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Development of a ranking tool “The Monitoring Matrix” to assist in the identification of commodities for future testing of food for pesticide residues in the national testing programme

HSE in conjunction with the expert committee of Pesticide Residues in Food has developed a ranking tool to assist in the determination of the priority of the surveys for 2018 and thereafter.

A paper explaining the rationale of how this matrix tool and other information has been used to develop the programme is attached.

Information attached.

1. Paper explaining the rationale of the use of a monitoring matrix alongside other evidence in developing a forward plan.

2. Annex One the relative scores for different surveys. 3. Annex Two then uses this information to produce the 2018 plan but also taking on board

information sources at Annex Three 4. Annex Three- Additional Information to be considered in conjunction with the scoring matrix for

2018 plan.

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1.0 Introduction This paper outlines a transparent system to use appropriate evidence to assign a relative priority score for each food survey. By ranking the surveys against a common set of criteria an initial list of priorities can be produced. This list can then be further refined by using additional relevant topical information.

2.0 Background Government is committed to testing food available on the UK market for pesticides residues to

• check that residues do not exceed the statutory Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs). • back up the statutory approvals process for pesticides by checking that no unexpected residues

are occurring in food • check that human dietary intakes of residues in foods are within acceptable levels.

Each year a provisional programme is drawn up to prioritise the foods under consideration. The plan is currently risk based and uses evidence in the public domain about the relative significance of the food in the UK diet and known incidence of non-compliance, based on various sources including intelligence from national and European monitoring programmes. The annual proposal is considered and developed by Defra’s independent expert committee on pesticide residues in food. Comments are sought from stakeholders via informal liaison.

This paper summarises the rationale used, how different factors lead to the assigning of numerical scores and also highlights the importance of using additional evidence gathering to identify other commodities that should be considered for testing even though they could score low based on current residue incidence. This includes updated knowledge about changes in food production systems or the supply chain which could influence the pesticide residue profile of the food available in the UK. If the wider picture is not considered there is a danger that the same known issues are continually tested and new areas could be overlooked.

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3.0 Current testing programme.

Food supplied in the UK must comply with maximum residue levels for pesticides that are established in law. This requirement applies to both food produced in the UK and food imported into the UK from any country. Official controls are required by government to check that food is compliant

The programme of national post border inland testing currently includes undertaking a national risk based programme and also participation in a smaller European community harmonised programme. The community programme establishes in a legal regulation the minimum number of samples, the foods to be tested and the pesticides to be sought. For 2018 Regulation 2017/6601 applies. Around 12 foods a year form part of the European programme. A further 25-30 foods are tested as additional national priorities.

The manner of collecting the sample and preparing it for analysis is also proscribed in legislation2. The laboratory undertaking the testing must meet various minimum accreditation criteria (ISO 17025) and must have demonstrated proficiency in the relevant tests. They also are expected to follow Analytical Quality Control Guidance3.

The results of monitoring are published nationally in the UK and also submitted to the Commission via the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) a proscribed format by a specific date each year. The European Food Safety Authority collates the results of the community harmonised monitoring programme and this is published annually.

Certain foods from third countries have been identified at a European level as being of high risk and are also subject to additional checks at border. This testing is undertaken by Port Health Authorities under the control of Local Authorities. Although these foods are already examined because of the border check, it is still valuable to include some of these foods in national testing post border to give a more complete picture of the food available to consumers.

4.0 Basic Principles of the “Monitoring matrix”

The Monitoring matrix brings together evidence from various information related to relative consumption, non-compliance and risk issues. This evidence has always been used as supporting evidence for future programmes. However, starting in 2018, the proposal has been converted into a relative numerical score for each attribute. These values are then summed to produce an overall score which can then be used to rank the commodities.

The evidence and the relative scores assigned to different levels of incidence and finding is summarised below.

5.0 Evidence Sources and Scoring The evidence sources examine three main factors which influence risk. Consumption, Compliance and Consumer risk.

1 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32017R0660 2 Sampling Directive 2002/63/EC Establishing community methods for sampling. 3 2. SANTE/11813/2017- Guidance document on analytical quality control and method as updated

validation procedures for pesticides residues analysis in food and feed:

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The basic principle is that a score of 100 plus will be a high priority survey. So all scoring is relative to that figure.

