Lead
Lead is an environmental contaminant that occurs naturally and, to a greater extent, from anthropogenic activities such as mining and smelting and battery manufacturing. Lead is a metal that occurs in organic and inorganic forms; the latter predominates in the environment. Control measures have been taken to regulate lead in paint, petrol, food cans and pipes in Europe since the 1970s. Human exposure to lead can occur via food, water, air, soil and dust. Food is the major source of exposure to lead.
Regulatory Information
EU Legislation
Contaminants Framework Regulation: Regulation No. 315/93/EEC, as amended
Maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuff are laid down in Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915, as amended
Other legislation setting MLs:
- Directive (EU) 2015/2203 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2015 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to caseins and caseinates intended for human consumption and repealing Council Directive 83/417/EEC
- Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin, as amended
- For purity criteria/substance specifications please refer to the relevant legislation in the following section - “To note - other Legislation containing provisions on contaminants”
- See national legislation
Monitoring Recommendation: Commission Recommendation (EU) 2018/464
Sampling & Analysis Regulation: Regulation (EC) No. 333/2007, as amended
Increased Control Measures: For potentially applicable emergency measures and temporary increased controls please see the section on Imports.
National Legislation
- S.I. No. 218 of 2010 as amended (S.I. No. 276 of 2012, S.I. No. 348 of 2012, S.I. No. 380 of 2013, S.I. No. 143 of 2014, S.I. No. 329 of 2016, S.I. No. 377 of 2017)
- Health (Arsenic & Lead in Food) Regulations, 1972 (S.I. No. 44 of 1972) as amended (S.I. No. 72 of 1992) – note: certain maximum limits are set for lead in specified foods in the national legislation. Some but not all of these limits, have been superseded by Regulation (EC) 2023/915. Therefore it is necessary to consult both pieces of legislation.
Cadmium
Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal found as an environmental contaminant, both through natural occurrence and from industrial and agricultural sources. Foodstuffs are the main source of cadmium exposure for the non-smoking general population.
Regulatory Information
EU legislation
Contaminants Framework Regulation: Regulation No. 315/93/EEC, as amended
Maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuff are laid down in Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915, as amended
Other legislation setting MLs:
- Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin, as amended
- For purity criteria/substance specifications please refer to the relevant legislation in the following section - “To note - other Legislation containing provisions on contaminants”
Monitoring Recommendation: Commission Recommendation (EU) 2018/464 and Commission Recommendation (EU) 2014/193/EU
Sampling & Analysis Regulation: Regulation (EC) No. 333/2007, as amended
Increased Control Measures: For potentially applicable emergency measures and temporary increased controls, please see the section on Imports.
National legislation
S.I. No. 218 of 2010 as amended (S.I. No. 276 of 2012, S.I. No. 348 of 2012, S.I. No. 380 of 2013, S.I. No. 143 of 2014, S.I. No. 329 of 2016, S.I. No. 377 of 2017)
Mercury
Metals such as arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury are natural occurring chemical compounds. They can be present at various levels in the environment, e.g. soil, water and atmosphere. Metals can also occur as residues in food because of their presence in the environment, as a result of human activities such as farming, industry or car exhausts or from contamination during food processing and storage. Mercury is a metal that is released into the environment from both natural sources and as a result of human activity. Besides the element mercury, it can occur as inorganic mercury (mercurous (Hg22+) and mercuric (Hg2+) cations); and organic mercury. Methylmercury (MeHg) is by far the most common form of organic mercury in the food chain.
People can be exposed to these metals from the environment or by ingesting contaminated food or water. Their accumulation in the body can lead to harmful effects over time.
