Food Safety
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Safety
  • NEWS
    • Latest News
    • White Papers
  • PRODUCTS
  • TOPICS
    • Contamination Control
    • Food Types
    • Management
    • Process Control
    • Regulatory
    • Sanitation
    • Supply Chain
    • Testing and Analysis
  • PODCAST
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Food Safety Five Newsreel
    • eBooks
    • FSM Distinguished Service Award
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
    • Videos
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • MORE
    • ENEWSLETTER >
      • Archive Issues
      • Subscribe to eNews
    • Store
    • Sponsor Insights
  • WEBINARS
  • FOOD SAFETY SUMMIT
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issues
    • Editorial Advisory Board
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
NewsContamination ControlRegulatoryChemicalInternational Standards/Harmonization

EU’s New Maximum Levels for Inorganic Arsenic in Certain Foods

bowl of white rice

Credit: makafood via Pexels

March 9, 2023

The EU is making changes to the levels of arsenic allowed to be present in certain foods.

The new maximum levels for inorganic arsenic differ for certain foods, and are laid out in Section 3, Subsection 3.5 of the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006, as follows:

  • Non-parboiled milled rice (polished or white rice): 0.15 micrograms per kilogram of bodyweight (μg/kg)
  • Parboiled and husked rice: 0.25 μg/kg
  • Rice flour: 0.25 μg/kg
  • Rice waffles, rice wafers, rice crackers, rice cakes, rice flakes, and popped breakfast rice: 0.3 μg/kg
  • Rice destined for the production of food for infants and young children: 0.1 μg/kg
  • Non-alcoholic rice-based drinks: 0.03 μg/kg
  • Infant formula, follow-on formula, foods for special medical purposes intended for infants and young children, and young child formula marketed as powder: 0.02 μg/kg
  • Infant formula, follow-on formula, foods for special medical purposes intended for infants and young children, and young child formula marketed as liquid: 0.01 μg/kg
  • Baby foods: 0.02 μg/kg
  • Fruit juices, concentrated fruit juices as reconstituted, and fruit nectars: 0.02 μg/kg
  • Salt: 0.5 μg/kg (reflecting the Codex Alimentarius maximum level).

Considering that certain foods covered by the amended regulation have a long shelf life, products that were lawfully placed on the market before the date of application of the regulation are allowed to remain on the market.

Background

On March 3, 2023 the European Commission published Regulation (EU) 2023/465, amending Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006, which sets forth maximum levels of contaminants, such as arsenic, in certain foods. Previously, in 2009, the European Food Safety Authority’s Scientific Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (EFSA’s CONTAM) adopted an opinion that concluded the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) for arsenic set forth by the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)/World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)—15 μg/kg—to no longer be appropriate. CONTAM drew this conclusion based on data showing inorganic arsenic to cause lung, bladder, and skin cancer, alongside other adverse effects, at exposures lower than 15 μg/kg. The panel also determined that people who consume a lot of rice, as well as children under three years of age, have a higher risk of excessive inorganic arsenic exposure, based on a “benchmark dose lower confidence limit” (BMDL01) set between 0.3–8 μg/kg.

Additionally, in a 2014 scientific report on dietary exposure to inorganic arsenic among the European population, EFSA identified grain-based products as the main contributor to arsenic exposure, with rice, milk, and dairy products as important contributors. Based on this information, Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1006 (5) set maximum levels for the presence of inorganic arsenic only in rice and rice-based products, and asked EU Member States to monitor the presence of arsenic in a wide variety of foods in subsequent years. An EFSA scientific report from 2021 assessed chronic dietary exposure to inorganic arsenic, taking into account the most recent occurrence data for inorganic arsenic in food. It concluded that across different age classes, the main contributors to dietary exposure to inorganic arsenic were rice, rice-based products, grains and grain-based products not containing rice, and drinking water. EFSA also determined that certain foods intended for babies and young children to be a significant contributor to children’s dietary exposure to inorganic arsenic.

The existing mean and 95th percentile exposures to arsenic in food still lie within the range of the BMDL01 values identified in the CONTAM scientific opinion of 2009. Therefore, the European Commission finds it appropriate to establish new maximum levels for commodities contributing to exposure to arsenic and lower existing maximum levels, where feasible, based on occurrence data.

KEYWORDS: arsenic EFSA EU maximum levels regulation

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • people holding baby chicks

    Serovar Differences Matter: Utility of Deep Serotyping in Broiler Production and Processing

    This article discusses the significance of Salmonella in...
    Methods
    By: Nikki Shariat Ph.D.
  • woman washing hands

    Building a Culture of Hygiene in the Food Processing Plant

    Everyone entering a food processing facility needs to...
    Management
    By: Richard F. Stier, M.S.
  • graphical representation of earth over dirt

    Climate Change and Emerging Risks to Food Safety: Building Climate Resilience

    This article examines the multifaceted threats to food...
    International
    By: Maria Cristina Tirado Ph.D., D.V.M. and Shamini Albert Raj M.A.
Manage My Account
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Subscribe to eNewsletter
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Website Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Food Safety Magazine audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Food Safety Magazine or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • mold
    Sponsored byIFC

    Tackling Mold Remediation in Food Processing Plants

  • a worker in a food processing plant
    Sponsored byLPS® DETEX®

    How a Beverage Facility Improved Food Safety and Compliance with Detectable Packaging Solutions

  • Two men standing in a produce storage facility having a discussion.
    Sponsored byOrkin Commercial

    Staying Compliant With FSMA

Popular Stories

carton of dozen brown eggs

Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Eggs Ends With One Dead, 38 Hospitalized

close-up shot of nickel metal

New EU Maximum Levels for Nickel Now Apply to Dozens of Foods

blue iced donuts next to pie of sugar with blue written in it

FDA Authorizes Use of Fourth ‘Natural’ Food Dye, Gardenia Blue

Events

July 22, 2025

Beyond the Binder: Digital Management of Food Safety

Live: July 22, 2025 at 3:00 pm EDT: During this webinar, attendees will learn best practices for the use of digital food safety management systems across industry and regulatory agencies.

August 7, 2025

Achieve Active Managerial Control of Major Risk Factors Using a Food Safety Management System

Live: August 7, 2025 at 2:00 pm EDT: From this webinar, attendees will learn about changes to the FDA Food Code, which now includes a requirement for FSMS. 

May 11, 2026

The Food Safety Summit

Stay informed on the latest food safety trends, innovations, emerging challenges, and expert analysis. Leave the Summit with actionable insights ready to drive measurable improvements in your organization. Do not miss this opportunity to learn from experts about contamination control, food safety culture, regulations, sanitation, supply chain traceability, and so much more.

View All

Products

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

See More Products
Environmental Monitoring Excellence eBook

Related Articles

  • EU flags

    New EU Maximum Levels for Contaminants in Foods: Aflatoxins, Metals, and More

    See More
  • close-up shot of nickel metal

    New EU Maximum Levels for Nickel Now Apply to Dozens of Foods

    See More
  • licorice

    New EU Maximum Levels for Mycotoxin Ochratoxin A

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • food-safety-making.jpg

    Food Safety: Making Foods Safe and Free From Pathogens

  • 9781138070912.jpg

    Trends in Food Safety and Protection

  • 1119053595.jpg

    Food Safety for the 21st Century: Managing HACCP and Food Safety throughout the Global Supply Chain, 2E

See More Products
×

Never miss the latest news and trends driving the food safety industry

eNewsletter | Website | eMagazine

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing