methods do not fully comply with the requirements as set out in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/808, they may be used under the specified conditions.

For details see:

03 Statement – using of NTS-SS methods_VMPRsDownload

TRACES 2025: Call for Abstracts !

The TRACES 2025 Conference (June 3rd–6th) focuses on residues of pharmacologically active substances in food, feed, and the environment within the framework of the One Health concept. This conference is the successor to the well-known “Euroresidue” and “Symposium on Hormone and Veterinary Drug Residue Analysis” symposia.

The conference deals with many aspects of residue control that are of great interest to the network of control laboratories and offers an excellent opportunity to present your own scientific contributions.

The deadline for abstract submission is January 15th, 2025.
For more information, please visit: https://www.traces-events.eu/en/

Explore the Latest EU Reports on Food Safety, Animal Health, and Plant Protection

The European Union Reference Laboratories (EURLs) would like to point out the release of two recent reports from the European Commission. The European Commission’s Report on the Overall Operation of Official Controls in Member States (2022) highlights recent efforts of national authorities in ensuring compliance with food and feed laws, as well as animal health, welfare, and plant protection regulations. The 2023 Annual Report of the Alert and Cooperation Network (ACN) underscores the value of cross-border cooperation in managing food safety risks. These reports emphasize the importance of robust official controls and international collaboration in safeguarding public health across the EU. We encourage all stakeholders to review these reports to gain further insights into the critical work being done to maintain high standards of food safety and health across Europe.
 

Euroresidue Grants

The former Euroresidue foundation has made available a one-time funding to contribute to the field of food safety for the following:

  • Short internships at renowned food safety institutes
  • Training courses in the field of food safety
  • Travel grants for relevant conferences and workshops     

The application is open to representatives from academia and food safety institutes/laboratories. Priority will be given to low and middle-income countries from Africa, Asia and South America.

See flyer for application.

Deadline for applications is 1st January 2025.