As two Australian Football League players (the ice hockey of footie) claim their positive tests for clenbuterol came from steak consumed in New Zealand (that’s just scientifically BS, as cyclist Alberto Contador proved in 2010 ), the European Food Safety Authority is extending the use of its harmonised sample-based data reporting model to the collection of data on veterinary medicinal product residues in animals and animal products.

Sample-based reporting using standardized description elements is already used to collect occurrence data from Member States in areas such as food additives, chemical contaminants, pesticide residues and antimicrobial resistance. 

Monitoring data on veterinary medicinal product (VMP) residues are currently submitted annually in an aggregated format to a database maintained by the European Commission. EFSA then examines the data and presents the results in annual reports. However, aggregation does not lend itself to complex statistical analysis and is of limited value for quantitative exposure and risk assessments. The move to direct collection of data in a sample-based format will enable EFSA and the European Commission to tackle questions related to the risk assessment and risk management of VMP residues.