Draft of Sanitation Standard for Contaminants and 
Toxins in Food  – amended the Article 3 Appendix1 , 
Article 5 Appendix  3 and Article 6  
 
 
Article 3    
The maximum levels  of metals in food shall meet the standard on Appendix  1. 
 
Article 5 
The maximum levels  of other contaminants and toxins in food shall meet the 
standard on Appendix  3. 
 
Article 6    
This standard shall be implemented from 1 January, 2019 . 
The amended articles shall apply form 1 January 2021.  
  Appendix 1. Maximum levels (ML)  of metals in food s 
1 Total Arsenic  (As-tot) and I norganic Arsenic  (As-in) 
Foodstuffs  ML (mg/kg)  
As-tot As-in 
1.1 Grains    
1.1.1  Rice (husked ), for example brown rice , milled 
rice with embryo   0.35(1) 
1.1.2  Rice (Polished), for example polished rice   0.2(1) 
1.1.3  Rice destined for the production of food for 
infants and young children(2)  0.1(1) 
1.1.4  Other cereal grains  1  
1.2 Seaweed    1.0(3) 
1.3 Aquatic animal    
1.3.1  Fish  0.5(3) 
1.3.2  Bivalve molluscs ( exclude  shell), Cephalopod 
(exclude  organ)    0.5(3) 
1.3.3  Muscle meat of crustaceans, include muscle meat 
from appendages   0.5(3) 
1.3.4  Other aquatic animal(4)  0.5(3) 
1.4 Edible fats and oils(5)   
1.4.1  Fats and oils  intended for direct human 
consumption(6) 0.1  
1.4.2  Fat spreads and blended spreads (7) 0.1  
1.5 Bottled and packaged drinking water  0.01  
1.6 Beverage ( exclude  natural and concentrated fruit 
and vegetable juices)  0.2  
1.7 Salt, food grade(8) 0.2  
1.8 Ice cubes , food grade(9) 0.01  
2 Lead  
Foodstuffs  ML (mg/kg)  
2.1 Grains   
2.1.1  Cereal  grains , include  rice 0.2 
2.2 Vegetables, fruits and plant origin   
2.2.1  Leafy vegetables.  The ML also applies to 
brassica leafy vegetables . 0.3(3) 
2.2.2  Brassica vegetables. The ML applies to  head 
cabbages , kohlrabi, cauliflower , broccoli  and 
brussels sprouts (“buttons” only).  The ML does 
not apply to brassica leafy vegetabl es. 0.1(3) 
2.2.3  Root and tuber vegetables. The ML applies to  
whole commodity after removing tops and 0.1(3) adhering soil. Potato must peel. The ML does not 
apply to celeriac.  
2.2.4  Bulb vegetables . The ML applies to  dry onions 
and garlic , must removal of roots , adhering soil 
and whatever parchment skin is easily detached.  0.1(3) 
2.2.5  Fruiting vegetables . The ML applies to  whole 
commodity after removal of stems.  Fresh corn 
without husk , exclude sweet corn.   0.05(3) 
2.2.6  Legume vegetable s, including edible pods.  0.1(3) 
2.2.7  Pulses , including edible crops harvested solely 
for dry seeds.  0.2(3) 
2.2.8  Peanuts  0.2(3) 
2.2.9  Cranberry, Currants, Elderberry and Strawberry  0.2(3) 
2.2.10  Other vegetables and fruits , after removal of  
inedible  stones,  stems , caps/crown  and seeds.  0.1(3) 
2.2.11  Table olives  0.4(10) 
2.2.12  Herbs and Spices  0.3(3) 
2.2.13  Seaweed  1.0(3) 
2.2.14  Mushrooms(11) 3(12) 
2.3 Aquatic animal   
2.3.1  Fish 0.3(3) 
2.3.2  Bivalve molluscs (exclude shell)  1.5(3) 
2.3.3  Cephalopod ( exclude  organ)  0.3(3) 
2.3.4  Muscle meat of crustaceans, include muscle meat 
from appendages  0.5(3) 
2.3.5  Other aquatic animal(4) 0.3(3) 
2.4 Livestock and Poultry Products    
2.4.1  Meat of cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry  0.1(3) 
2.4.2  Edible offal of cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry   0.5(3) 
2.4.3  Eggs (exclude shell)  0.3 
2.5 Edible fats and oils(5)   
2.5.1  Fats and oils  intended for direct human 
