EU regulates inorganic arsenic residues in fish and seafood products for the first time

The Vietnam SPS Office said that the European Union (EU) Food Safety Authority is drafting amendments to Regulation (EU) No. 2023/915, which sets maximum residue levels (MRLs) for inorganic arsenic in fish and certain other aquatic products, at 0.05 - 1.5 ppm. The new regulation is expected to be issued in July 2025 and take effect in the same month. Prior to this announcement, the EU did not set specific limits for inorganic arsenic in fish and aquatic products. Instead, the market focused on controlling other heavy metals such as cadmium or mercury. The main contents implemented by the EU are in Regulation (EU) 1881/2006 and related amendments. To determine the inorganic arsenic content in food in general, Vietnam has issued TCVN 12346:2018. This standard provides guidance on the method for determining inorganic arsenic mainly in foods of plant origin and some marine animals (excluding fish). Arsenic is commonly present in fish and marine organisms, including two main ...