Home Page of the Pesticide Residues Committee (PRC) Website

A message from from the Chair of the PRC, Dr Ian Brown

Brown Welcome to the Pesticide Residues Committee Website. Hopefully the fact that you are reading this page today indicates that you are interested in finding out more about pesticide residues in food and the UK's national programme of pesticide residues testing.

The results from our most recent surveys of residues in food and drink provide evidence as to the absence of residues in about 70% of tested produce. In almost 30% of samples, residues were below the statutory limits (Maximum Residue Level) which poses no safety concerns for consumers. The Department of Health recommends an intake of at least five portions of fruit or vegetables per person per day to reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease and many other chronic conditions. The positive effects of eating fresh fruit and vegetables as part of a balanced, healthy diet are well proven and far outweigh any concern about pesticide residues.

I hope that you find the information on this website is useful and informative. If you have any points to make or questions to ask please email the PRC or click here for more information on how to contact us.

Best Regards

Doctor IAN BROWN OBE BSc (Agric) FRCP FFOM

Who are the PRC?

mixed veg 4 We are an independent Committee that advises the Government on a nationwide programme of pesticide residues surveillance in food and drink. The programme is administered and carried out on our behalf by officials from the Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD), who in liaison with other Government Departments are responsible for the regulation of pesticides in the UK.

We want to ensure that consumers, the food industry and any other interested parties understand the issues involved and to give them confidence in the way conclusions are reached relating to the surveillance programme and the incidence of pesticide residues in edible produce. In fact one of the requirements placed on our work is that we make our:

"...findings and recommendations available to Government, consumers and the food and farming industries in a way which aims to be comprehensive, understandable and timely".

To help achieve this aim, the pages on this website include explanatory information on all aspects of our work together with the reports and meeting agendas, papers and minutes that we publish. The main topics covered on our website are given below, together with links to take you to the relevant pages.

What information can you find on this website?

mixed fruit If you are already familiar with the content of our website, you can use the links below to find what you are looking for.

Otherwise, we strongly recommend that you go to the Site Plan which explains in more detail what you will find in each link and which will help you find the information that you want.

1. General background information

2. Information on the PRC

3. Information on how we carry out the surveillance programme

4. Information on PRC meetings and published documents

5. Information on other surveys in addition to the annual PRC programme

Go to Site Plan for more information on these links.

Feedback

We appreciate and value your feedback regarding:

questions or comments on the information presented in the website or any aspect of our work; and
suggestions for content and design of the website.

