Scope
GSO 193:2021 covers maximum levels for contaminants and natural toxicants in food and feed. The metal rows captured here apply to food commodities, infant and young-child foods, seafood, natural mineral waters, food-grade salt, food supplements, and canned foods where the standard states a routeable numeric maximum level.
Exact limit and units
| metal | matrix | limit | unit | basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| total arsenic (tAs) | Edible fats and oils other than fish oils | 0.1 | mg/kg | whole commodity as prepared for wholesale or retail distribution |
| inorganic arsenic (iAs) | Fish oils covered by CXS 329-2017 | 0.1 | mg/kg | whole commodity as prepared for wholesale or retail distribution |
| total arsenic (tAs) | Fat spreads and blended spreads | 0.1 | mg/kg | whole commodity as prepared for wholesale or retail distribution |
| total arsenic (tAs) | Natural mineral waters | 0.01 | mg/L | water as consumed |
| inorganic arsenic (iAs) | Rice, husked | 0.25 | mg/kg | whole commodity |
| inorganic arsenic (iAs) | Rice, polished | 0.2 | mg/kg | whole commodity |
| total arsenic (tAs) | Salt, food grade | 0.5 | mg/kg | whole commodity as prepared for wholesale or retail distribution |
| inorganic arsenic (iAs) | Rice products | 0.3 | mg/kg | whole commodity |
| inorganic arsenic (iAs) | Rice for baby and infant food | 0.1 | mg/kg | whole commodity |
| cadmium (Cd) | Brassica vegetables | 0.05 | mg/kg | whole commodity as marketed after trimming/removal described in the table |
| cadmium (Cd) | Bulb vegetables | 0.05 | mg/kg | whole commodity after removal of roots, adhering soil, and easily detached parchment skin |
| cadmium (Cd) | Fruiting vegetables | 0.05 | mg/kg | whole commodity after removal of stems; sweet corn kernels plus cob without husk |
| cadmium (Cd) | Leafy vegetables | 0.2 | mg/kg | whole commodity as usually marketed after removal of obviously decomposed or withered leaves |
| cadmium (Cd) | Legume vegetables | 0.1 | mg/kg | whole commodity as consumed |
| cadmium (Cd) | Pulses | 0.1 | mg/kg | whole commodity |
| cadmium (Cd) | Root and tuber vegetables | 0.1 | mg/kg | whole commodity after removing tops and adhering soil; potato as peeled potato |
| cadmium (Cd) | Stalk and stem vegetables | 0.1 | mg/kg | whole commodity as marketed after trimming/removal described in the table |
| cadmium (Cd) | Cereal grains | 0.1 | mg/kg | whole commodity |
| cadmium (Cd) | Rice, polished | 0.4 | mg/kg | whole commodity |
| cadmium (Cd) | Wheat | 0.2 | mg/kg | whole commodity |
| cadmium (Cd) | Marine bivalve molluscs | 2 | mg/kg | whole commodity after removal of shell |
| cadmium (Cd) | Cephalopods | 2 | mg/kg | whole commodity after removal of shell |
| cadmium (Cd) | Natural mineral waters | 0.003 | mg/L | water as consumed |
| cadmium (Cd) | Salt, food grade | 0.5 | mg/kg | whole commodity as prepared for wholesale or retail distribution |
| cadmium (Cd) | Chocolate containing or declaring >=50% to <70% total cocoa solids on a dry matter basis | 0.8 | mg/kg | whole commodity as prepared for wholesale or retail distribution |
| cadmium (Cd) | Chocolate containing or declaring >=70% total cocoa solids on a dry matter basis | 0.9 | mg/kg | whole commodity as prepared for wholesale or retail distribution |
| cadmium (Cd) | Vegetables and fruit, with exception mentioned | 0.05 | mg/kg | whole commodity |
| cadmium (Cd) | Mushroom | 0.2 | mg/kg | whole commodity |
| cadmium (Cd) | Fungi with exception mentioned | 1 | mg/kg | whole commodity |
| cadmium (Cd) | Soy beans | 0.2 | mg/kg | whole commodity |