Table One Parameter Scoring rational Scores

points Comment/Evidence

Consumption The relative importance of the food to the UK consumer is one factor that gives a food a higher priority score. Food which is regularly consumed by UK consumers, is a key food group of the European diets, is considered an a national staple, is important to infants or which has not been tested for some time will be assigned a higher score than those foods which do not fall into these categories.

Dietary information (acute consumption adult and toddler)

Dietary intake mg/kg is ranked and those foods which fall into top 25 for fruit and veg, top 4 cereals and top 5 animal products given a score

30 This is based on acute data generated from in house information provided by the Food Standards Agency.

Inclusion of key food groups on a more regular rolling basis. EU surveys key 40 foods for EU population

EU surveys for 2018 100 points for a survey which is required in that year as part of EU plan.

100 EU Monitoring Regulation http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32017R0660 There may be a possibility of scoring the same attribute twice as EU surveys are based on EU most significant foods in diet. However because such foods are tested on a compulsory 3 year programme the assigning of 100 points in the year of testing would in any case assure top priority.

Traditionally certain staples tested every year

Bread, milk, potatoes allocated automatic 100 points.

100 UK Staples have been designated at such for over 15 years (bread, milk, potatoes).

Infants Food Classed as a staple for infants. So at least one undertaken per year allocated automatic 100 points.

100 Infant food (cereal based) Infant food (other) and baby milk and follow on milk are considered high priority foods and are examined on a rolling cycle, with at least one per year. EU requests only a few samples of one type per year. HSE are not the Infant food policy lead but have agreed that they would test one per year if possible.

Less significant foods to the diet but none the less to be considered every 5-6years for inclusion

If more than 4 years since tested

50 HSE maintain an index of foods that have been tested. Foods tested over 4 years ago are assigned 50 points. New foods that are not on the list are dealt with in the Additional Information table 2 below.

Compliance Evidence from previous testing does inform the priority of subsequent testing. Summary data from the last 4 years of UK testing cross referenced. If the food was tested more than 4 years ago then it will be allocated a zero score under this parameter but

MRL exceedance per most recent survey. % assigned score >1 20 >2 30 >10 60 >30 80 >50 120

Between 1 and 100

Relatively high marks are assigned for non-compliance because on average the UK non-compliance rate is usually low. Thus a higher than average non-compliance should be elevated to a score which warrants a further examination. Need to consider if the number is elevated by repeat samples from same source. For example when there are very few suppliers of a commodity The assigned scores are mainly double those for the same RASFF percentage. Because the RASFF is EU wide(averaged across all MS testing) and this

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Parameter Scoring rational Scores points

Comment/Evidence

instead receive 50 points above.

value is just within UK so could be a more significant issue for the UK)

All residue testing is in public domain Data is on data.gov.uk

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/pesticide-residues-in-food-results-of-monitoring-programme#annual-monitoring-results https://data.gov.uk/dataset/pesticide-residues-in-food

Consumer risk Evidence from European RASSF system UK RASFF’s will form part of that data set

RASFF Last 18 months RASSF scores examined (i.e. from EU wide testing)

>2 10 >10 30 >30 40 >50 60 >100 100

100 RASFF Portal https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/portal/?event=SearchForm&cleanSearch=1

High risk border control Regulation 669/2009

All foods currently on border controls have RASFF’s in last 18 months so an additional score is not added automatically

Assign a value if a RASFF has not been issued in last 18 months

https://www.food.gov.uk/business-industry/imports/banned_restricted/highrisknonpoao

Table Two: Additional Areas that will influence priority of testing.

To ensure developing areas do not perpetually score low and are therefore excluded from testing it is important that each year new issues are considered for inclusion based on a developing evidence base. A short commentary on the issue to bring to the discussion is probably the most useful way of identifying any key issues. This should be supplied as an Annexe to the numerical ranking system. Using the following information sources. Parameter Comment/Evidence

New Foods Could be food gaining in popularity Or a foods that is consumed in higher amounts than in the past e.g. as a substitute for carbohydrates in the diet or in smoothies or for those with food intolerances.

