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Regulations
Regulation pages describe specific thresholds, action levels, and guidance from specific jurisdictions. Principal jurisdictions covered include the United States (Food and Drug Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, California Proposition 65, and state attorneys general), the European Union (European Food Safety Authority and the Commission Regulations on contaminants), the World Health Organization and Codex Alimentarius, and others where material appears in the literature. Every page preserves the exact value from the agency source; unit conversions are shown rather than concealed.
Cross-cut views
Two auto-generated cross-cuts compose every regulation tracked below into a single comparison surface — start here if you are scanning across jurisdictions or across time rather than reading a specific regulation top-to-bottom.
by-jurisdiction — country/region × metal matrix. Brand-legal and regulatory-affairs readers comparing how different jurisdictions regulate the same metal land here.
timeline — chronological view of every dated regulation, grouped by decade. Shows the trajectory of the regulatory floor: when limits tightened, which superseded what, where international and US framings diverge.
For the Category 1 lead comparison layer, start with lead-benchmark-context. It normalizes FDA, EU, Prop 65, and occurrence-context lead values into ppb while preserving each value’s legal or evidentiary role.
Australia/New Zealand Contaminants Maximum Levels
au-nz-food-standards-code-schedule-19-contaminants - Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code Schedule 19 maximum levels for contaminants and natural toxicants, including selected metal limits in food.
EU Contaminants Maximum Levels
eu2023-contaminants-maximum-levels - canonical HMI hub for Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915, the EU maximum-level framework for contaminants in food.
eu-2015-1006-iAs-rice - historical Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1006 amendment adding inorganic-arsenic maximum levels for rice and rice products, including rice for infant and young-child foods.
eu-2023-915-cadmium - cadmium matrix maximum levels for infant foods, cereals, rice, vegetables, oilseeds, cocoa/chocolate, fishery products, offal, and supplements.
fda2025-lead-processed-baby-foods - canonical hub for FDA’s January 2025 final guidance action levels for lead in processed foods intended for babies and young children.
mx-nom-242-ssa1-2009-fishery-products - current Mexican sanitary standard for fresh, refrigerated, frozen, and processed fishery products, including fishery-product heavy-metal and metalloid limits.
Auto-managed by tools/autonomy/link-orphans.mjs. Pages listed here exist in this directory but were not yet placed in a curated index section above. A future structural pass relocates them to proper category sections.
Country/region × metal cross-cut of every regulatory threshold the Heavy Metal Index tracks. Auto-regenerated from wiki/regulations/*.md frontmatter on every build.
Chronological view of every dated regulation in the Heavy Metal Index, grouped by decade. Auto-regenerated from wiki/regulations/*.md frontmatter on every build.
Commission Recommendation (EU) 2024/907 — Monitoring of Nickel in Food Commission Recommendation (EU) 2024/907 of 22 March 2024 directs EU Member States, in collaboration with food business operators, to monitor the presence of nickel in food during 2025, 2026 and 2027 (907).
Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code Schedule 19 - contaminants and natural toxicants Schedule 19 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code lists maximum levels for contaminants and natural toxicants in food.
Food Standards Australia New ZealandAU,NZAl,tAs,iAs,Cd,Pb,tHg,Snin-forceUpdated
China GB 2762-2012 - Maximum levels of contaminants in food (superseded) GB 2762-2012 was China’s National Food Safety Standard for maximum levels of contaminants in foods.
Ministry of HealthCNPb,Cd,tHg,MeHg,tAs,iAs,Sn,Ni,CrsupersededUpdated
China GB 2762-2017 - Maximum levels of contaminants in food (superseded) GB 2762-2017 was China’s successor framework for food-contaminant maximum levels after GB 2762-2012.
National Health and Family Planning Commission; China Food and Drug AdministrationCNPb,Cd,tHg,MeHg,tAs,iAs,Sn,Ni,CrsupersededUpdated
China GB 2762-2022 - Maximum levels of contaminants in food GB 2762-2022 is China’s active National Food Safety Standard for maximum levels of contaminants in foods as of 18 May 2026.
National Health Commission; State Administration for Market RegulationCNPb,Cd,tHg,MeHg,tAs,iAs,Sn,Ni,CractiveUpdated
Codex CXS 193-1995 - Tin Maximum Levels For Canned Foods Codex CXS 193-1995, the General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food and Feed, sets international maximum levels for total tin in canned foods.
EC 1881/2006 — EU framework on contaminants in foodstuffs (superseded) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 set enforceable EU-wide maximum levels for heavy metal and other contaminants in foodstuffs.
European CommissionEUPb,Cd,tHg,MeHg,iAs,SnsupersededUpdated
EU Regulation 2015/1006 - inorganic arsenic in rice and rice products Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1006 amended Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 by adding maximum levels for inorganic arsenic in rice and selected rice products.
EU Regulation 2021/1317 - Lead Maximum Level For Cereals And Pulses Commission Regulation (EU) 2021/1317 amended Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 as regards maximum levels of lead in certain foodstuffs.