consumption  0.1 
2.5.2  Fat spreads and blended spreads (7) 0.1 
2.6 Milk products   
2.6.1  Milk and secondary milk products(13), milk 
products those removal water shall apply by the 
concentration factors  0.02(10) 
2.6.2  Butter, Cream and other products which m ainly 
containing milk fat  0.1(10) 
2.7 Beverage   
2.7.1  Natural fruit and vegetable juices, reconstituted 0.03 fruit and vegetable juices and nectars, except 
concentrated fruit and vegetable juices, and 
juices or nectars  from berries and other small 
fruits  
2.7.2  Natural fruit and vegetable juices, reconstitute d 
fruit and vegetable juices, and nectars  from 
berries and other small fruits, excepte 
concentrated fruit and vegetable juices   0.05 
2.7.3  Other beverage intended for direct human 
consumption , except  of foodstuffs listed in 2.7.1, 
2.7.2 and concentrated f ruit and vegetable  0.3 
2.8 Bottled and packaged drinking water  0.01 
2.9 Canned foods   
2.9.1  Canned vegetables . The ML does not apply to 
canned brassica vegetables.  0.1 
2.9.2  Canned fruits  0.1 
2.9.3  Other canned foods, exclude canned beverage 
which apply to foodstuffs listed in 2.7.  1 
2.10 Food for infant and young child (2)  
2.10.1  Infant formula  (14) and follow -up infant formula  
(15)  
 -marketed as liquid  0.010(10) 
 -marketed as powder  0.050(10) 
2.10.2  Infant formula for special medical purposes(16) 
and f oods for special medical purposes intended 
specifically for young child   
 -marketed as liquid  0.010(10) 
 -marketed as powder  0.050(10) 
2.10.3  Cereal based foods for infant and young child(17) 
and baby food(18) 0.050(10) 
2.10.4  Drinks which labelled and sold to infant and 
young child , except  of foodstuffs marketed as 
liquid listed in  2.10.1 , 2.10.2  and 2.10.3  0.030(10) 
2.11 Salt, food grade  (8) 2 
2.12 Ice cubes, food grade  (9) 0.01 
2.13 Honey  0.1 
2.14 Jams and jellies  1 
3 Cadmium  
Foodstuffs  ML (mg/kg)  
3.1 Grains   
3.1.1  Rice 0.4 
3.1.2  Wheat grains  0.2 3.1.3  Wheat bran and wheat germ for direct 
consumption  0.2 
3.1.4  Other cereal grains  0.1 
3.2 Vegetables, fruits and plant origin   
3.2.1  Leafy vegetables. The ML also applies to 
brassica leafy vegetables  0.2(3) 
3.2.2  Brassica vegetables. The ML applies to  head 
cabbages , kohlrabi, cauliflower , broccoli  and 
brussels sprouts (“buttons” only).  The ML does 
not apply to brassica leafy vegetables.  0.05(3) 
3.2.3  Root and tuber vegetables. The ML applies to  
whole commodity after removing tops and 
adhering soil. Potato must peel. The ML does not 
apply to celeriac  and parsnips.  0.1(3) 
3.2.4  Celeriac and parsnips  0.2(3) 
3.2.5  Stalk and stem vegetables . The ML for r hubarb  
only applies  to leaf stems , for g lobe artichoke  
only applies to  flower head.  Celery and 
asparagus  must  remov al of adhering soil.  0.1(3) 
3.2.6  Bulb vegetables . The ML applies to dry onions 
and garlic, must removal of roots, adhering soil 
and whateve r parchment skin is easily detached.  0.05(3) 
3.2.7  Fruiting vegetables . The ML applies to whole 
commodity after removal of stems. Sweet corn 
and fresh corn without husk.  0.05(3) 
3.2.8  Legume vegetables , including edible pods  0.1(3) 
3.2.9  Pulses , including edible crops harvested solely 
for dry seeds. The ML does not apply to soy 
bean.  0.1(3) 
3.2.10  Soy beans and peanuts  0.2(3) 
3.2.11  Other vegetables and fruits , after removal of  
