RESIDUES - The FSA's Approach to The Acceptability of Residues of Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines in Food

The FSA's role is to ensure that food safety is given top priority during the authorisation and monitoring of pesticides and veterinary medicines. We will strive to ensure that the Agency's core values of putting the consumer first, being open and accessible and being an independent voice are applied to our work on pesticides and veterinary medicines.

The Agency accepts the use of pesticides and veterinary medicines in the production of food only if:

• regulatory bodies follow a precautionary approach;
• the regulatory process is open and the way decisions are reached is easily understandable by consumers;
• any residues that occur in the food:
• do not result in consumers exceeding safety standards set by the regulatory bodies; and
• are the minimum that is appropriate for effective use, even if higher levels would not be harmful; and
• decisions about approvals and the acceptability of residues are subject to review in the light of new data.

The Agency would not agree to the use of any pesticide if fruit or vegetables treated with it have to be washed or peeled to make them safe to eat.

The Agency will press for comprehensive and responsive food surveillance programmes to ensure that pesticides and veterinary medicines are being used properly and that consumers' exposure to these substances are within safety standards. We expect to see quick, effective action taken to protect consumers where there is evidence of misuse or where surveillance finds residues above acceptable levels.

The Agency undertakes to make information about the authorisation and surveillance of pesticides and veterinary medicines available to consumers in an understandable way.