Market research Liaison with trade Liaison with stakeholder and examination of specific commodity results informs this area.

Significant changes in National Consumption

Consumption pattern changes

Family Food 2015 https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/family-food-2015 Annual report on household purchases of food and drink

Significant Changes UK in sources of

FAO Stats on trade volumes. http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data Defra Agricultural Statistics

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Supply or problems with national production

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/agriculture-in-the-united-kingdom-2016

Non-Compliance/ countries of concerns

The Commissions audit section. Food and Veterinary Office (now Directorate F), undertake audits. This related to pesticide controls and monitoring as follow up to findings in the EU can be useful background http://ec.europa.eu/food/audits-analysis/audit_reports/index.cfm

Results from EU harmonised programme

Proposals are made for future testing. Each Nation assigns their own priorities but this is a source of reference.

http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/4791

Area that arose in national testing that required follow up.

A short commentary of any topical issues that require follow up

6.0 Pesticides to be included in testing programme. The ranking system described is used to prioritise the commodities. But the points are accrued based on specific pesticide residue findings. It is important that the pesticides that triggered the priority are tested for. So the same reference sources (above) must be used to ensure that the pesticide suite remain current and relevant. Additional sources of information to ensure the suite is kept up to date. The determination of the suite forms part of the detailed commissioning process between HSE as the competent authority and the official laboratories with support from the National Reference Laboratory.

Table Three. Evidence that influences the pesticides to be sought in the programme. Evidence Source Comment Reference Pesticides Usage survey

The programme of UK pesticide usage surveys are commissioned by the independent Expert Committee on Pesticides and funded by HSE. Data are collected by the Pesticide Usage Survey Teams at Fera Science Ltd, Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) and the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute of Northern Ireland. Identifies usage, key pesticides and also trends in usage, all of which inform the programme.

https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/pusstats/ Recent Surveys 269 Edible protected crops in the UK 11 October 2016

270 Outdoor vegetable crops in the UK 11 October 2016 Publication timeframe 2016 Arable crops October/November 2017 2016 Orchard crops October/November 2017 2016 Soft fruit crops November/December 2017 2016 Potato stores October/November 2017

European Reference laboratory

EURL funded at a community level to support the harmonised programme.

http://www.eurl-pesticides.eu/docs/public/tmplt_article.asp?CntID=629&LabID=100&Lang=EN

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• Current regulation for the harmonised programme

• Working document of possible pesticides to be added to the suite

• Results of EU proficiency tests

• Analytical method summaries.

UK National Reference laboratory and UK Official laboratories

Official laboratories also attend specific workshops to improve analytical proficiency and discuss continuous improvement.

HSE works with the laboratories to ensure the programme is subject to continuous improvement.

Results from EU harmonised programme

Informs choice of pesticide http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/4791

7.0 Use of the monitoring matrix HSE in conjunction with the PRiF will each year review the underlying evidence and rank the commodities in accordance with this scoring scheme. A summary of the supplementary information will also be provided which provides the additional supporting information which should be taken

This approach has been used to draw up the 2018 plan and relevant

HSE January 2018

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Annex One: Ranking Matrix Green denotes that it is a commodity that forms part of the EU rolling programme Areas marked with * were discussed at the July PRiF meeting.

Commodity EU 2018 EU points 2018

Time rolling points

Last test Is this a top 25 food acute intake

Food score Staples RASFF points

UK MRL exceedance Grand Total Priority

Infant food (animal based) Yes 100 0 2014 0 100 0 20 220 H

Grapes Yes 100 0 2017 Yes 30 0 10 30 170 H Grapefruit Yes 100 0 2016 Yes 30 0 0 30 160 H Melon Yes 100 0 2015 Yes 30 0 0 30 160 H Peppers Yes 100 0 2017 No 0 0 60 0 160 H

Spices 0 0 2016 0 0 80 80 160 H *

Aubergine Yes 100 0 2015 No 0 0 30 0 130 H Banana/plantain Yes 100 0 2015 Yes 30 0 0 0 130 H Mushrooms / cultivated fungi Yes 100 0 2014 No 0 0 0 30 130 H

