Report Overview

The pesticide residue testing market in the United Kingdom is experiencing significant growth due to rising adoption of severe food and safety standards, improvements in testing technologies, and increasing food supplies.

United Kingdom Pesticide Residue Testing Market - Industry Trends & Forecast Report, 2028

The United Kingdom pesticide residue testing market size was estimated at USD 0.08 billion in 2022. During the forecast period between 2023 and 2029, the United Kingdom pesticide residue testing market size is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.5% reaching a value of USD 0.13 billion by 2029. Pesticide residue testing is in high demand, owing mostly to the growing concern about food safety in the United Kingdom. The rising adoption of severe food and safety standards, improvements in testing technologies, and increasing food supplies are some of the primary factors expected to drive the pesticide residue testing market growth in the United Kingdom. Furthermore, growing awareness about the health effects of pesticides in raw and processed foods is expected to drive demand for pesticide residue testing and drive market growth during the forecast period.

United Kingdom Pesticide Residue Testing Market – Overview

Pesticide residue refers to pesticides that may stay in or on food after they have been applied to food crops. Regulatory authorities set the maximum permitted levels of certain residues in foods. Many of these chemical residues, particularly chlorinated pesticide derivatives, bioaccumulate to dangerous levels in the body and the environment. Furthermore, persistent chemicals can be amplified through the food chain, and their presence has been confirmed in products ranging from meat, poultry, and fish to vegetable oils, nuts, and a variety of fruits and vegetables. So, pesticide residue testing is an essential step in identifying and reducing pesticide residues in compliance with national and international laws. Pesticide overuse can lead to unsafe quantities of toxic chemicals entering the food chain. Fresh produce is more susceptible to pesticide residues and is consumed in greater quantities.

Growth Drivers

Rising Risk of Pesticide Residue Contamination

The pesticide residues testing market is likely to expand over the forecast period due to the growing risk of pesticide residue contamination in livestock feed and rising pesticide residue occurrences in crops. Pesticide residue contamination does not just damage crops; it can also affect cattle feed. Pesticides can enter the food chain when animals consume tainted feed or graze on pesticide-treated crops. This can result in pesticide residues accumulating in animal products such as milk, meat, and eggs, posing a risk to human health. Therefore, due to increasing risk of pesticide residue contamination, the demand for the pesticide residue testing increases which is anticipated to drive the growth of the market.

Growing Consumer Interest in Food Safety and Quality Issues

The threat to food safety has become more visible as the number of foodborne disease outbreaks, adulteration cases, and toxicity has increased. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP), just over one of every ten people gets sick from foodborne illness each year; children under the age of five are especially susceptible. Growing customer awareness of food quality has accelerated technology improvements, propelling the residue safety testing industry in this country. Enhanced surveillance and detection tools have aided in the expansion of the food safety testing scenario in the United Kingdom. Food processing enterprises and food service organizations are instilling consumer faith in their operations through safety certifications and compliance. Consumer education on food safety and mass awareness campaigns carried out by various organizations are also boosting the market for residue testing.

Restraints

Lack of Awareness about Food Safety Regulations

In the United Kingdom, there is growing concern about a lack of understanding of food safety standards. Food safety rules exist to protect public health by ensuring that food is safe to eat, and a lack of information about these regulations can raise the risk of foodborne infections. The complexity of food safety standards is one of the main reasons for this lack of awareness. The requirements can be challenging to understand and apply, particularly for small organizations and individuals who may lack the means or knowledge to successfully manage the regulations. Therefore, due to a lack of awareness about the food safety regulations, the demand for pesticide residue testing reduces which will likely hamper the growth of the market in upcoming years.

Impact of COVID-19 on the United Kingdom Pesticide Residue Testing Market

COVID-19 caused a huge shift in consumer demand, with consumers shifting away from restaurants, food service, and other sorts of "food away from home" and towards food consumed at home. It has resulted in various substantial changes in the operation of food supply systems. Sales of "food away from home" (food consumed in hotels, restaurants, catering, and cafés) decreased rapidly as the COVID-19 pandemic spread. COVID-19 wreaked havoc on the food business. Social distance requirements, labor shortages due to movement restrictions, and lockdown procedures to control the virus's spread have all had an impact on food enterprises in this industry. Furthermore, regional governments' actions limited the number of people working in small areas, stifling the food industry's growth.

United Kingdom Pesticide Residue Testing Market

Segmental Coverage

United Kingdom Pesticide Residue Testing Market - By Type

Based on type, the United Kingdom pesticide residue testing market is segmented into herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and others. The herbicide segment is witnessing the fastest growth and is expected to dominate the United Kingdom pesticide residue testing market during the forecast period due to their growing usage in agricultural activities to control unwanted plants. The use of herbicides can help lessen the requirement for other chemical treatments, such as insecticides and fungicides. It can assist in minimizing overall chemical use in agriculture, which is good for the environment.

United Kingdom Pesticide Residue Testing Market - By Technology

Based on technology, the United Kingdom pesticide residue testing market is segmented into LC-MS/GC-MS, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography, single residue method, multi residue method, and others. The LC-MS/GC-MS technology is projected to dominate the United Kingdom pesticide residue testing market during the forecast period, due to its lower turnaround time, high accuracy, and increased sensitivity that enables accurate detection. The LC-MS/GC-MS technology is a combination of liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry, and it is a potent technique with extremely high sensitivity that may be used in a variety of applications.

Competitive Landscape

The United Kingdom pesticide residue testing market is highly competitive, with all the players continually competing to gain a larger market share. The key players are SGS, Bureau Veritas, Eurofins, Intertek, ALS Limited, Neogen, AsureQuality, Charm Sciences, Premier Analytical Services, AES Laboratories, IEH Laboratories and Consulting Group Envirologix Inc. EMSL, Analytical, Inc., and Krishgen Biosystems.

Scope of the Report

By Type

• Mono-Herbicides

• Insecticides

• Fungicides

• Others

By Technology

• LC-MS/GC-MS

• High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

• Gas Chromatography

• Single Residue Method

• Multi Residue Method

• Others

By Food Tested

• Meat & Poultry

• Dairy Products

• Processes Food

• Fruits & Vegetables

• Cereals

• Grains & Pulses

• Others

By Class

• Organochlorines

• Organophosphates

• Organonitrogens & Carbamates

• Others