Surveillance of residues

Veterinary medicine residues in food and drink in the UK are monitored through official surveillance programmes conducted by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) and overseen by the independent Veterinary Residues Committee (VRC).

These programmes provide a check that veterinary medicines are being used correctly and that unacceptable levels of residues are not present in food that is produced in the UK or imported. You can find out more about surveillance in the UK from the VMD here.

The results of the surveillance are published quarterly and annually by the VMD and VRC. Veterinary medicine residues that are not within the required safety or legal limits are rarely found in UK and EU produce, and only occasionally in imported produce.

The majority of samples tested over the past five years did not contain residues above legal limits or contain residues of non-approved veterinary medicines. In all cases where the surveillance indicates a potential concern about intakes of veterinary medicines by consumers, a risk assessment is carried out by FSA and VMD experts, and necessary follow-up action is taken by one or both of the organisations. Follow-up actions can include targeted brand-name surveys and letters to producers, suppliers, retailers and overseas authorities. The FSA advises local authorities to take action to prevent affected products from entering the food chain. In most cases where a legal limit was exceeded or a non-approved veterinary medicine was found, any risk to consumers was low.