EU Regulation 2021/1323 - Cadmium Maximum Levels For Cereals Commission Regulation (EU) 2021/1323 amended Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 as regards maximum levels of cadmium in certain foodstuffs.
EC 466/2001 - EU contaminants framework in foodstuffs (superseded) Commission Regulation (EC) No 466/2001 of 8 March 2001 set EU maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs.
EU Regulation 2018/73 - Mercury-compound MRLs in food and feed Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/73 of 16 January 2018 amended Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 for maximum residue levels (MRLs) of mercury compounds in or on certain products.
NOM-027-SSA1-1993 - Mexican fresh/refrigerated/frozen fish standard (superseded) NOM-027-SSA1-1993 was Mexico’s sanitary specification for fresh, refrigerated, and frozen fish.
Secretaria de SaludMXCd,tHg,MeHg,PbsupersededUpdated
NOM-242-SSA1-2009 - Mexican fishery-products standard NOM-242-SSA1-2009 is Mexico’s sanitary standard for fresh, refrigerated, frozen, and processed fishery products.
Secretaria de SaludMXtAs,Cd,MeHg,Pb,SnactiveUpdated
EU Regulation 2022/617 — Mercury Maximum Levels in Fishery Products Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/617 of 12 April 2022 replaced Section 3.3 (Mercury) of Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 in its entirety.
Washington State Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act — Toothpaste Pb 1000 ppb statutory limit The Washington State Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act (TFCA) sets a 1000 µg/kg (1000 ppb, 1 ppm) statutory maximum for lead in toothpaste sold in Washington State, effective 2025-01-01.
Washington State Department of EcologyUS-WAPbenforcedUpdated
EU Regulation 2023/915 — Lead Maximum Levels for Infant and Young-Child Foods Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915 sets enforceable maximum levels for lead in foods placed on the EU market.
FDA Closer to Zero — 10 ppb Lead Action Level for Processed Baby Food (Fruits, Non-Root Vegetables, Mixtures, Yogurts, Custards/Puddings, Single-Ingredient Meats) Under the Closer to Zero program, the US Food and Drug Administration has established a 10 ppb action level for lead in a consolidated ca...
FDA Closer to Zero — 20 ppb Lead Action Level for Dry Infant Cereals Under the Closer to Zero program, the US Food and Drug Administration has established a 20 ppb action level for lead in dry infant cereals (FDA CTZ Pb 2025).
FDA Closer to Zero — 20 ppb Lead Action Level for Single-Ingredient Root Vegetables (Baby Food) Under the Closer to Zero program, the US Food and Drug Administration has established a 20 ppb action level for lead in processed single-ingredient root vegetables intended for babies and young children l...
FDA Juice HACCP — 50 ppb Lead Guidance Context for Juice FDA’s Juice HACCP guidance recommends controls to ensure lead levels in ready-to-drink fruit juices and fruit nectars do not exceed 50 ppb when lead is a hazard reasonably likely to occur.
FDA 2022 Draft — Lead Action Levels for Juice FDA’s 2022 draft guidance would set lead action levels of 10 ppb for single-strength apple juice and 20 ppb for other single-strength juices and juice blends.
California Proposition 65 — Lead and Lead Compounds Listing Lead and lead compounds are listed under California’s Proposition 65 in two separate categories: as chemicals known to the state to cause cancer, and as chemicals known to the state to cause reproductive toxicity (developmental, male, and f...
FDA Closer to Zero — Program Overview Closer to Zero is the US Food and Drug Administration’s program to reduce childhood dietary exposure to lead, cadmium, inorganic arsenic, and mercury by setting action levels for foods commonly consumed by babies and young children under two years of age (FDA CT...
FDA 2025 Lead Action Levels for Processed Food Intended for Babies and Young Children This is the canonical Heavy Metal Index regulation node for FDA’s January 2025 final guidance, Action Levels for Lead in Processed Food Intended for Babies and Young Children.
EU Inorganic Arsenic Maximum Level For Non-Alcoholic Rice-Based Drinks Value FieldValueMetal speciesInorganic arsenic, sum of As(III) and As(V)Maximum level0.030 mg/kgNormalized value30 ug/kgBasisWet weightProduct scopeNon-alcoholic rice-based drinksRegulatory sourceCurrent EU contaminants framework...
ATSDR — Minimal Risk Levels for Aluminum The US Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry derived oral Minimal Risk Levels for aluminum in its September 2008 Toxicological Profile, anchored on neurotoxic effects in lifetime-exposed mice (Golub et al.
EFSA — Aluminium Tolerable Weekly Intake (1 mg/kg b.w./week) The EFSA AFC Panel established a tolerable weekly intake for aluminium of 1 mg Al/kg body weight per week in its May 2008 Scientific Opinion on the Safety of Aluminium from Dietary Intake, replacing the prior JECFA provisional tolerable we...
