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The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine today released the results of testing carried out under the National Residue Control Plan (NRCP) in 2015. The rate of non-compliance remains low at 0.2% of all samples tested, showing a continuing downward trend of low levels of non–compliance.

The NRCP, which is approved by the European Commission, forms an important component of Ireland’s food safety controls and is implemented under a service contract with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI). The NRCP, which is one element of the Department’s overall National Control Plan, focuses on food of animal origin.

In excess of 19,000 samples were tested in 2015, taken across all 8 food producing species as well as milk, eggs and honey. Some 35 (0.2%) samples out of 19,439 tested positive which shows a continuation of the trend over a number of years of a general absence of residues in Irish food products. This is comparable with the level of 0.2% detected in 2014, 2013 and 2012. These consistently low levels reflect the responsible approach adopted by the vast majority of farmers.

The extensive testing under the NRCP in 2015 indicated the absence of illegal administration of banned growth promoting hormones and other banned substances to food-producing animals in Ireland. Overall the small number of non-compliant samples related mainly to residues of authorised medicines.

The 2015 Residues Report is available at:
www.agriculture.gov.ie/animalhealthwelfare/veterinarymedicinesresidues.