inedible  stones,  stems , caps/crown  and seeds.  0.05(3) 
3.2.12  Herbs a nd spices  0.2(3) 
3.2.13  Seaweed   1.0(3) 
3.2.14  Mushrooms  (11) 2(12) 
3.3 Aquatic animal    
3.3.1  mackerel ( Scomber species ), Tuna ( Thunnus 
species, Euthynnus species , Katsuwonus 
pelamis ), Bichique ( Sicyopterus lagocephalus ) 0.1(3) 
3.3.2  Bullet tuna ( Auxis species ) 0.15(3) 
3.3.3  Anchovy ( Engraulis species ) Swordfish ( Xiphias 
gladius ) Sardine ( Sardina pilchardus ) 0.25(3) 3.3.4  Other fish  0.05(3) 
3.3.5  Bivalve molluscs ( exclude  shell), Cephalopod 
(exclude  organ)  1(3) 
3.3.6  Muscle meat of crustaceans,  include muscle meat 
from appendages  0.5(3) 
3.3.7  Other aquatic animal(4) 0.3(3) 
3.4 Livestock and poultry Products   
3.4.1  Meat of cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry  0.050(3) 
3.4.2  Meat of horse  0.20(3) 
3.4.3  Liver of  cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry  and horse  0.50(3) 
3.4.4  Kidney of cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry and horse   1.0(3) 
3.5 Bottled and packaged drinking water  0.003 
3.6 Food for infant and young child  (2)  
3.6.1  Infant formula (14) and follow -up infant formula 
(15) - formulae manufactured  from cows’ milk 
proteins or protein hydrolysates   
 -marketed as liquid  0.005(10) 
 -marketed as powder  0.010(10) 
3.6.2  Infant formula (14) and follow -up infant formula 
(15) -formulae manufactured form soya protein 
isolates, alone or in a mixture with cows’ milk 
proteins   
 -marketed as liquid  0.010(10) 
 -marketed as powder  0.020(10) 
3.6.3  Cereal based foods for infant and young child(17) 
and baby food(18) 0.040(10) 
3.7 Salt, food grade  (8) 0.2 
4  Mercury (Hg) and Methylmercury (MeHg)  
Foodstuffs  ML (mg/kg)  
Hg MeHg  
4.1 Rice 0.05  
4.2 Seaweed   0.5(3)  
4.3 Edible fats and oils(5)   
4.3.1  Fats and oils  intended for direct human 
consumption, exclude marine oils   0.05  
4.3.2  Marine oils  0.1  
4.4 Aquatic animal     
4.4.1  Shark, swordfish, tuna and oilfish    2(3) 
4.4.2  Grenadier, bonito, seabream, catfish, 
anglerfish/goosefishes, flounder/ flatfish , mullet, 
rays, scabbard fish, Parastromateus niger , 
sturgeon , Scatophagus argus , eel, gold barracuda   1(3) 4.4.3  Other fish   0.5(3) 
4.4.4  Bivalve molluscs ( exclude  shell), Cephalopod 
(exclude  organ)    0.5(3) 
4.4.5  Muscle meat of crustaceans, include muscle meat 
from appendages    0.5(3) 
4.4.6  Other aquatic animal(4)  0.5(3) 
4.5 Bottled and packaged drinking water  0.001   
4.6 Salt, food grade  (8) 0.1  
4.7 Ice cubes, food grade(9) 0.001   
5 Tin 
Foodstuffs  ML (mg/kg)  
5.1 Canned e dible fats and oils (5) 250 
5.2 Canned beverage  150 
5.3 Canned f ood for infant and young child(2)  
5.3.1  Canned infant formulae(14) and follow -up infant 
formula (15), exclude dried and powdered 
products  50(10) 
5.3.2  Canned i nfant formula for special medical 
purposes(16) ,exclude dried and powdered 
products  50(10) 
5.3.3  Canned cereal based foods for infant and young 
child(17) and baby food(18) ,exclude dried and 
powdered products  50(10) 
5.4 Other canned foods packed in metallic containers  250 
6 Copper  
Foodstuffs  ML (mg/kg)  
6.1 Eggs (exclude shell)  5 
6.2 Beverage, exclude n aturally and concentrated 
fruit and vegetable juices  5.0 
6.3 Salt, food grade (8) 2 
7 Antimony  
Foodstuffs  ML (mg/kg)  
7.1 Beverage, packed in PET containers  0.15 
7.2 Bottled and packaged drinking water , packed in 
PET containers  0.01 
Note.  