Potatoes No 0 0 2017 Yes 30 100 0 0 130 H Beef Yes 100 0 2015 Yes 30 0 0 0 130 H Milk No 0 0 2017 Yes 30 100 0 0 130 H Bread (ordinary) 0 0 2017 Yes 30 100 0 0 130 H Wheat Yes 100 0 2015 Yes 30 0 0 0 130 H Oils (olive & other) Yes 100 0 2015 Yes 30 0 0 0 130 H Soft citrus No 0 50 2011 Yes 30 0 10 30 120 H Beans with pods No 0 0 2017 Yes 30 0 10 60 100 H Broccoli Yes 100 0 2015 No 0 0 0 0 100 H Eggs Yes 100 0 2015 0 0 0 0 100 H

Infant food (cereal based) 0 0 2015 0 100 0 0 100 H

Infant food (fruit & vegetable based) 0 0 2016 0 100 0 0 100 H

* Infant formula 0 0 2017 0 100 0 0 100 H

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Commodity EU 2018 EU points 2018

Time rolling points

Last test Is this a top 25 food acute intake

Food score Staples RASFF points

UK MRL exceedance Grand Total Priority

Chillies No 0 0 2015 No 0 0 30 60 90 H

Prepared fresh fruit No 0 0 2017 Yes 30 0 0 60 90 H

Cheese No 0 0 2017 0 0 0 80 80 M Chocolate 0 50 2013 Yes 30 0 0 0 80 M

Orange juice 0 50 Yes 30 0 0 0 80 M *

Apples No 0 0 2017 Yes 30 0 10 30 70 M *

Beans (dried) No 0 0 No 0 0 10 60 70 M

Okra No 0 0 2017 No 0 0 10 60 70 M *

Oranges No 0 0 2017 Yes 30 0 10 30 70 M Pineapple No 0 0 2015 Yes 30 0 10 30 70 M ham No 0 0 Yes 30 30 60 M Bean sprouts No 0 0 2015 No 0 0 0 60 60 M

Berries & small fruit No 0 0 2015 Yes 30 0 0 30 60 M

Curry leaves No 0 0 2015 No 0 0 0 60 60 M Ginger No 0 0 2015 No 0 0 0 60 60 M Lemons No 0 0 2017 No 0 0 30 30 60 M Speciality fruits No 0 0 2017 No 0 0 30 30 60 M Spinach No 0 0 2014 No 0 0 0 60 60 M Tomatoes No 0 0 2016 Yes 30 0 10 20 60 M Butter No 0 0 2015 0 0 0 60 60 M Rye 0 2016 No 0 0 0 60 60 M Rice 0 0 2017 Yes 30 0 0 30 60 M

Speciality beans (dried) 0 0 2017 0 0 0 60 60 M

Broad beans No 0 50 2013 No 0 0 0 0 50 L Chicory No 0 50 2010 No 0 0 0 0 50 L Coconut No 0 50 2010 No 0 0 0 0 50 L Corn on the cob No 0 50 2013 No 0 0 0 0 50 L Peas No 0 0 2015 Yes 30 0 0 20 50 L Plums No 0 0 2014 Yes 30 0 0 20 50 L

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Commodity EU 2018 EU points 2018

Time rolling points

Last test Is this a top 25 food acute intake

Food score Staples RASFF points

UK MRL exceedance Grand Total Priority

Rhubarb No 0 50 2013 No 0 0 0 0 50 L Swede & turnip No 0 50 2012 No 0 0 0 0 50 L Sweet potatoes No 0 50 2012 No 0 0 0 0 50 L Burgers No 0 50 2011 0 0 0 0 50 L Pate No 0 50 0 0 0 0 50 L Cereal bars 0 50 No 0 0 0 0 50 L Lentils & pulses 0 50 2011 No 0 0 0 0 50 L Noodles 0 50 2012 No 0 0 0 0 50 L Apple puree 0 50 2013 No 0 0 0 0 50 L Beer 0 50 2012 No 0 0 0 0 50 L

Carbonated soft drinks 0 50 2010 No 0 0 0 0 50 L

Cherries (tinned) 0 50 No 0 0 0 0 50 L Edible seeds 0 50 2012 No 0 0 0 0 50 L Fish (tinned) 0 50 2013 No 0 0 0 0 50 L Orange & mandarins (tinned) 0 50 2012 0 0 0 0 50 L

