The aim of this priority initiative was to establish a representative and reliable nationwide database for assessing consumer exposure and compliance with the applicable maximum residue limits in selected foodstuffs. The results of the investigation also serve as an additional data source for the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in its exposure assessments.

867 samples from across Austria were analysed. 39 samples were rejected:

• 39 samples were rejected due to unequivocal exceedances of maximum pesticide residue limits. Of these, based on the expert exposure assessment, two samples each of table grapes (origin: Turkey and Syria) and cherries (origin: Austria and Italy) were classified as ‘harmful to health’, and seven samples (2x courgettes – origin: Turkey; 1 lemon – originating from Iran, 1 Nashi pear – originating from China, 1 quince – originating from Syria, and 1 mandarin and 1 pomegranate each – originating from Turkey) were assessed as ‘unfit for human consumption’.
• In three food samples from organic farming, residues above the analytical limit of quantification were confirmed, and the competent authority was asked to investigate the cause.