(1)If the total-arsenic concentration is below the ML for inorganic -arsenic, no 
further inorganic -arsenic testing is required.  
(2)The term “infant” means a person not more than 12 months of age.  The term 
“young child” means a person from the age of more than 12 months up to 
the age of three years (36 months).  (3)Wet weight basis.  
(4) Other aquatic animals, for example, the sea urchin  and the s ea cucumber . 
(5)Edible fats and oils are derived from  vegetable, animal or marine origin.  The 
raw materials shall comply w ith the provisions of the agricultural authorities  
include the g ood agriculture  and animal husbandry ; legitimate slaughtering, 
fishing and harvesting ; meet the “Act Governing Food Safety and 
Sanitation”, clean and fit for human consumption.  
(6) For marine -origin oil, may decide to screening when applying the ML for 
As-in in marine -origin oil by analysing total arsenic (As -tot) in marine 
origin oil. If the As -tot concentration is below the 0.1 mg/kg for As -in, no 
further testing is required. If the As -tot concentration is above the 0.1 mg/kg 
for As -in, follow -up testing shall be conducted to determine if the As -in 
concentration is above the 0.1 mg/kg.  
(7)The ML does not apply to fat spreads derived exclusively from milk and/or 
milk products , for example, the  butter . 
(8)The food grade salt means obtained from the sea, from underground rock 
salt deposits or from natural brine; it is used as an ingredient of food, both 
for direct sale to the consumer and for food manufacture; the content of 
NaCl more than 97 % on a dry matter basis; or salt which to drawn from 
seawater 200 meters below sea level or deeper, the content of NaCl more 
than 95 % on a dry matter basis.  It also applies to salt used as a carrier of 
food additives and / or nutrients. The by -products from  chemical industries 
shall not be used.  
(9)The water material shall comply with the Quality Standard of Drinking 
Water; intended for direct human consumption.  
(10) The ML refers to the product as sold. 
(11)The ML applies to the carpophores, but exclude mycelium.  
(12)Dry weight basis.  
(13)Milk means raw milk, heat -treated milk, sterilized milk, milk for the 
manufacture of milk -based products, which is intended for consumption.  
Secondary milk products means those milk products undergone simple 
processing f or removal or part removal of certain ingredients such as water, 
milk fat, including milk powders, evaporated milk, skimmed milk.  
(14)”Infant formula” means a breast -milk substitute specially manufactured to 
satisfy, by itself, the nutritional requirements  of infant from birth to six 
months of age up to the introduction of appropriate complementary 
feeding.  
(15)”Follow -up infant formula” means a food intended for use as formula of the 
weaning diet for the infant from six months to twelve months of age. Not 
suitable alone for infant under six months consumption.  
(16)”Infant formula for special medical purposes” means a substitute for human 
milk or infant formula, by itself, the special nutritional requirements of 
infant with specific disorder, disease or medical condition during the first months of life up to the introduction of appropriate complementary  feeding.  
(17)”Cereal based foods for infant and young child ” means processed  cereal 
based food intended to fulfil the particular requirements of infant in good 
health while they are being weaned, and of young child in good health as a 
supplement to their diet and/or for their progressive adaptation to ordinary 
food, including cereals which are or have to be reconstituted with milk or 
other liquids,  and pastas , rusks and biscuits . 
(18)”Baby food” means food intended to fulfil the particular requirements of 
infant in good health while they are being weaned, and of young child in 
good health as a supplement to their diet and/or for their progressive 
adaptation to ordinary food,  exclude  cereal based foods for infant and 
young child, and milk-based drinks and si milar products.  
