EU legislation on Food Contacts with specific materials

Food in contact with Ceramics

Ceramics can transfer toxins (lead and cadmium) to foodstuffs with which they are in contact. Only ceramic objects intended to come into contact with foodstuffs must be accompanied by a written declaration from the manufacturer or seller stating that they do not exceed the maximum limits for the transfer of lead and cadmium.

The EU Council decided a Council Directive 84/500/EEC for approximating EU countries' laws on ceramic articles intended to come into contact with foods.

By this EU Council Directive, to be sold, these ceramics must be accompanied by a written declaration provided by the manufacturer or importer, guaranteeing that they do not exceed the maximum limits for lead and cadmium.

The information required is described in Annex II (introduced by Directive 2005/31/EC).

The declaration was introduced to meet the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 on materials and articles intended to come into contact with food (Directive 84/500/EEC is a measure specific to the groups of materials and objects listed in Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004).

The maximum limits for lead and cadmium must be checked by means of a test and a method of analysis (Annex III, introduced by Directive 2005/31/EC).

These methods take into account the very latest scientific progress in methods of analysis for official tests of lead and cadmium in foodstuffs, in accordance with Directive 2001/22/EC (see also the Associated Acts).

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