Peas (tinned) 0 50 2012 0 0 0 0 50 L Rhubarb (tinned) 0 50 2013 0 0 0 0 50 L

Strawberries (tinned) 0 50 2012 0 0 0 0 50 L

Tea, fruit tea & herbal infusions 0 50 2012 0 0 0 0 50 L

Wine (EU) 0 0 2016 Yes 30 0 0 20 50 L Herbs No 0 0 2014 No 0 0 10 30 40 L Mango No 0 0 2015 Yes 30 0 10 0 40 L

Speciality vegetables No 0 0 2016 No 0 0 10 30 40 L *

Fig No 0 0 2017 No 30 30 Cabbage No 0 0 2016 Yes 30 0 0 0 30 L Carrots No 0 0 2017 No 0 0 0 30 30 L Cauliflower No 0 0 2017 Yes 30 0 0 0 30 L Courgette No 0 0 2015 Yes 30 0 0 0 30 L Garlic No 0 0 2014 No 0 0 0 30 30 L

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Commodity EU 2018 EU points 2018

Time rolling points

Last test Is this a top 25 food acute intake

Food score Staples RASFF points

UK MRL exceedance Grand Total Priority

Kiwi fruit No 0 0 2017 Yes 30 0 0 0 30 L

Lettuce No 0 0 2017 No 0 0 0 30 30 L Discuss

Limes No 0 0 2017 No 0 0 0 30 30 L Peaches & nectarines No 0 0 2016 Yes 30 0 0 0 30 L Pears No 0 0 2017 Yes 30 0 0 0 30 L Pumpkin & squash No 0 0 2014 No 0 0 0 30 30 L Salad leaves No 0 0 2014 No 0 0 0 30 30 L

Strawberries No 0 0 2016 No 0 0 10 20 30 L Discuss

Chicken (processed) No 0 0 2017 Yes 30 0 0 0 30 L

Fish No 0 0 2017 Yes 30 0 0 30 L Discuss

Honey No 0 0 2016 0 0 0 30 30 L Discuss

Lamb No 0 0 2017 Yes 30 0 0 0 30 L Pork (processed) No 0 0 2016 0 0 0 30 30 L

Bread (speciality) 0 0 2017 Yes 30 0 0 0 30 L *

Rice cakes 0 0 2014 No 0 0 0 30 30 L Crisps 0 0 2015 Yes 30 0 0 0 30 L Dried fruits including grapes 0 0 2015 no 0 0 0 30 30 L

*

Fruit juice (apple, orange, tomato, vegetable) 0 0 2015 Yes 30 0 0 0 30 L

*

Jam & marmalade 0 0 2016 No 0 0 0 30 30 L Nuts 0 0 2016 No 0 0 0 30 30 L Popcorn 0 0 2016 0 0 0 30 30 L

Potatoes (processed) 0 0 2014 Yes 30 0 0 0 30 L

Raspberries No 0 0 2017 No 0 0 0 20 20 L

Spring greens & kale No 0 0 2017 No 0 0 0 20 20 L

Pork & gammon No 0 0 2016 0 0 0 20 20 L Apricots No 0 0 2016 No 0 0 0 0 0 L

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Commodity EU 2018 EU points 2018

Time rolling points

Last test Is this a top 25 food acute intake

Food score Staples RASFF points

UK MRL exceedance Grand Total Priority

Asparagus No 0 0 2014 No 0 0 0 0 0 L Avocado No 0 0 2014 No 0 0 0 0 0 L Beetroot No 0 0 2014 No 0 0 0 0 0 L Brussels Sprouts No 0 0 2015 No 0 0 0 0 0 L Celery No 0 0 2015 No 0 0 0 0 0 L Cherries No 0 0 2017 No 0 0 0 0 0 L Cucumber No 0 0 2017 No 0 0 0 0 0 L Leeks No 0 0 2016 No 0 0 0 0 0 L Olives No 0 0 2015 No 0 0 0 0 0 L Onions No 0 0 2017 No 0 0 0 0 0 L Parsnips No 0 0 2017 No 0 0 0 0 0 L Radish No 0 0 2015 No 0 0 0 0 0 L

