The presence of heavy metals has to be checked with the limits that have been established in the European legislation. Maximum levels for heavy metals and certain other contaminants in food are set in Regulation (EC) 1881/2006 and subsequent amendments. 

This regulation lays down the maximum limits for certain contaminants in food in particular to protect the health of the most sensitive population groups, i.e. children, the elderly and pregnant women.

The contaminants listed below are in the scope of Primoris:

• mycotoxins (aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, fusarium toxins, patulin and citrinin…),
• metals (lead, cadmium, mercury, inorganic tin),
• 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD),
• dioxins and dioxin-type polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs),
• polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs),
• melamine,
• erucic acid,
• nitrates.

Other related EU Directives and regulations: 

• Directive 2003/74/EC: Hormones
• EC2073/2005: Microbiology
• Directive 1999/2/EC and 1999/3/EC: Irradiation
• Directive 96/23: Veterinary medicine
• Regulation EC1829/2003: GM Food and Feed
• Directive 2002/32/EC on undesirable substances in animal feed