FOOD

NO. 126/15

The European Union has announced Commission Regulation (EU) No. 2015/1005 [1] amending Commission Regulation (EU) No. 1881/2006 [2] with regard to maximum levels for lead in certain foodstuffs.

The Maximum Levels (ML) for lead are shown in table 1.

Table 1


Foodstuffs(1)

Maximum levels(mg/kg wet weight)

3.1.1

Raw milk, heat-treated milk and milk for the manufacture of milk-based products

0.02

3.1.2

Infant formulae and follow-on formulae:

  • Marketed as powder
  • Marketed as liquid


0.05

0.01

3.1.3

Processed cereal-based food and baby food for infants and young children other than 3.1.5

0.05

3.1.4

Food for special medical purposes intended specially for infants and young children:

  • Marketed as powder
  • Marketed as liquid


0.05

0.01

3.1.5

Drinks for infants and young children labelled and sold as such, other than those mentioned in 3.1.2 and 3.1.4:

  • Marketed as liquids or to be reconstituted following instruction of the manufacturer, including fruit juice
  • To be prepared by infusion or decoction


0.03

1.50

3.1.6

Meat (excluding offal) of bovine animals, sheep, pigs and poultry

0.10

3.1.7

Offal of bovine animals, sheep, pigs and poultry

0.50

3.1.8

Muscle meat of fish

0.30

3.1.9

Cephalopods

0.30

3.1.10

Crustaceans

0.5

3.1.11

Bivalve molluscs

1.5

3.1.12

Cereals and pulses

0.20

3.1.13

Vegetables, excluding leafy brassica, salsify, leaf vegetables and fresh herbs, fungi, seaweed and fruiting vegetables

0.10

3.1.14

Leafy brassica, salsify, leaf vegetables excluding fresh herbs and the following fungi: agaricus bisporus, pleurotus ostreatus, lentinula edodes

0.30

3.1.15

Fruiting vegetables:

  • Sweet corn
  • Other than sweetcorn


0.10

0.05

3.1.16

Fruit, excluding cranberries, currants, elderberries and strawberry tree fruit

0.10

3.1.17

Cranberries, currants, elderberries and strawberry tree fruit

0.20

3.1.18

Fat and oils, including milk fat

0.1

3.1.19

Fruit juices, concentrated fruit juices as reconstituted and fruit nectars:

  • Exclusively from berries and other small fruits
  • From fruits other than berries and other small fruits


0.05

0.03

3.1.20

Wine, cider, perry and fruit wine:

  • Products produced from the 2001 fruit harvest to 2015 fruit harvest
  • Products produced from the 2016 fruit harvest onwards


0.20

0.15

3.1.21

Aromatised wine, aromatised wine-based drinks and aromatised wine-product cocktails:

  • Products produced from the 2001 fruit harvest to 2015 fruit harvest
  • Products produced from the 2016 fruit harvest onwards


0.20

0.15

3.1.22

Food supplements

3.0

3.1.23

Honey

0.10

  • Endnote (3) is replaced by the following endnote: '(3) Foodstuffs listed in this category as defined in Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 June 2013 on food intended for infants and young children, food for special medical purposes, and total diet replacement for weight control and repealing Council Directive 92/52/EEC, Commission Directives 96/8/EC, 1999/21/EC, 2006/125/EC and 2006/141/EC, Directive 2009/39/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Regulations (EC) No 41/2009 and (EC) No 953/2009 (OJ L 181, 29.6.2013, p. 35).'
  • Endnotes (8) and (9) are deleted. References to endnotes (8) and (9) are replaced by references to endnote (3).
  • Endnote (11) is replaced by the following endnote: '(11) Wine and sparkling wines as defined in Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 922/72, (EEC) No 234/79, (EC) No 1037/2001 and (EC) No 1234/2007 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 671).'
  • Endnote (13) is replaced by the following endnote: '(13) Foodstuffs listed in this category as defined in Regulation (EU) No 251/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the definition, description, presentation, labelling and the protection of geographical indications of aromatised wine products and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 1601/91 (OJ L 84, 20.3.2014, p. 14). The maximum level for OTA applicable to these beverages is function of the proportion of wine and/or grape must present in the finished product.'
  • Endnote (16) is replaced by the following endnote: '(16) Infants and young children as defined in Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 June 2013 on food intended for infants and young children, food for special medical purposes, and total diet replacement for weight control and repealing Council Directive 92/52/EEC, Commission Directives 96/8/EC, 1999/21/EC, 2006/125/EC and 2006/141/EC, Directive 2009/39/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Regulations (EC) No 41/2009 and (EC) No 953/2009 (OJ L 181, 29.6.2013, p. 35).'
  • Endnote (28) is deleted.
  • Endnote (44) is replaced by the following endnote: '(44) Muscle meat from appendages and abdomen. This definition excludes the cephalothorax of crustaceans. In case of crabs and crab-like crustaceans (Brachyura and Anomura): muscle meat from appendages.'
  • The following endnotes (52) and (53) are added: '(52) The maximum level applies to the animal as sold without viscera. (53) For potatoes, the maximum level applies to peeled potatoes.'

Enforcement Action

The Commission Regulation (EU) No. 2015/1005 of 25 June 2015 shall enter into force on 1 January 2016.

What do the changes mean for food industry?

Foodstuffs, of animal origin, imported to any EU Member State(s) must meet the revised lead MLs, as outlined in Table 1 of Regulation 1881/2006. In addition, foodstuffs not complying with these maximum levels which are lawfully placed on the market prior to 1 January 2016 may continue to be marketed after that date until their date of minimum durability or use-by-date. Compliance can be confirmed by residue testing and planning should be underway to ensure products can demonstrate their right to placed on the market within the EU.

SGS is committed to keeping you informed of regulation news and developments. Leveraging our global network of laboratories and food experts, SGS provides a comprehensive range of food safety and quality solutions including analytical tests, audits, certifications, inspections, and technical support. We continually invest in our testing, capability, and state-of-the art technology to help you reduce risk, improve food safety and quality. For further more information, please visit our website: www.foodsafety.sgs.com.

For enquiries, please contact:

Supaporn Surawattanaboon
Research and Development Chemist
t: +66 2683 0541 ext 2128

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