Spring/salad onions No 0 0 2016 No 0 0 0 0 0 L

Cooked meats No 0 0 2016 0 0 0 0 0 L Crème fraiche No 0 0 2015 0 0 0 0 0 L Liver No 0 0 2014 0 0 0 0 0 L Mince No 0 0 2014 0 0 0 0 0 L Poultry meat No 0 0 2017 0 0 0 0 0 L Venison No 0 0 2015 0 0 0 0 0 L

Yogurt No 0 0 2017 0 0 0 0 0 L

Barley grain 0 0 No 0 0 0 0 0 Crackers (plain) 0 0 2015 No 0 0 0 0 0 Flour 0 0 2014 No 0 0 0 0 0 Oats 0 0 2017 No 0 0 0 0 0 Pasta 0 0 2016 No 0 0 0 0 0

Beans (green, tinned) 0 0 2017 No 0 0 0 0 0

Coffee 0 0 2014 No 0 0 0 0 0

Free-from products (bread, cereal, flour, pasta)

0 0 2016 No 0 0 0 0 0

Non-dairy milk 0 0 2016 No 0 0 0 0 0

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Commodity EU 2018 EU points 2018

Time rolling points

Last test Is this a top 25 food acute intake

Food score Staples RASFF points

UK MRL exceedance Grand Total Priority

Pesto 0 0 2014 0 0 0 0 0 Soya milk 0 0 2017 0 0 0 0 0 Soya products 0 0 2017 0 0 0 0 0

Tomatoes products 0 0 2016 0 0 0 0 0

Annex Two: Additional Information to be considered in conjunction with the scoring matrix for 2018 plan.

Additional Areas that could influence priority of testing. To ensure developing areas do not perpetually score low and are not excluded from testing it is important that a small percentage of each years surveys looks at new issues. A short commentary on the issue to bring to the discussion is probably the most useful way of identifying any notable issues.

Review of recent evidence

Area Description Evidence Sources

New Foods Could be novel food or foods that are consumed in higher amounts than in the past.

Market research Liaison with trade http://www.nutfruit.org/what-we-do/industry/statistics general observations (PRiF and HSE)

This is an area where additional evidence is required from external sources. PRiF welcome comments from the trade on areas where they have observed a significant change in the production of an existing or new food. Conclusion Await additional comments from stakeholders.

Significant changes in National Consumption

Consumption pattern changes

Family Food 2015 https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/family-food-2015 Annual report on household purchases of food and drink

2015 to 2014 comparisons

• Milk up 18.6% (UK staple)- Note Milk is already in the survey

• Salmon 10.7% ( Note last tested 2017)

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• Fresh and processed fruit eaten outside of home. Note Individual fruit pots form part of recent 2017 survey. For prepped fruit

• Breakfast cereal (outside of home) usually same brands as sold at retail. Already covered in 2016 survey.

No major issues to take forward, except perhaps to consider including some takeaway outlets when testing “on the go” type foods.

Significant Changes in sources of Supply or problems with national supply

FAO Stats on trade volumes. http://www.fao.org/economic/ess/ess-publications/ess-yearbook/en/#.WgCEwbjfPmg https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/agriculture-in-the-united-kingdom-2016

For the moment no specific changes proposed to the way samples are collected.

Non Compliance/ countries of concerns

FVO Missions Examination of FVO missions from 2016 that relate to pesticide residues. http://ec.europa.eu/food/audits-analysis/audit_reports/index.cfm A brief summary of outcomes and implication for UK testing programme is provided but to see the complete picture the full reports should be read. In general the audits are triggered by a number of RASFF cases from the exporting country. Leading to a review of the controls in place on production and export. The official controls are usually supplemented by private controls for that organisation exporting to the EU, so these can form part of the audit.