 
  Appendix 3. M aximum levels (ML)  of other contaminants and 
toxins  
1 3-Monochloropropane -1,2-diol (3-MCPD） 
Foodstuffs  ML (mg/kg)  
1.1 Soy sauce and soy sauce -based condiments  (1) 0.3 
2  Benzo(a)pyrene , BaP  
Foodstuffs  ML ( µg/kg)  
2.1 Fats and oils (exclude cocoa butter) intended for 
direct human consumption or use as an ingredient 
in food  2.0 
2.2 Vegetables, fruits and plant origin   
2.2.1  Cocoa beans and derived products , based on the 
cocoa butter  content  5.0 
2.2.2  Banana chips  2.0 
2.2.3  Dried herbs  10.0 
2.2.4  Dried spices with the excepte of cardamon and 
smoked Capsicum  spp. 10.0 
2.3 Meat and meat products   
2.3.1  Smoked meat and smoked meat products  2.0 
2.3.2  Grilling /barbecuing meat and meat products sold 
to the final consumer  5.0 
2.4 Aquatic animal   
2.4.1  Smoked  or grilling /barbecuing (2) sprats and 
canned smoked sprats ( Sprattus sprattus ) (3); 
Smoked  or grilling /barbecuing(2) Baltic herring ≦
14 cm length and canned smoked  or 
grilling /barbecuing(2) Baltic herring ≦14 cm 
length (Clupea harengus membras) (3)  5.0 
2.4.2  Smoked  or grilling /barbecuing(2) bivalve 
molluscs(4) (exclude shell)  6.0 
2.4.3  Muscle meat of smoked or grilling /barbecuing(2) 
fish and smoked or grilling /barbecuing(2) fishery 
products, exclude fishery products listed in points 
2.4.1  and 2.4.2 (3), exclude  Katsuobushi (dried 
bonito) . 
The ML for smoked or grilling /barbecuing(2) 
crustaceans applies to muscle meat from 
appendages and abdomen. In case of smoked or 
grilling /barbecuing(2) crabs and crab -like 
crustaceans ( Brachyura  and Anomura ) it 
applies to muscle meat from appendages.  2.0 2.4.4  Bivalve molluscs (fresh, chilled or frozen , 
exclude shell )(4) 5.0 
2.5 Food for infant and young child (5)   
2.5.1  Infant formula (6) and follow -up infant formula (7)  1.0(8) 
2.5.2  Infant formula for special medical purposes (9) 1.0(8) 
2.5.3  Cereal based foods for infant and young child(10) 
and baby food (11) 1.0(8) 
2.6 Food supplements   
2.6.1  Food supplements containing propolis  and royal 
jellys  10.0(8) 
2.6.2  Food supplements containing spirulina or their 
preparations  10.0(8) 
3 Plant toxins                                               
3.1 Hydrocyanic acid  
Foodstuffs  ML (mg/kg)  
3.1.1  Cassava flour , Ready -to-eat cassava chips  10(12) 
3.1.2  Gari  2(13) 
3.2 Gossypol  
Foodstuffs  ML (mg/kg)  
3.2.1  Edible cotton seed oil  Not detected(14) 
3.3 Glycoalkaloids, total (sum of alpha -solanine and alpha -chaconine)  
Foodstuffs  ML (mg/kg)  
3.3.1  Potato tubers (fresh weight)  200 
3.4 Erucic  acid 
Foodstuffs  ML (g/kg)  
3.4.1  Edible fats and oils  50  
3.4.2  Low-erucic acid rapeseed oil (as % of total fatty 
acids).  20  
3.4.3  Foods containing added edible vegetable oils and 
fats, excepte of foodstuffs listed in 3.4.4, based on 
the total oil content of that food  50 
3.4.4  Infant formulae(6) and follow -up infant formula  
(7), based on the total oil content of that food.  10 
4 Marine biotoxins                                           
4.1 Paralytic shellfish poisons (PSP)  
Foodstuffs  ML (mg/kg)  
4.1.1  The edible parts of live bivalve mollus k 
(saxitoxin equivalent ) 0.8 
4.2 Diarrhetic shellfish poisons (DSP ） 
Foodstuffs  ML (mg/kg)  
4.2.1  The edible parts of live bivalve mollus k (okadaic 
equivalent ) 0.16 4.3 Amnesic shellfish poisons (ASP ） 
Foodstuffs  ML (mg/kg)  
4.3.1  The edible parts of live bivalve mollus k (domoic 
acid) 20 
4.4 Azaspiracid (AZP ） 
Foodstuffs  ML (mg/kg)  
4.4.1  The edible parts of live bivalve mollus k 0.16 
4.5 Neurotoxic shellfish poisons (NSP) - Brevetoxin (BTX) *  
Foodstuffs  ML (MU/kg)  
4.5.1  The edible parts of live bivalve mollusk  200(14) 
5 Pheophorbide   
