EN
The paper presents the results of monitoring pesticide residues in food of animal origin for the 10-year-period of 1997 – 2006. The control plan included the analysis of organochlorine pesticides, organophosphorous compounds, pyrethroids, and carbamates in a variety of food samples: fat, muscle and liver from different animal species, milk, eggs and honey. The residue program exists in accordance with Council Directive 96/23/EC and legislation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The residue examinations are performed by the National Veterinary Research Institute in Puławy (National Reference Laboratory) and Regional Veterinary Inspection Laboratories (ZHW) located in Białystok, Gdańsk, Katowice, Poznań, Warsaw and Wrocław. Over the period of 10 years more than 24 500 samples were tested for pesticide residues in all food commodities and only a few samples were non-compliant. The occurrence of organochlorine pesticides was recorded quite frequently, although their concentrations were comparatively low, even several times lower in comparison to the permitted maximum residue levels (MRL). The residues of other groups of pesticides were detected in none of the tested samples. Regular testing within the national residue control program indicates that Polish food of animal origin contains low levels of these contaminants and is safe for consumers.