#32026R0765Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/765 on sampling and analysis methods and interpretation of results for official controls of pesticide residues in food and feed
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This regulation establishes harmonised EU-wide rules for sampling, laboratory analysis, and result interpretation during official controls of pesticide residues in food and feed of plant and animal origin. It replaces the outdated Directive 2002/63/EC with updated technical methods aligned with current scientific standards and Codex Alimentarius guidelines. The text sets detailed performance criteria for analytical methods, including limits of quantification, recovery rates, and measurement uncertainty. It also defines rules for assessing compliance, handling of composite samples, and procedures when results exceed maximum residue levels (MRLs).
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Key Changes
- Repeals and replaces Directive 2002/63/EC effective from 1 April 2026
- Introduces updated sampling procedures for heterogeneous lots with specific incremental sample sizes and aggregate sample weights
- Sets minimum performance criteria for analytical methods: LOQ ≤ 0.01 mg/kg for most substances, recovery 70-120%, RSD ≤ 20%
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Obligations
What this law requires
Member States must implement harmonised sampling methods for official controls of pesticide residues in food and feed as specified in this regulation, replacing previous methods under Directive 2002/63/EC
Laboratories conducting official control analysis must meet defined performance criteria including minimum limits of quantification (LOQ), recovery rates, and measurement uncertainty thresholds established in the regulation
Analytical methods used for pesticide residue detection must comply with updated technical standards aligned with current scientific standards and Codex Alimentarius guidelines
Member States must establish and apply standardised procedures for interpreting analytical results and assessing compliance with maximum residue levels (MRLs) as defined in this regulation
Competent authorities must follow defined procedures when pesticide residue analysis results exceed applicable maximum residue levels (MRLs)