Cadmium – New maximum levels published

In May, with Commission Regulation (EU) No. 488/2014 amending Regulation (EU) No. 1881/2006, the EU adopted new maximum levels for cadmium in foodstuffs. Regulation (EU) No. 1881/2006 already sets maximum levels for cadmium in certain foodstuffs, such as cereals, vegetables, meat, fish and nutritional supplements. In the short term with effect from June, existing maximum levels for cadmium in fish species are partly reduced or modified.

New maximum levels for cadmium in baby food and cocoa and chocolate based products will come into force in 2015 and 2019, respectively. Particularly, to safeguard baby foods are in compliance with the upcoming relative low maximum levels (selected maximum levels shown in table 1) extremely sensitive methods are required.

Besides state-of-the-art analytical techniques such as AAS, ICP-OES and ICP-MS, Eurofins comprehensive portfolio covers the analysis of cadmium and a broad range of other metals and elements using highresolution ICP-MS (HR-ICP-MS) with ultra-low LOQs.

Contact: JanaStanko@eurofins.de