EFSA — Arsenic in Food (2009), No-PTWI Position The EFSA CONTAM Panel concluded in October 2009 that the prior JECFA provisional tolerable weekly intake of 15 µg inorganic arsenic per kilogram body weight per week is no longer appropriate, on the basis that inorganic arsenic causes cancer (lung, bla...
EFSA — Lead in Food (2010), No-Threshold Position EFSA’s Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain established in its March 2010 Scientific Opinion on Lead in Food that the previous JECFA provisional tolerable weekly intake of 25 µg/kg b.w./week is no longer appropriate, on the basis that the dose-res...
EFSA — Inorganic Mercury Tolerable Weekly Intake (4 µg/kg b.w./week) The EFSA CONTAM Panel maintained the tolerable weekly intake for inorganic mercury at 4 µg Hg/kg body weight per week in its December 2012 Scientific Opinion on Mercury and Methylmercury in Food, aligned with the prior JECFA value ...
EFSA — Methylmercury Tolerable Weekly Intake (1.3 µg/kg b.w./week) The EFSA CONTAM Panel established a tolerable weekly intake for methylmercury of 1.3 µg Hg/kg body weight per week in its December 2012 Scientific Opinion on Mercury and Methylmercury in Food, lowering the prior JECFA-aligned value o...
EFSA — Nickel Tolerable Daily Intake (13 µg/kg b.w./day) The EFSA CONTAM Panel established a tolerable daily intake for nickel of 13 µg Ni/kg body weight per day in its September 2020 update of the risk assessment of nickel in food and drinking water, anchored on a BMDL10 of 1.3 mg Ni/kg b.w./day fo...
EPA — Maximum Contaminant Level for Arsenic in Drinking Water The US Environmental Protection Agency Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for arsenic in drinking water is 10 parts per billion (10 µg/L), established in the 2001 Final Rule for Arsenic in Drinking Water and effective for compliance from Jan...
EPA IRIS — Cadmium Oral Reference Doses The EPA Integrated Risk Information System chemical assessment for cadmium provides two route-specific oral reference doses that reflect the different absorption efficiency of cadmium in water versus food matrices (EPA IRIS Cd 1989).
EPA IRIS — Lead, Oral RfD and Carcinogenicity Assessment The EPA Integrated Risk Information System chemical assessment for inorganic lead does not derive a quantitative oral reference dose (EPA IRIS Pb 2004).
EPA IRIS — Mercuric Chloride Oral Reference Dose The EPA Integrated Risk Information System chemical assessment summary for mercuric chloride (HgCl2, CASRN 7487-94-7) provides the operative US federal oral reference dose for inorganic mercury (EPA IRIS Hg).
EPA IRIS — Methylmercury Oral Reference Dose The EPA Integrated Risk Information System chemical assessment for methylmercury (CASRN 22967-92-6) provides the operative US federal oral reference dose for methylmercury exposure, anchored on developmental neurotoxicity observed in the Faroe Islands and...
FDA Closer to Zero — 100 ppb Inorganic Arsenic Action Level for Infant Rice Cereal Under the Closer to Zero program, the US Food and Drug Administration has established an action level of 100 parts per billion inorganic arsenic in rice cereals for infants, finalized in the August 2020 Federal Regist...
JECFA — Lead Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (Withdrawn 2010) The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, at its 72nd meeting in June 2010, withdrew the long-standing provisional tolerable weekly intake of 25 µg lead per kilogram body weight per week and replaced it with no quantitativ...
JECFA — Methylmercury Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (1.6 µg/kg b.w./week) The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, at its 61st meeting in June 2003 (report published 2004 as WHO Technical Report Series 922), established the provisional tolerable weekly intake for methylmercury at ...
California Proposition 65 — Inorganic Arsenic Compounds Listing Inorganic arsenic compounds are listed under California Proposition 65 as chemicals known to the state to cause cancer (OEHHA Prop 65 As).
ATSDR — Minimal Risk Levels for Cadmium The US Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry has derived four minimal risk levels for cadmium in its September 2012 Toxicological Profile, covering inhalation and oral routes across acute and chronic durations (ATSDR 2012).
Codex Alimentarius — Maximum Levels for Cadmium in Food The Codex Alimentarius Commission establishes international maximum levels for contaminants in food, harmonized through the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (Codex CCCF17 2024).
EFSA — Tolerable Weekly Intake for Cadmium, 2.5 µg/kg b.w./week The European Food Safety Authority Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain established a tolerable weekly intake for cadmium of 2.5 µg per kilogram body weight per week in its scientific opinion adopted 30 January 2009 (EFSA Cd 2009).
JECFA — Provisional Tolerable Monthly Intake for Cadmium, 25 µg/kg b.w./month The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives established a provisional tolerable monthly intake for cadmium of 25 µg per kilogram body weight per month at its 73rd meeting in 2010 (JECFA 73rd 2010), with the associ...
California Proposition 65 — Cadmium Listing and Maximum Allowable Daily Level Cadmium is listed under California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65) under two separate findings: as a carcinogen (listing pre-dating this wiki’s ingest corpus, with a separately deri...