Veterinary Medicinal Products Residues in Food: EU Confirms Low Non-Compliance Rate in 2024

In its report published on February 10, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) presents the results of the 2024 monitoring of residues of pharmacologically active substances in food of animal origin. While non-compliance remains rare, the issue continues to be a major source of public concern.  

0.13% of samples were noncompliant

In 2024, EU member states, as well as Iceland and Norway, submitted a total of 493,664 samples taken from live animals or derived from animal products. Of these, 629 were found to be non-compliant with official limits, representing 0.13%. EFSA notes that this level is comparable to that of 2023 (0.11%). The scope of the analysis is broad: meat (farm-raised and game), dairy products, eggs, and honey. The classes of substances tested include, in particular, hormones (including steroids), beta-agonists, antibacterials, antiparasitics, and repellents, as well as prohibited substances.  

A monitoring system structured around three control plans

EFSA details the three pillars of the monitoring program: a national risk-based plan for domestic production, random monitoring, and a risk-based plan targeting imports. In 2024, the associated non-compliance rates were 0.16%, 0.22%, and 0.2%, respectively. In practice, the EU regulates residues through maximum residue limits, set on a substance-by-substance and matrix-by-matrix basis, and accompanied by monitoring requirements for both EU member states and third-country exporters. However, it is up to member states to implement monitoring plans for residues of pharmacologically active substances and to investigate the causes of threshold exceedances, while non-European countries exporting to the EU must ensure an equivalent level of safety. For the general public, the concept most commonly used is that of the maximum residue limit (MRL): a regulatory threshold intended to keep exposure at an acceptable level. The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) specifies that maximum residue limits (MRLs) are based on toxicological assessments and potential consumer exposure, and that their establishment is governed by decisions of the European Commission based on scientific advice, particularly from the European Medicines Agency (EMA).  

Why Concern Remains High Despite Low Numbers

Even with a non-compliance rate of 0.13%, the issue of residues continues to weigh heavily on perceptions of food risk. EFSA cites the 2025 Eurobarometer: residues of antibiotics, steroids, or hormones in meat are among the top concerns for 36% of EU citizens, though this figure is down by three percentage points compared to 2022. These concerns are not limited to cases where limits are exceeded; they also include fears of chronic exposure, mistrust of livestock farming practices, and debates on antimicrobial resistance. Hence the importance, for authorities, of publishing detailed data that is comparable from one year to the next.   To go beyond the overall figure, EFSA refers users to an interactive dashboard that allows for a more detailed exploration of the results. It also announces that the full dataset will soon be made available through the Knowledge Junction Community, in order to improve transparency and facilitate the reuse of the collected information.