| cadmium (Cd) | Cocoa powder (drinking chocolate) | 0.6 | mg/kg | whole commodity as sold to the final consumer or as ingredient in sweetened cocoa powder |
| cadmium (Cd) | Milk chocolate with <30% total dry cocoa solids | 0.1 | mg/kg | whole commodity as prepared for wholesale or retail distribution |
| cadmium (Cd) | Chocolate with <50% total dry cocoa solids; milk chocolate with >=30% total dry cocoa solids | 0.3 | mg/kg | whole commodity as prepared for wholesale or retail distribution |
| cadmium (Cd) | Meat of bovine animals, sheep and poultry | 0.05 | mg/kg | whole commodity |
| cadmium (Cd) | Horsemeat | 0.2 | mg/kg | whole commodity |
| cadmium (Cd) | Liver of bovine animals, sheep, poultry and horse | 0.5 | mg/kg | whole commodity |
| cadmium (Cd) | Kidney of bovine animals, sheep, poultry and horse | 1 | mg/kg | whole commodity |
| cadmium (Cd) | Muscle meat of fish: mackerel, tuna and bichique | 0.1 | mg/kg | muscle meat |
| cadmium (Cd) | Muscle meat of fish: bullet tuna | 0.15 | mg/kg | muscle meat |
| cadmium (Cd) | Muscle meat of fish: anchovy, swordfish and sardine | 0.25 | mg/kg | muscle meat |
| cadmium (Cd) | Muscle meat of fish with exception mentioned | 0.05 | mg/kg | muscle meat |
| cadmium (Cd) | Crustaceans | 0.5 | mg/kg | muscle meat |
| cadmium (Cd) | Powdered formulae manufactured from cows’ milk proteins or protein hydrolysates | 0.01 | mg/kg | powder product as placed on the market |
| cadmium (Cd) | Liquid formulae manufactured from cows’ milk proteins or protein hydrolysates | 0.005 | mg/kg | liquid product as consumed |
| cadmium (Cd) | Powdered formulae manufactured from soya protein isolates, alone or in a mixture with cows’ milk proteins | 0.02 | mg/kg | powder product as placed on the market |
| cadmium (Cd) | Liquid formulae manufactured from soya protein isolates, alone or in a mixture with cows’ milk proteins | 0.01 | mg/kg | liquid product as consumed |
| cadmium (Cd) | Processed cereal-based foods and baby foods for infants and young children | 0.04 | mg/kg | product as placed on the market |
| cadmium (Cd) | Food supplements consisting exclusively or mainly of dried seaweed, products derived from seaweed, or dried bivalve molluscs | 3 | mg/kg | product as placed on the market |
| cadmium (Cd) | Food supplements with exception mentioned | 1 | mg/kg | product as placed on the market |
| lead (Pb) | Berries and other small fruits | 0.1 | mg/kg | whole commodity after removal of caps and stems |
| lead (Pb) | Cranberry | 0.2 | mg/kg | whole commodity after removal of caps and stems |
| lead (Pb) | Currants | 0.2 | mg/kg | fruit with stem |
| lead (Pb) | Elderberry | 0.2 | mg/kg | whole commodity after removal of caps and stems |
| lead (Pb) | Fruits | 0.1 | mg/kg | whole commodity after commodity-specific trimming/removal described in the table |
| lead (Pb) | Brassica vegetables | 0.1 | mg/kg | whole commodity after removal of roots, adhering soil, and easily detached parchment skin |
| lead (Pb) | Bulb vegetables | 0.1 | mg/kg | whole commodity after removal of roots, adhering soil, and easily detached parchment skin |
| lead (Pb) | Fruiting vegetables | 0.05 | mg/kg | whole commodity after removal of stems; sweet corn kernels plus cob without husk |
| lead (Pb) | Leafy vegetables | 0.3 | mg/kg | whole commodity as usually marketed after removal of obviously decomposed or withered leaves |
| lead (Pb) | Legume vegetables | 0.1 | mg/kg | whole commodity as consumed |
| lead (Pb) | Fresh farmed mushrooms (common mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, and oyster mushrooms) | 0.3 | mg/kg | whole commodity |
