(fra kommisjonsforordningen)

(1) Regulation (EU) 2017/625 lays down rules for the performance of official controls and other official activities by the competent authorities of Member States to check compliance with Union legislation, among others in the area of food and feed safety at all stages of production, processing and distribution. It provides for specific rules on official controls in relation to substances whose use may result in residues in food and feed and sets general requirements for the methods to be used for sampling, laboratory analyses and tests during official controls and other official activities. 

(2) Articles 34, 35 and 36 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/625 and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2244 provide for general rules with regard to sampling and analysis. 

(3) Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishes maximum residue levels (‘MRLs’) of pesticides in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin. 

(4) Commission Directive 2002/63/EC provides for the methods of sampling for the official control of pesticide residues in and on products of plant and animal origin. 

(5) However, Directive 2002/63/EC no longer reflects best practices in the field of pesticide residues in and on products of plant and animal origin. 

(6) More clarity is necessary for the sampling rules of some product categories listed in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, in particular the categories ‘Honey and other apicultural products’, ‘Amphibians and Reptiles’, ‘Terrestrial invertebrate animals’, ‘Wild terrestrial vertebrate animals’ and ‘Fish, fish products and any other marine and freshwater food products’. In addition, the clarification of sampling requirements is necessary for products of high value, for products of very large size and for certain processed food as well as food supplements. 

(7) The European Union Reference Laboratories in the field of pesticide residues have elaborated a ‘Guidance Document on Analytical Quality Control and Validation Procedures for pesticide residues analysis in food and feed’. As that Guidance Document contains the best up to date technological knowledge, its principles on reporting and interpretation of results should become binding to ensure uniform enforcement action by Member States. 

(8) Commission Regulation (EC) No 152/2009 establishes methods of sampling and analysis for the official control of feed. As regards the collection of samples and the preparation of samples for analysis for the purpose of control of pesticides residues in feed, the rules provided for in Annex I and Part A of Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 152/2009 are not affected by this Regulation and shall continue to apply. As regards the method for laboratory analyses, the measurement uncertainty and the interpretation of the analytical results for the purpose of control of pesticide residues in feed, specific rules are necessary and should therefore be established in this Regulation. 

(9) It is therefore appropriate to update the specific provisions on sampling laid down in Directive 2002/63/EC, and to provide for rules on analysis for the control of pesticide residues in and on food and feed of plant and animal origin. 

(10) For the purposes of clarity and legibility, Directive 2002/63/EC should be repealed and replaced by this Regulation. 

(11) In view of the time and resources necessary for Member States to adapt to the new rules, it is appropriate that this Regulation applies from 1 January 2027.

(12) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,