EU Heavy Metal Requirements for Pet Nutritional Supplements
2026-03-21
The European Union regulates heavy metal limits in pet nutritional supplements primarily through Directive 2002/32/EC (on undesirable substances in animal feed) and Regulation (EC) 2023/915 (on maximum levels for certain contaminants in food). The key reference limits are as follows (specific values may vary by product category and are subject to regulatory updates):
| Heavy Metal | Limit (Typical Range) | Notes |
| Lead (Pb) | 5–10 mg/kg | