COMMISSION REGUL ATION (EU) 2015/1006 
of 25 June 2015 
amending Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 as regards maximum levels of inorganic arsenic in 
foodstuff s 
(Text with EEA relevance) 
THE EUR OPEAN COMMISSION, 
Having regar d to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, 
Having regar d 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 certain contaminants in foodstuffs. 
(2)  The Scientifi c Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONT AM Panel) of the European Food Safet y Author ity 
(EFSA ) adopt ed an opinion on arsenic in food (3) on 12 October 2009. In this opinion, CONT AM Panel 
concluded that the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) of 15 μg/kg body weight established by the Joint 
FAO/WHO Exper t Committ ee on Food Additives (JECF A) is no long er appropr iate as data had shown that 
inorg anic arsenic causes cancer of the lung and urinar y bladder in addition to skin, and that a range of adverse 
effects had been repor ted at exposures lower than those reviewed by the JECF A. 
(3)  CONT AM Panel identif ied a rang e of benchmark dose lower conf idence limit (BMDL01) values between 0,3 and 
8 μg/kg b.w. per day for cancers of the lung, skin and bladder , as well as skin lesions. The scientific opinion 
concluded that the estimat ed dietar y exposures to inorg anic arsenic for average and high level consumers in 
Europe are within the rang e of the BMDL01 values identified, and that theref ore there is little or no margin of 
exposure and the possibility of a risk to some consumers cannot be excl uded. 
(4)  The scientific opinion identif ied high consumers of rice in Europe, such as certain ethnic groups, and children 
under three years of age as the most exposed to inorg anic arsenic dietar y exposure. Dietar y exposure to inorg anic 
arsenic for children under three years old, including from rice-based foods, is in general estimat ed to be about 2 
to 3-fold that of adults. 
(5)  Since the analysis of inorg anic arsenic is reliable for rice and rice based products, maximum levels for inorg anic 
arsenic should be set for rice and rice based products. Differentiat ed maximum levels should be proposed in view 
of the arsenic content. 
(6)  The scientifi c information on the need for a specific maximum level for parboiled milled rice is very recent. 
Theref ore, Member States should collect additional data before 1 Januar y 2018 on the inorg anic arsenic conte nt 
of this commodity in order to confir m the need for a specific maximum level for this commodity and to reassess 
the maximum limit. 
(7)  The occur rence data demonstrate that rice waff les, rice wafers, rice crack ers and rice cakes can contain high 
levels of inorg anic arsenic and these commodities can make an impor tant contr ibution to the dietar y exposure of 
infants and young children. Theref ore, a specif ic maximum level for these commodities should be envisaged. 
(8)  Rice is an impor tant ingredient in a broad variety of food for infants and young children. Theref ore, a specifi c 
maximum level should be established for this commodity when used as an ingredient for the production of such 
food. 26.6.2015 L 161/14 Official Jour nal of the European Union EN     
(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)Scientific Opinion on Arsenic in Food. EFSA Jour nal 2009; 7(10):1351. (9)  Member States and food business operators should be allowed time to adap t to the new maximum levels 
established by this Regulation. The date of application of the maximum levels of arsenic should theref ore be 
defe rred. 
(10)  The measures provided 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 
The maximum levels of arsenic in subsection 3.5 (Arsenic (inorganic)) of the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006, 
as amended by this Regulation, shall apply from 1 Januar y 2016. 
Foodstuffs not compl ying with these maximum levels which are lawfully placed on the mark et prior to the date of 
application may continue to be mark eted after that date until their date of minimum durability or use-by- date. 
Article 3 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following 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 State s. 
Done at Brussels, 25 June 2015. 
For the Commission 
The Presid ent 
Jean-Claude JUNCKER  26.6.2015 L 161/15 Official Jour nal of the European Union EN     ANNEX 
The Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 is amended as follows:  
(1) the following subsection is introduced after Subsection 3.4 Tin (inorg anic): 
‘3.5 Arsenic (inorganic) (50) (51)  
3.5.1 Non-parboiled milled rice (polished or whit e rice) 0,20 
3.5.2 Parboiled rice and husked rice 0,25 
3.5.3 Rice waff les, rice wafers, rice crack ers and rice cakes 0,30 
3.5.4 Rice destined for the production of food for infants and young 
children (3) 0,10’   
(2) the following endnot es (50) and (51) are added: 
‘(50)  Sum of As(III) and As(V) 
(51)  Rice, husked rice, milled rice and parboiled rice as defined in Codex Standard 198-1995’.  26.6.2015 L 161/16 Official Jour nal of the European Union EN