Council Directive 96/23/EC on measures to monitor certain substances and residues thereof in live animals and animal products establishes that Member States should draft a national residue monitoring plan for the groups of substances detailed in Annex I. These plans must comply with the sampling rules in Annex IV to the Directive.

Directive 96/23/EC establishes the frequencies and level of sampling and the groups of substances to be controlled for each food commodity. Commission Decision 97/747/EC provides further rules for certain animal products: milk, eggs, honey, rabbits and game meat. Commission Decision 98/179/EC of 23 February 1998 lays down detailed rules for official sampling procedures and official treatment of samples until they reach the laboratory responsible for analysis.

The Commission Decision 2005/34/EC of 11 January 2005 sets harmonized standards for the testing of certain residues in products of animal origin imported from third countries by using MRPLs (Minimum required performance limits) as action limits.

In the Statement to the minutes of the Standing Committee for the Food Chain and Animal Health of 21 September 2004 it was moreover agreed that:

"The Commission and the Member States agree to apply this approach, with the necessary changes, to food of animals origin produced within the Community. This implies in particular that the Minimum Required Performance Limits (MRPLs) set according to Commission Decision 2002/657/EC shall be used as reference points for action…This approach moreover means that any detection of substances whose use is prohibited or not authorised in the Community shall be followed by an investigation into the source of the substance in question and appropriate enforcement measures in particular aimed at the prevention of recurrence in the case of documented illegal use".

Results of National Residue Monitoring Plans:

In accordance with Article 8 of Directive 96/23/EC, Member States were requested, as a follow-up, to provide information on actions taken as a consequence of non-compliant results found in food of animal origin. The Commission has summarised these information in the following Commission Staff Working Papers:

Commission Staff Working Paper on the implementation of national residue monitoring plans in the Member States in 2010 (Council Directive 96/23/EC)

Commission Staff Working Paper on the implementation of national residue monitoring plans in the Member States in 2009 (Council Directive 96/23/EC)

Commission Staff Working Paper on the implementation of national residue monitoring plans in the Member States in 2008 (Council Directive 96/23/EC)

Commission Staff Working Paper on the Implementation of National Residue Monitoring Plans in the Member States in 2007, (Council Directive 96/23/EC)

Commission Staff Working Paper on the Implementation of National Residue Monitoring Plans in the Member States in 2006, (Council Directive 96/23/EC)

Commission Staff Working Paper on the Implementation of National Residue Monitoring Plans in the Member States in 2005, (Council Directive 96/23/EC)

Commission Staff Working Paper on the Implementation of National Residue Monitoring Plans in the Member States in 2004, (Council Directive 96/23/EC) Updated 14-02-2007

Commission Staff Working Paper on the Implementation of National Residue Monitoring Plans in the Member States in 2003, (Council Directive 96/23/EC)

Commission Staff Working Paper on the Implementation of National Residue Monitoring Plans in the Member States in 2002, (Council Directive 96/23/EC)

Commission Staff Working Paper on the Implementation of National Residue Monitoring Plans in the Member States in 2001, (Council Directive 96/23/EC)

Commission Staff Working Paper on the Implementation of National Residue Monitoring Plans in the Member States in 2000, (Council Directive 96/23/EC)

Summary reports compiling the results of the implementation of national residue monitoring plans in the Member States during 1998 and 1999 are also presented.

1999 Report on residue monitoring results in food from animal origin in the Member States Annex

1998 Report on residue monitoring results in food from animal origin in the Member States Annex