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Metals

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

Contaminants Legislation setting MLs: Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006, as amended

Other legislation setting MLs:

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

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

Contaminants Legislation setting MLs: Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006, as amended

Other legislation setting MLs:

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 2012S.I. No. 380 of 2013S.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

Contaminants Legislation setting MLs: Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006, as amended

Other legislation setting MLs:

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 2012S.I. No. 380 of 2013S.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

Contaminants Legislation setting MLs: Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 , 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

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

Contaminants Legislation setting MLs: Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 , as amended

Other legislation setting MLs:

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