Email questions or comments about us

More information on contacting us

Contents Role of PRC PRC Membership Pesticide Regulation and Consumer Risk Assessment Residues Surveillence Programme PRC Risk Assessment of Residues in Surveyed Food and Drink PRC Meetings PRC Reports Index of Monitoring Results by Year/Quarter PRC Contact Information Useful Links PRC/PSD Food Safety Home Environment Home Using Pesticides Home PSD Home Page External Food Standards Agency Department of Health The PRC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Hosted by:	[Print Version] Home Page of the Pesticide Residues Committee (PRC) Website A message from from the Chair of the PRC, Dr Ian Brown Welcome to the Pesticide Residues Committee Website. Hopefully the fact that you are reading this page today indicates that you are interested in finding out more about pesticide residues in food and the UK's national programme of pesticide residues testing. The results from our most recent surveys of residues in food and drink provide evidence as to the absence of residues in about 70% of tested produce. In almost 30% of samples, residues were below the statutory limits (Maximum Residue Level) which poses no safety concerns for consumers. The Department of Health recommends an intake of at least five portions of fruit or vegetables per person per day to reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease and many other chronic conditions. The positive effects of eating fresh fruit and vegetables as part of a balanced, healthy diet are well proven and far outweigh any concern about pesticide residues. I hope that you find the information on this website is useful and informative. If you have any points to make or questions to ask please email the PRC or click here for more information on how to contact us. Best Regards Doctor IAN BROWN OBE BSc (Agric) FRCP FFOM Who are the PRC? We are an independent Committee that advises the Government on a nationwide programme of pesticide residues surveillance in food and drink. The programme is administered and carried out on our behalf by officials from the Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD), who in liaison with other Government Departments are responsible for the regulation of pesticides in the UK. We want to ensure that consumers, the food industry and any other interested parties understand the issues involved and to give them confidence in the way conclusions are reached relating to the surveillance programme and the incidence of pesticide residues in edible produce. In fact one of the requirements placed on our work is that we make our: "...findings and recommendations available to Government, consumers and the food and farming industries in a way which aims to be comprehensive, understandable and timely". To help achieve this aim, the pages on this website include explanatory information on all aspects of our work together with the reports and meeting agendas, papers and minutes that we publish. The main topics covered on our website are given below, together with links to take you to the relevant pages. What information can you find on this website? If you are already familiar with the content of our website, you can use the links below to find what you are looking for. Otherwise, we strongly recommend that you go to the Site Plan which explains in more detail what you will find in each link and which will help you find the information that you want. 1. General background information Pesticides, residues and food safety- an introduction The UK pesticide regulatory system and consumer safety Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) EU Developments relevant to consumer safety and pesticide residues PRC Publication Scheme PRC Publication Scheme 2. Information on the PRC The role of the PRC Membership of the PRC PRC leaflet - Pesticide Residues in food: facts not fiction Working Party on Pesticide Residues (WPPR) 3. Information on how we carry out the surveillance programme The pesticide residues surveillance programme Index of sampled produce How do the PRC ensure that any residues found in food and drink are safe? 4. Information on PRC meetings and published documents Agendas, papers and minutes of PRC meetings PRC Quarterly and Annual Reports Open meetings of the PRC 5. Information on other surveys in addition to the annual PRC programme PRC Rapid Response Surveys Other non-PRC surveillance programmes Go to Site Plan for more information on these links. Feedback We appreciate and value your feedback regarding: questions or comments on the information presented in the website or any aspect of our work; and suggestions for content and design of the website. Email questions or comments about us More information on contacting us contact us \| user guide \| website map \| a-z index \| FAQs \| policies \| feedback	Committee News 2008 Grapes Survey: March Results 29 April 2008: None of the samples of grapes collected in March contained a residue above the MRL 2008 Peppers Survey: January and February Results 29 April: None of the peppers sampled in January and February contained residues above the Maximum Residue Level. PRC Membership 8 April 2008: Defra is looking to appoint three new members to the Committee. School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme 17 April 2008: Publication of the results of the pesticides residues monitoring for the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme (SFVS) Autumn Term 2007. The SFVS supplies four to six year old children in Local Education Authority maintained infant, primary and special schools with a free piece of fruit or vegetable each school day. Each term samples are collected and analysed for pesticide residues. 2008 Grapes Survey - January 27 March 2008: None of the samples of grapes collected in January contained a residue above the MRL. PRC Open Meeting 2008 10 March 2008: Booking details and other information for Pesticides in Food, the Pesticide Residues Committee Open Meeting 2008 on 30 April 2008 Pesticides Residues Committee (PRC) Reports 2007 11 March 2008: Pesticide Residues Committee report for Quarter 3 (July to September) 2007 published. PRC/VRC 2008 Industry Data Request 6 March 2008: The annual joint request to industry for residues monitoring data from the Pesticide Residues Committee and Veterinary Residues Commitee. 2007 Grapes Survey: November and December Results 24 January 2008: One sample of grapes taken in December contained two residues above the MRL. None of the residues detected would be expected to have an effect on health 2007 Peppers Survey: November Results 20 December 2007: None of the peppers samples taken in November contained residues above the MRL. 2007 Peppers Survey: Late October Results 13 December 2007: None of the pepper samples taken in late October contained residues above the MRL. 2007 Grapes Survey: Late October Results 13 December 2007: None of the samples of grapes taken in September contained residues above the MRL and none of the residues detected would be expected to have an effect on health. Pesticide Residue Committee (PRC) - 2006 10 September 2007: Pesticide Residues Committee Annual Report for 2006 published. Proposals for 2008 programme 17 May 2007: Please comment on our proposals for our 2008 monitoring programme by 11 June. Earlier Advice of Monitoring Results to Brand Owners and Suppliers from Quarter 2 2006 17 August 2006: From now on the PRC Secretariat will write to brand owners and suppliers about samples containing residues above MRLs and containing residues indicative of unapproved use of pesticides in the UK before, rather than after, the Pesticide Residues Committee (PRC) meets to discuss the results. How will the PRC report carbendazim residues in apples or pears after 15 September 2006? 15 August 2006: Information on how the PRC will report carbendazim residues in apples or pears after 15 September 2006. Monitoring Residues at Home and in Europe This explains how residues are monitored in the UK and in Europe. A link is provided to the latest (2003) EU monitoring report. PRC leaflet - Pesticide Residues in Food: Facts not Fiction On 18 May the PRC published a leaflet entitled Pesticide Residues in Food: facts not fiction. PRC News Archive...