| lead (Pb) | Pulses | 0.1 | mg/kg | whole commodity |
| lead (Pb) | Root and tuber vegetables | 0.1 | mg/kg | whole commodity after removing tops and adhering soil; potato as peeled potato |
| lead (Pb) | Canned fruits | 0.1 | mg/kg | product as consumed |
| lead (Pb) | Jams, jellies and marmalades | 0.4 | mg/kg | product as consumed |
| lead (Pb) | Mango chutney | 0.4 | mg/kg | product as consumed |
| lead (Pb) | Canned vegetables | 0.1 | mg/kg | product as consumed |
| lead (Pb) | Preserved tomatoes | 0.05 | mg/kg | product as consumed |
| lead (Pb) | Table olives | 0.4 | mg/kg | product as consumed |
| lead (Pb) | Pickled cucumbers (cucumber pickles) | 0.1 | mg/kg | product as consumed |
| lead (Pb) | Canned chestnuts and canned chestnuts puree | 0.05 | mg/kg | product as consumed |
| lead (Pb) | Fruit juices | 0.03 | mg/kg | ready to drink; whole commodity not concentrated or reconstituted to original juice concentration |
| lead (Pb) | Fruit juices obtained exclusively from berries and other small fruits | 0.05 | mg/kg | ready to drink; whole commodity not concentrated or reconstituted to original juice concentration |
| lead (Pb) | Grape juice | 0.04 | mg/kg | ready to drink; whole commodity not concentrated or reconstituted to original juice concentration |
| lead (Pb) | Cereal grains | 0.2 | mg/kg | whole commodity |
| lead (Pb) | Infant formula, formula for special medical purposes intended for infants, and follow-up formula | 0.01 | mg/kg | as consumed |
| lead (Pb) | Fish | 0.3 | mg/kg | whole commodity in general after removing the digestive tract |
| lead (Pb) | Meat of cattle and sheep | 0.1 | mg/kg | whole commodity without bones |
| lead (Pb) | Meat and fat of poultry | 0.1 | mg/kg | whole commodity without bones |
| lead (Pb) | Cattle, edible offal of | 0.5 | mg/kg | whole commodity |
| lead (Pb) | Poultry, edible offal of | 0.5 | mg/kg | whole commodity |
| lead (Pb) | Edible fats and oils | 0.08 | mg/kg | whole commodity as prepared for wholesale or retail distribution |
| lead (Pb) | Fat spreads and blended spreads | 0.04 | mg/kg | whole commodity as prepared for wholesale or retail distribution |
| lead (Pb) | Milk | 0.02 | mg/kg | whole commodity |
| lead (Pb) | Secondary milk products | 0.02 | mg/kg | food as consumed |
| lead (Pb) | Natural mineral waters | 0.01 | mg/L | water as consumed |
| lead (Pb) | Salt, food grade | 1 | mg/kg | whole commodity as prepared for wholesale or retail distribution |
| lead (Pb) | Concentrated fruit juices and fruit nectars | 0.05 | mg/kg | product as sold/concentrated |
| lead (Pb) | Crustaceans | 0.5 | mg/kg | muscle meat |
| lead (Pb) | Bivalve molluscs | 1.5 | mg/kg | whole commodity |
| lead (Pb) | Cephalopods | 1 | mg/kg | whole commodity |
| lead (Pb) | Food supplements | 3 | mg/kg | product as placed on the market |
| total mercury (tHg) | Natural mineral waters | 0.001 | mg/L | water as consumed |
| total mercury (tHg) | Salt food grade | 0.1 | mg/kg | whole commodity as prepared for wholesale or retail distribution |
| total mercury (tHg) | Tuna | 1.2 | mg/kg | whole commodity after removing the digestive tract |
| total mercury (tHg) | Alfonsino | 1.5 | mg/kg | whole commodity after removing the digestive tract |
| total mercury (tHg) | Marlin | 1.7 | mg/kg | whole commodity after removing the digestive tract |
| total mercury (tHg) | Shark | 1.6 | mg/kg | whole commodity after removing the digestive tract |
| total mercury (tHg) | Fishery products and muscle meat of fish with exception mentioned; crustaceans and crabs | 1 | mg/kg | whole commodity or muscle meat as applicable |
