The EU Contaminants Regulation (EU) 1881/2006 regulates, among other things, the maximum levels for heavy metals. The regulation has now been revised for lead and cadmium.
In the amending regulation (EU) 2021 / 1317 respectively (EU) 2021 /2323, the new limit values for some products have been redefined. The new limit values apply from 08/30/2021 respectively 08/31/2021 with a six-month transition period for all products that have already been placed on the market before.
Here is an overview of the main changes:
Lead:
Category |
Products |
Maximum level |
Note |
3.1.13 |
Root and tuber vegetables (excluding salsifies, fresh ginger and fresh turmeric), bulb vegetables, flowering brassica, head brassica, kohlrabies, legume vegetables, stem vegetables |
0,10 |
as before |
3.1.14 |
Leafy brassica, salsify, the fungi Agaricus bisporus (common mushroom), Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom), Lentinula edodes (Shiitake mushroom) and leafy vegetables (excluding fresh herbs) |
0,30 |
as before |
3.1.15 |
Wild fungi, fresh turmeric and fresh ginger |
0,80 |
NEW |
3.1.16 |
Fruiting vegetables |
|
|
Sweetcorn |
0,10 |
as before |
|
Other fruiting vegetables (except sweet corn) |
0,05 |
as before |
|
3.1.17 |
Fruit (excluding cranberries, currants, elderberries and strawberry tree fruit) |
0,10 |
as before |
3.1.18 |
Cranberries, currants, elderberries and strawberry tree fruit |
0,20 |
as before |
3.1.26 |
Dried spices |
|
NEW |
Fruit spices |
0,60 |
||
Root and rhizome spices |
1,50 |
||
Bark spices |
2,00 |
||
Bud spices and flower pistil spices |
1,00 |
||
Seed spices |
0,90 |
Cadmium:
Category |
Products |
Maximum level |
Note |
3.2.1.5 |
Tree nuts |
0,20 |
as before |
3.2.1.5.2 |
Pine nuts |
0,30 |
NEW |
3.2.4 |
Fruiting vegetables |
|
as before |
3.2.4.2 |
Aubergines |
0,030 |
NEW |
3.2.5.1 |
Brassica, other than leafy brassica |
0,040 |
raised |
3.2.6 |
Leaf vegetables and herbs |
|
as before |
3.2.6.2 |
Spinaches and similar leaves, mustard seedlings and fresh herbs |
0,20 |
NEW |
3.2.8 |
Stem vegetables |
|
as before |
3.2.8.2 |
Leeks |
0,040 |
NEW |
3.2.10 |
Pulses and proteins from pulses |
|
as before |
3.2.10.2 |
Proteins from pulses |
0,10 |
NEW |
3.2.11 |
Oilseeds |
|
as before |
3.2.11.2 |
Rape seeds |
0,15 |
NEW |
3.2.11.6 |
Poppy seed |
1,20 |
raised |
YOUR PLUS: Heavy metal analyses are carried out by all AGROLAB food laboratories according to accredited procedures at low cost and with high sensitivity.
Author: Dr. Frank Mörsberger