• Malaysia 2016-8785 • Sri Lanka. • Turkey 2016-8784 • Argentina 2016-8783

Malaysia 2016-8785 A total of five notifications in the EU Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) relating to pesticide residues in produce from Malaysia were made by EU Member States in the period from 2013 to 2016. Two of these notifications related to papaya, and one each to jackfruit, aubergines and care beans. 90% of fruit exported to the EU is star fruit. Directorate F noted some deficiencies in the Official programme but noted that The official controls are complemented by private controls of the fruit exporting sector. Offering assurances that produce for export to the EU complies with the EU legal limits for pesticides. Conclusion- ensure star fruit include in speciality fruit

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FVO Missions Sri Lanka The authorities are taking several measures to control pesticides in fruits, vegetables and herbs intended for export to the EU, but these are at a very early stage of implementation. The arrangements for tea are more long standing and do provide adequate evidence that exported produce meets EU MRL’s Conclusion To check in the speciality surveys whether Sri Lankan produce has been collected if available.

Turkey 2016-8784 In terms of scope, the audit reviewed the controls in place on production and export, As regards products concerned, the audit covered sweet pepper, cucumbers, vine leaves and lemons.

Conclusion. For peppers evidence of comprehensive controls methods but not fully or widely implemented. Cucumber remained a high risk of non compliance, vine leaves some improvement. Biphenyl in lemon the source has not been tracked down

Conclusion In as far as these foods are imported into the UK from Turkey; they should be included in the relevant commodity surveys. Lemons, cucumber and pepper are being tested in 2017

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Argentina 2016-8783 This audit to Argentina was planned mainly on the basis of volumes of plant products Imported into the EU, in particular, citrus fruit. According to data from the Statistical Office of the European Commission (EUROSTAT), Argentina was the second biggest exporter of Citrus fruit to the EU in 2012 and 2013. In the following two years, 2014 and 2015, the export volumes went down and Argentina was the fifth biggest exporter. Between 2012 and 2015, there were 19 cases notified via the EU Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) Of these, three cases related to citrus fruit. In addition 14 cases (in citrus) were reported by MSs to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in 2012. Regarding non-compliances identified and reported by MSs, most of these related to the following pesticides: imazalil, carbendazim/benomyl, malathion and orthophenylphenol. Two of these pesticides are not approved in the EU.. NOTE All of these pesticides are sought in the UK National programme. A comprehensive approach is applied by exporters. This includes sampling for pesticide residues at grower level to verify compliance with standards in the countries of destination, including the EU, which is complemented by pesticide residue own controls at packhouses to verify that post-harvest applications are performed correctly. Conclusion- Argentinian citrus should be included up as part of routine citrus surveys if it is imported to UK.

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Area that arose in national testing that required follow up.

All results are published on gov.uk and data.gov.uk https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pesticide-residues-in-food-quarterly-monitoring-results-for-2017

HSE and PRIF will review the year’s findings as they arise.

The 2015 European Union report on pesticide residues in food

http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/479 Based on the analysis of the 2015 pesticide monitoring results, EFSA derived a number of recommendations. Several food products, which are not covered by the 2015 EU monitoring, have been repeatedly identified as containing residues exceeding the MRL. These products should be taken into account in the national control programmes: Most have either been tested recently or are already proposed for 2018 from the monitoring matrix. Additional foods to consider for 2018 are Chinese cabbage, speciality or wild fungi and beer.

Commodities that were identified as high priority numerically but will not be included in 2018

Spices- the high score was related to multiple findings from the same supplier. It was agreed to defer testing for 2018. Tea- Had a high score because it had not been tested until 2012. HSE need to determine how best to sample tea at non retail areas

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Annex Three: 2018 Commodities to be surveyed. Key

Rolling Reporting EU EU & Rolling

ANIMAL PRODUCTS Animal fats Beef Cheese (soft) Cream Eggs Fish (white) Game Milk (cows, goats and ewes) CEREAL PRODUCTS Beer Bread (ordinary) Bread (speciality) Wheat FRUIT AND VEGETABLES Apples Aubergine Banana Beans with pods Berries /small fruit Broccoli Chinese cabbage Curry leaves/vine leaves Frozen vegetables Ginger Grapefruit Grapes Lettuce Melon Mushroom/cultivated fungi Mushroom (speciality) Okra Pears Peas Pepper Pineapple Potato Soft citrus Speciality vegetables MISCELLANEOUS Lentils Olive oil Infant Food (cereal based)

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