| total mercury (tHg) | Food supplements | 0.1 | mg/kg | product as placed on the market |
| total mercury (tHg) | Wheat pink kernels | 1 | mg/kg | pink kernels only |
| methylmercury (MeHg) | Tuna | 1.2 | mg/kg | whole commodity fresh or frozen, in general after removing the digestive tract |
| methylmercury (MeHg) | Alfonsino | 1.5 | mg/kg | whole commodity fresh or frozen, in general after removing the digestive tract |
| methylmercury (MeHg) | Marlin | 1.7 | mg/kg | whole commodity fresh or frozen, in general after removing the digestive tract |
| methylmercury (MeHg) | Shark | 1.6 | mg/kg | whole commodity fresh or frozen, in general after removing the digestive tract |
| methylmercury (MeHg) | Crustaceans and crabs | 1 | mg/kg | whole commodity fresh or frozen, in general after removing the digestive tract |
| tin (Sn) | Canned foods (other than beverages) | 250 | mg/kg | product as consumed |
| tin (Sn) | Canned beverages | 150 | mg/kg | product as consumed |
| tin (Sn) | Cooked cured chopped meat | 50 | mg/kg | product in containers other than tinplate containers |
| tin (Sn) | Cooked cured ham | 50 | mg/kg | product in containers other than tinplate containers |
| tin (Sn) | Cooked cured pork shoulder | 50 | mg/kg | product in containers other than tinplate containers |
| tin (Sn) | Corned beef | 50 | mg/kg | product in containers other than tinplate containers |
| tin (Sn) | Luncheon meat | 50 | mg/kg | product in containers other than tinplate containers |
| tin (Sn) | Canned baby foods and processed cereal-based foods for infants and young children, excluding dried and powdered products | 50 | mg/kg | product as consumed |
| tin (Sn) | Canned infant formulae and follow-on formulae, excluding dried and powdered products | 50 | mg/kg | as consumed |
| tin (Sn) | Canned dietary foods for special medical purposes intended specifically for infants, excluding dried and powdered products | 50 | mg/kg | as consumed |
How tested
The standard gives the portion of the commodity to which each metal maximum level applies, such as muscle meat, whole commodity after trimming, product as consumed, formula as consumed, or water in mg/L. The arsenic section allows total-arsenic screening for fish oils before follow-up inorganic-arsenic determination; rice and rice-product arsenic rows are determined as inorganic arsenic. The extracted metal sections do not create one universal analytical method for all metals, so the register preserves the table-specific portion and basis notes.
Enforcement posture
GSO 193:2021 is a Gulf Technical Regulation. It states legally permitted maximum levels for covered contaminants in covered food and feed commodities and supersedes earlier GSO contaminant regulations listed in its introduction.
History of changes
The GSO Ministerial Committee approved the English translation of GSO 193:2021 on 2021-07-01. The foreword states that GSO 193:2021 cancels and replaces GSO 1807:2007, GSO 988:1998, GSO 2042:2010, and GSO 841:1997.
How it compares
Many commodity rows align closely with Codex CXS 193-style contaminant tables, but this page records the Gulf/GSO instrument as its own regulation because it is the operative Gulf Technical Regulation. The table also contains Gulf-specific presentation and replacement history, and the CSV rows retain GSO jurisdiction and authority rather than routing them as Codex limits.
Sources
Update history
No substantive edit history is available in this build. The full commit record is available in git.