Foodstuffs  ML (mg/100g)  
Existing 
pheophorbide  Total 
pheophorbide  
5.1 Green algae  (16) 60 80 
5.2 Blue algae  (16) 50 100 
6 Volatile basic nitrogen (VBN)               
Foodstuffs  ML (mg/100 g)  
6.1 Unprocessed fishery products , frozen or chilled   
6.1.1  Species belonging to the Pleuronectidae  family , 
excepte of halibut: Hippoglossus  spp.).  30 
6.1.2  Salmo salar , species belonging to the 
Merlucciidae  family, species belonging to the 
Gadidae  family.  35 
6.1.3  Elasmobranchii  (Selachimorpha , Batoidea ) 50 
6.1.4  Other unlisted fish  25 
6.2 Ready -to-eat raw seafood  15 
7 Histamine                                      
Foodstuffs  ML (mg/kg)  
7.1 Fishery products from fish species associated 
with a high amount of histidine(17)  200(18) 
7.2 Fishery products which have undergone enzyme 
maturation treatment in brine,  manufactured from 
fish species associated with a high amount of 
histidine(17), for example, the  fermented fish 
sauces and pastes.  400(18) 
Note.  
(1) Such as soy sauce paste, oyster soy sauce etc.  
(2) For g rilling /barbecuing  fish and fishery products , the ML shall apply to the 
packaged products  made in the food manufacturing industry . 
(3)Where fish are intended to be eaten whole, the ML shall apply to the whole 
fish. (4)In case of Pecten maximus , the ML applies to the adductor muscle and gonad 
only.  
(5)The term “infant” means a person not more than 12 months  of age.  The term 
“young child” means a person from the age of more than 12 months up to the 
age of three years (36 months).  
(6) “Infant formula” means a breast -milk substitute specially manufactured to 
satisfy, by itself, the nutritional requirements of i nfant from birth to six 
months of age up to the introduction of appropriate complementary feeding.  
(7) “Follow -up infant formula” means a food intended for use as formula of the 
weaning diet for the infant from six months to twelve months of age. Not 
suitable alone for infant under six months consumption.  
(8)The ML refers to the product as sold.  
(9)”Infant formula for special medical purposes” means a substitute for human 
milk or infant formula, by itself, the special nutritional requirements of infant  
with specific disorder, disease or medical condition during the first months of 
life up to the introduction of appropriate complementary feeding.  
(10)”Cereal based foods for infant and young child ” means processed  cereal 
based food intended to fulfil the particular requirements of infant in good 
health while they are being weaned, and of young child in good health as a 
supplement to their diet and/or for their progressive adaptation to ordinary 
food, including cereals which are or have to be reconstituted with milk or 
other liquids,  and pastas , rusks and biscuits . 
(11)”Baby food” means food intended to fulfil the particular requirements of 
infant in good health while they are being weaned, and of young child in 
good health as a supplement to their diet and/ or for their progressive 
adaptation to ordinary food, exclude  cereal based foods for infant and young 
child, and milk-based drinks and similar products.  
(12)The ML is expressed as total hydrocyanic acid . 
(13)The ML is expressed as free hydrocyanic acid.  
(14) The detection limit of analysis method is 0.05 ppm for free form gossypol 
and 1 ppm of total gossypol . 
(15)Mouse units or equivalent . 
(16)The ML  is applied to green algae and blue algae which moisture content is 
less than 7%. Fresh products, red algae and brown algae are not applied.  
(17)The species of Scombridae , Clupeidae , Engraulidae , Coryfenidae , 
Pomatomidae  and Scombreso cidae families.  
(18)Products placed on the market during their shelf -life.