National Residue Control Plan

Since 1989, meat, milk, eggs and honey have been analysed annually for residues of undesirable substances as part of the National Residue Control Plan for Food of Animal Origin. The aim is to detect the use of prohibited substances or the misuse of restricted authorised substances, to check compliance with specified maximum levels for residues from veterinary medicinal products and to clarify the cause of residue contamination.

The National Residue Control Plan, according to which samples are taken and analysed at various stages of production from the stable to the slaughterhouse to the first processing stage, is carried out in all EU countries according to a uniform standard. For Germany, it is coordinated by the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVLshort forGerman Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety). The federal states organise the sampling, the BVLshort forGerman Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety evaluates the test results and forwards the data to the European Commission.

The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment evaluates the results from the perspective of consumer health protection.