COMMI SSION REGUL ATION (EU) 2021/1323 
of 10 August 2021
amending Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 as regards maximum levels of cadmium in certain 
foodstuff s 
(Text with EEA relevance) 
THE EUR OPEAN COMMISSION,
Havi ng regar d to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Havi ng regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 315/93 of 8 Febr uary 1993 laying down Community procedures for 
contaminants in food (1), and in particular Article 2(3) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 (2)sets maximum levels for cadmium (Cd) in a range of foodstuffs.
(2) On 30 Januar y 2009 , the European Food Safety Author ity (‘the Author ity’) adop ted an opinion on cadmium in 
food (3). The Auth ority concluded that cadmium is primar ily toxic to the kidne y, especially to the proximal tubular 
cells where it accumulates over time and may cause renal dysfunction. In view of the toxic effects of cadmium on 
the kidne ys, the Author ity established a tolerable weekly intake for cadmium of 2,5 μg/kg body weight. The 
Authority further concluded that the mean exposure for adults across the Union is close to, or slightly excee ds, the 
tolerable weekly intake. It also concluded that subgroups such as veget arians, children, smoke rs and people living in 
highly contaminated areas may excee d the tolerable weekly intak e by about 2-fold. Theref ore, the CONT AM Panel 
concluded that the current exposure to cadmium at the population level needs to be reduced. Following that 
opinion, the Auth ority issued, on 17 Januar y 2012 , a scientific repor t where it conf irmed that children and adults 
at the 95th percentile exposure could excee d the health-based guidance values (4).
(3) Taking into account the Author ity’s opinion and scientific repor t, new maximum levels for baby foods and 
chocolate/cocoa products were established under Commission Regulation (EU) No 488/2014 (5).
(4) However , the Commission considered that an immediate reduction of the existing MLs was not appropr iate at the 
time. Theref ore, it adopt ed Commission Recommendation 2014/193/EU (6), which called on Member States to 
ensure that the already available mitig ation methods were communicate d and promot ed to farmers and started or 
continued to be implemented, to regularly monitor the progress of the mitigation measures by collecting 
occur rence data on cadmium levels in foodstuffs and to repor t the data, in particular on cadmium levels close to or 
exceed ing the maximum levels, by Febr uary 2018.
(5) An evaluation of the most recent occur rence data gathered after the imple mentation of the mitig ation measures 
shows that it is now achievable to reduce the presence of cadmium in many foodstuffs. Theref ore, it is appropr iate 
to lower the existing maximum levels for cadmium or to establish maximum levels for those foodstuffs.
(6) Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 should theref ore be amended according ly.
(1)OJ L 37, 13.2.1993, p. 1.
(2)Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs 
(OJ L 364, 20.12.2006, p. 5).
(3)EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONT AM); Scientif ic opinion on cadmium in food. EFSA Journal 2009(980) 1-139, 
https://efsa.onlinelibrar y.wiley .com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2009.980 .
(4)Scientific Repor t of EFSA on Cadmium dietar y exposure in the European population. EFSA Jour nal 2012;10(1), 2551 [37 pp.], 
https://efsa.onlinelibrar y.wiley .com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2012.2551 .
(5)Commission Regulation (EU) No 488/2014 of 12 May 2014 amending Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 as regar ds maximum levels of 
cadmium in foodstuffs (OJ L 138, 13.5.2014, p. 75).
(6)Commission Recommendation 2014/193/EU of 4 Apr il 2014 on the on the reduction of the presence of cadmium in foodstuffs 
(OJ L 104, 8.4.2014, p. 80).EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 11.8.2021                                                                                                                                         L 288/13  (7) Given that cadmium is an indirect genoto xic carcinogen, and consequently its presence is a higher risk for public 
health, products containing cadmium, which do not compl y with the new maximum levels, and whic h were placed 
on the mark et before the entr y into force of this Regulation, should only be allowed to remain on the market for a 
limited period of time.
(8) The measures provid ed for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committ ee on 
Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGUL ATION:
Article 1
The Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.
Article 2
Foodstuffs listed in the Annex that were lawfully placed on the market before the entr y into force may remain on the mark et 
until 28 Febr uary 2022 .
Article 3
This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day followi ng that of its publication in the Official Journal of the 
European Union.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 10 August 2021 .