Regulatory Information
EU legislation
Contaminants Framework Regulation: Regulation No. 315/93/EEC, as amended
Maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuff are laid down in Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915, as amended
Other legislation setting MLs:
- Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin, as amended
- Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 February 2005 on maximum residue levels of pesticides in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin and amending Council Directive 91/414/EEC, as amended
- For purity criteria/substance specifications please refer to the relevant legislation in the following section - “To note - other Legislation containing provisions on contaminants”
Monitoring Recommendation: Commission Recommendation (EU) 2018/464
Sampling & Analysis Regulation: Regulation (EC) No. 333/2007, as amended
Increased Control Measures: For potentially applicable emergency measures and temporary increased controls, please see the section on Imports.
National legislation
S.I. No. 218 of 2010 as amended (S.I. No. 276 of 2012, S.I. No. 348 of 2012, S.I. No. 380 of 2013, S.I. No. 143 of 2014, S.I. No. 329 of 2016, S.I. No. 377 of 2017)
Tin (inorganic)
The principal concern in relation to tin in food is the possibility of high levels potentially present in canned food in incorrectly manufactured tins, where tin present in the can has leached into the food.
Regulatory Information
EU legislation
Contaminants Framework Regulation: Regulation No. 315/93/EEC, as amended
Maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuff are laid down in Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915, as amended
Sampling & Analysis Regulation: Regulation (EC) No. 333/2007, as amended
Increased Control Measures: For potentially applicable emergency measures and temporary increased controls, please see the section on Imports.
National legislation
- S.I. No. 218 of 2010 as amended (S.I. No. 276 of 2012, S.I. No. 348 of 2012, S.I. No. 380 of 2013, S.I. No. 143 of 2014, S.I. No. 329 of 2016, S.I. No. 377 of 2017)
- Health (Tin in Food) Regulations, 1993 (S.I. No. 389 of 1993): These Regulations stipulate that the level of tin in food shall not exceed 200 milligrams per kilogram of food. However, more strict maximum limits have been set in Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915, as amended, which supersede this maximum limit.
Arsenic (inorganic)
Arsenic is a ubiquitous metalloid present at low concentrations in rocks, soil and natural ground water. It occurs in different inorganic and organic forms, which are found in the environment both from natural occurrence and from anthropogenic activity. The inorganic forms of arsenic are more toxic as compared to the organic arsenic. In natural ground water, arsenic is typically present in inorganic forms (As(III), As(V) or a combination of both); organic forms are rare in water as they are the result of biological activity.
Food and drinking water are the principal routes of exposure to arsenic. Organic arsenic species such as arsenobetaine and different arsenosugars are the most common forms in seafood while in foods of terrestrial origin the predominant arsenic forms are iAs (both As(V) and As(III)) and single methylated arsenic species (methylarsonate, methylarsenite and dimethylarsinate). Arsenic enters the food chain mainly through contaminated water and soil.
Regulatory Information
EU legislation
Contaminants Framework Regulation: Regulation No. 315/93/EEC, as amended
Maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuff are laid down in Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915, as amended.”
Other legislation setting MLs:
- Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin, as amended
- For purity criteria/substance specifications please refer to the relevant legislation in the following section - “To note - other Legislation containing provisions on contaminants"
Monitoring Recommendation: Commission Recommendation (EU) 2018/464 and Commission Recommendation (EU) 2015/1381
Sampling & Analysis Regulation: Regulation (EC) No. 333/2007, as amended
Increased Control Measures: For potentially applicable emergency measures and temporary increased controls, please see the section on Imports.
National legislation
- S.I. No. 218 of 2010 as amended (S.I. No. 276 of 2012, S.I. No. 348 of 2012, S.I. No. 380 of 2013, S.I. No. 143 of 2014, S.I. No. 329 of 2016, S.I. No. 377 of 2017)
- Health (Arsenic & Lead in Food) Regulations, 1972 (S.I. No. 44 of 1972) as amended (S.I. No. 72 of 1992) – note: certain maximum limits are set for total arsenic in specified foods in the national legislation. Some but not all of these limits, have been superseded by Comission Regulation (EU) 2023/915, as amended. Therefore it is necessary to consult both pieces of legislation.