EU proposes maximum levels for inorganic arsenic in rice and rice products

At the meeting of the "Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) - Section contaminants" on 1st July 2014 in Brussels, the European Commission proposed maximum levels for inorganic arsenic in rice and rice products.

The proposal follows a new exposure assessment for inorganic arsenic for the European population, already published in March 2014 by the EFSA. The new calculated exposure is significantly lower than previously assumed by the EFSA in 2009. The "International Agency for Research on Cancer" (IARC) has classified arsenic and inorganic arsenic components as "carcinogenic to humans (Group 1)". The provisional tolerable weekly intake levels (15 µg/kg body weight per week; PTWI) set by the CONTAM Panel (EFSA) and the JECFA were withdrawn from these committees in 2009 and 2010, respectively. The proposed maximum levels for rice products now vary from 0.10 to 0.30 mg/kg depending on the type of rice and its purpose.

The Competence Centre for inorganic contaminants has many years of experience in the analysis of inorganic and total arsenic in the matrices rice, fish and algae. More information about the analysis of inorganic arsenic and total arsenic is summarized in aflyerfor you.