For the Commission
The President
Ursula VON DER LEYENEN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union L 288/14                                                                                                                                         11.8.2021  ANNEX 
In Section 3: Metals of the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006, subsection 3.2 (Cadmium) is replaced by the 
follo wing:
Foodstuffs (1)Maximum level (mg/kg wet weight)
‘3.2 Cadmium
3.2.1 Fruits (27) and tree nuts (27)
3.2.1.1 Citrus fruits, pome fruits, stone fruits, table olives, kiwi fruits, bananas, 
mangoes, papa yas and pineapples0,020
3.2.1.2 Berries and small fruits, excep t raspber ries 0,030
3.2.1.3 Raspber ries 0,040
3.2.1.4 Fruits, excep t those liste d under 3.2.1.1, 3.2.1.2 and 3.2.1.3 0,050
3.2.1.5 Tree nuts (*)
3.2.1.5.1 Tree nuts, excep t those listed under 3.2.1.5.2 0,20
3.2.1.5.2 Pine nuts 0,30
3.2.2 Root and tuber vege tables (27)
3.2.2.1 Root and tuber vege tables, excep t those listed under 3.2.2.2, 3.2.2.3, 
3.2.2.4, 3.2.2.5 and 3.2.2.6. For potatoes, the maximum level applies to 
peeled potat oes.0,10
3.2.2.2 Radishes 0,020
3.2.2.3 Tropical roots and tubers, parsley roots, turnips 0,050
3.2.2.4 Beetroots 0,060
3.2.2.5 Celer iac 0,15
3.2.2.6 Horseradish, parsnips, salsify 0,20
3.2.3 Bulb vegetables (27)
3.2.3.1 Bulb vegetables, excep t garlic 0,030
3.2.3.2 Garlic 0,050
3.2.4 Fruiting vegetables (27)
3.2.4.1 Fruiting vegetables, excep t aubergines 0,020
3.2.4.2 Aube rgines 0,030
3.2.5 Brassica vegetables (27)
3.2.5.1 Brassica, other than leafy brassica 0,040
3.2.5.2 Leafy brassica 0,10
3.2.6 Leaf veget ables and herbs (27)
3.2.6.1 Leaf veget ables, excep t those listed under point 3.2.6.2 0,10
3.2.6.2 Spinache s and similar leaves, mustard seedlings and fresh herbs 0,20
3.2.7 Legume vege tables (27)0,020EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 11.8.2021                                                                                                                                         L 288/15  3.2.8 Stem vegetables (27)
3.2.8.1 Stem vegetables, other than those listed under point 3.2.8.2 and 3.2.8.3 0,030
3.2.8.2 Leek s 0,040
3.2.8.3 Celer ies 0,10
3.2.9 Fungi (27)
3.2.9.1 Cultivated fungi, other than those listed under point 3.2.9.2 0,050
3.2.9.2 Lentinula edodes (Shiitak e mushroom) and Pleurotus, ostreatus (Oyst er 
mushroom)0,15
3.2.9.3 Wild fungi 0,50
3.2.10 Pulses and prote ins from pulses
3.2.10.1 Pulses, excep t prot eins from pulses 0,040
3.2.10.2 Proteins from pulses 0,10
3.2.11 Oilseeds (*)
3.2.11.1 Oilseeds, exce pt those listed under 3.2.11.2, 3.2.11.3, 3.2.11.4, 3.2.11.5 
and 3.2.11.60,10
3.2.11.2 Rape seeds 0,15
3.2.11.3 Peanuts and soy beans 0,20
3.2.11.4 Mustard seeds 0,30
3.2.11.5 Linseed and sunf lower seed 0,50
3.2.11.6 Popp y seed 1,20
3.2.12 Cereals (**)
3.2.12.1 Cereals other than those listed under 3.2.12.2, 3.2.12.3, 3.2.12.4 
and 3.2.12.50,10
3.2.12.2 Rye and barley 0,050
3.2.12.3 Rice, quinoa, wheat bran and wheat gluten 0,15
3.2.12.4 Triticum durum (dur um wheat) 0,18
3.2.12.5 Wheat germ 0,20
3.2.13 Specifi c cocoa and chocolate products as listed below (49)
3.2.13.1 — Milk chocolate with < 30 % tota l dry cocoa solids 0,10
3.2.13.2 — Chocolate with < 50 % total dry cocoa solids; milk chocolate with 
≥ 30 % total dry cocoa solids0,30
3.2.13.3 — Chocolate with ≥ 50 % total dry cocoa solids 0,80
3.2.13.4 —Cocoa powder sold to the final consumer or as an ingredient in swee ­
tened cocoa powder sold to the final consumer (drinking chocolate)0,60
3.2.14 Products of animal origin – terrestrial animals (6)
3.2.14.1 Meat (excluding offal) of bovine animals, sheep, pig and poultr y 0,050EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union L 288/16                                                                                                                                         11.8.2021  3.2.14.2 Horsemeat, excluding offal 0,20
3.2.14.3 Liver of bovine animals, sheep, pig, poultr y and horse 0,50
3.2.14.4 Kidney of bovine animals, sheep, pig, poultr y and horse 1,0
3.2.15 Products of animal origin- fish, fish products and any other mar ine and 
freshwater food products
3.2.15.1 Muscle meat of fish (24) (25), excl uding species listed under points 3.2.15.2, 
3.2.15.3 and 3.2.15.40,050
3.2.15.2 Muscle meat of the followi ng fish (24) (25):
mack erel (Scomber species), tuna (Thunnus species, Katsuwo nus pelamis, 
Euthynnus species), bichique (Sicyopter us lagocephalus)0,10
3.2.15.3 Muscle meat of the followi ng fish (24) (25):
bullet tuna (Auxis species)0,15
3.2.15.4 Muscle meat of the followi ng fish (24) (25):
anch ovy (Eng raulis species), sword fish (Xiphias gladius), sardine (Sardina 
pilchar dus)0,25
3.2.15.5 Crustaceans (26): muscle meat from appendages and abdomen (44). In case 
of crabs and crab-like crustaceans (Brachyur a and Anomur a) muscle meat 
from appendages.0,50
3.2.15.6 Bivalve molluscs (26)1,0
3.2.15.7 Cephalopods (without viscera) (26)1,0
3.2.16 Infant formulae, follow-on formulae and foods for special medical 
purposes intended for infants and young children (3) (29) and young child 
formulae (29) (57)
3.2.16.1 — mark eted as powder and manufactured from cow’s milk prote ins or 
from cow’s milk prot ein hydrolysate s0,010
3.2.16.2 — mark eted as liquid and manufactured from cow’s milk prot eins or 
from cow’s milk prot ein hydrolysate s0,005
3.2.16.3 — mark eted as powder and manufactured from soya prot ein isolat es, 
alone or in a mixture with cow’s milk prote ins0,020
3.2.16.4 — mark eted as liquid and manufactured from soya prot ein isolates, 
alone or in a mixture with cow’s milk prote ins0,010
3.2.17 Young child formulae (29) (57)
3.2.17.1 — mark eted as powder and manufa ctured from plant protein isolates 
other than soya prot ein isolates, alone or in a mixture with cow’s 
milk prote ins0,020
3.2.17.2 — mark eted as liquids and manufactured from plant prote in isolates 
other than soya prot ein isolates, alone or in a mixture with cow’s 
milk prote ins0,010EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 11.8.2021                                                                                                                                         L 288/17  3.2.18 Processed cereal-based foods and baby foods for infants and young 
children (3) (29)0,040
3.2.19 Drinks for infants and young children labelled and sold as such, other 
than those mentioned in 3.2.16 and 3.2.17
3.2.19.1 Marke ted as liquids or to be reconstituted followi ng instr uctions of the 
manufact urer including fruit juices (4)0,020
3.2.20 Food supplements (39)
3.2.20.1 Food supplements, excep t food supplements listed in point 3.2.20.2 1,0
3.2.20.2 Food supplements consisting excl usively or mainly of dried seawe ed, 
products derived from seaweed, or of dried bivalve molluscs3,0
3.2.21 Salt 0,50
(*) The maximum levels do not apply to tree nuts or oilseeds for crushing and oil refining, provided that the remaining pressed tree nuts 
or oilseeds are not placed on the market as food. In case the remaining pressed tree nuts or oilseeds are placed on the market as food, 
the maximum levels apply , taking into account Articles 2(1) and 2(2) of this Regulation.
(**) The maximum levels do not apply to cereals used for malt for beer or distillates production, provided that the remaining malt is not 
placed on the market as food. In case the remaining malt is placed on the market as food, the maximum levels apply , taking into 
account Articles 2(1) and 2(2) of this Regulation.’EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union L 288/18                                                                                                                                         11.8.2021