Commission Regulation (EC) No 78/2005 of 19 January 2005 amending Regulation (EC) No 466/2001 as regards heavy metalsText with EEA relevance
Date: 2005-01-19
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: cadmium, consumer protection, crustacean, fish, food standard, foodstuff, metal pollution, public health, toxic substance

20.1.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 16/43

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 78/2005

of 19 January 2005

amending Regulation (EC) No 466/2001 as regards heavy metals

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty
Community,

establishing the European

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 315/93 of
8 February 1993 laying down Community procedures for
contaminants in food (1), and in particular Article 2(3) thereof,

After consulting the Scientific Committee on Food and the
European Food Safety Authority,

(3)

(4)

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 466/2001 (2)
sets
maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs.
These measures, as specifically amended by Commission
Regulation (EC) No 221/2002 (3),
include maximum
levels for the heavy metals lead, cadmium and mercury.

It is essential, in order to protect public health, to keep
levels which do not cause health
contaminants at
cadmium and
lead,
for
concerns. Maximum levels
reasonably
low as
safe and as
mercury must be
achievable (ALARA) based upon good manufacturing
and agricultural/ fishery practices. On the basis of new

information on the achievability of maximum levels
is necessary to revise
in certain aquatic species
the relevant provisions of Annex I to Regulation (EC)
No 466/2001 for these contaminants in certain foods.
The revised provisions maintain a high level of consumer
health protection.

it

Regulation (EC) No 466/2001 should be amended
accordingly.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in
accordance with
Standing
Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,

opinion

the

the

of

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 466/2001 is amended as set out
in the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following
that of
the European
Union.

its publication in the Official

Journal of

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 19 January 2005.

For the Commission

Markos KYPRIANOU
Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 37, 13.2.1993, p. 1. Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC)
No 1882/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ
L 284, 31.10.2003, p. 1).

(2) OJ L 77, 16.3.2001, p. 1. Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC)

No 684/2004 (OJ L 106, 15.4.2004, p. 6).

(3) OJ L 37, 7.2.2002, p. 4.

L 16/44

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

20.1.2005

ANNEX

Section 3 of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 466/2001 is modified as follows:

1. As regards Lead (Pb), points 3.1.4, 3.1.4.1 and 3.1.5 are replaced by the following points:

Product

Maximum level
(mg/kg wet
weight)

Performance criteria
for sampling

Performance criteria
for methods of analysis

‘3.1.4. Muscle meat of

fish (1) (2),

excluding

0,20

Directive 2001/22/EC Directive 2001/22/EC

species listed in 3.1.4.1.

3.1.4.1. Muscle meat of the following fish (1) (2):
common two-banded seabream (Diplodus
vulgaris)
eel (Anguilla anguilla)
grey mullet (Mugil labrosus labrosus)
grunt (Pomadasys benneti)
horse mackerel or scad (Trachurus species)
sardine (Sardina pilchardus)
sardinops (Sardinops species)
spotted seabass (Dicentrarchus punctatus)
wedge sole (Dicologoglossa cuneata)

3.1.5.

Crustaceans, excluding brown meat of
crab and excluding head and thorax
meat of lobster and similar large crus-
taceans (Nephropidae and Palinuridae)

0,40

Directive 2001/22/EC Directive 2001/22/EC

0,50

Directive 2001/22/EC Directive 2001/22/EC

(1) Where fish are intended to be eaten whole, the maximum level shall apply to the whole fish.
(2) Fish as defined in the category (a) of the list of Article 1 of Council Regulation (EC) No 104/2000 (OJ L 17, 21.1.2000, p. 22).’

2. As regards Cadmium (Cd), points 3.2.5 and 3.2.5.1 are replaced by the following and a new point 3.2.5.2 is inserted:

Product

Maximum level
(mg/kg wet
weight)

Performance criteria
for sampling

Performance criteria
for methods of analysis

‘3.2.5. Muscle meat of

fish (1) (2),

excluding

species listed in 3.2.5.1 and 3.2.5.2.

0,05

Directive 2001/22/EC Directive 2001/22/EC

3.2.5.1. Muscle meat of the following fish (1) (2):

0,10

Directive 2001/22/EC Directive 2001/22/EC

anchovy (Engraulis species)
bonito (Sarda sarda)
common two-banded seabream
(Diplodus vulgaris)
eel (Anguilla anguilla)
grey mullet (Mugil labrosus labrosus)
horse mackerel or scad (Trachurus species)
louvar or luvar (Luvarus imperialis)
sardine (Sardina pilchardus)
sardinops (Sardinops species)
tuna (Thunnus
Katsuwonus pelamis)
wedge sole (Dicologoglossa cuneata)

species, Euthynnus

species,

3.2.5.2. Muscle meat of swordfish
(Xiphias gladius)

0,30

Directive 2001/22/EC Directive 2001/22/EC

(1) Where fish are intended to be eaten whole, the maximum level shall apply to the whole fish.
(2) Fish as defined in the category (a) of the list of Article 1 of Council Regulation (EC) No 104/2000 (OJ L 17, 21.1.2000, p. 22).’

20.1.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 16/45

3. As regards Mercury (Hg), points 3.3.1 and 3.3.1.1 are replaced by the following points:

Product

Maximum level
(mg/kg wet
weight)

Performance criteria
for sampling

Performance criteria
for methods of analysis

‘3.3.1.

Fishery products and muscle meat of
fish (1) (3),
listed in
3.3.1.1.

excluding

species

0,50

Directive 2001/22/EC Directive 2001/22/EC

3.3.1.1. Muscle meat of the following fish (1) (2):

1,0

Directive 2001/22/EC Directive 2001/22/EC

anglerfish (Lophius species)
atlantic catfish (Anarhichas lupus)
bonito (Sarda sarda)
eel (Anguilla species)
emperor, orange roughy, rosy soldierfish
(Hoplostethus species)
grenadier (Coryphaenoides rupestris)
halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus)
marlin (Makaira species)
megrim (Lepidorhombus species)
mullet (Mullus species)
pike (Esox lucius)
plain bonito (Orcynopsis unicolor)
poor cod (Tricopterus minutes)
portuguese dogfish (Centroscymnes
coelolepis)
rays (Raja species)
redfish (Sebastes marinus, S. mentella,
S. viviparus)
sail fish (Istiophorus platypterus)
scabbard fish (Lepidopus caudatus,
Aphanopus carbo)
seabream, pandora (Pagellus species)
shark (all species)
snake mackerel or butterfish (Lepidocybium
flavobrunneum, Ruvettus pretiosus, Gempylus
serpens)
sturgeon (Acipenser species)
swordfish (Xiphias gladius)
tuna (Thunnus
Katsuwonus pelamis)

species, Euthynnus

species,

(1) Where fish are intended to be eaten whole, the maximum level shall apply to the whole fish.
(2) Fish as defined in the category (a) of the list of Article 1 of Council Regulation (EC) No 104/2000 (OJ L 17, 21.1.2000, p. 22).
(3) Fish and fishery products as defined in the category (a), (c) and (f) of the list of Article 1 of Council Regulation (EC) No 104/2000

(OJ L 17, 21.1.2000, p. 22).’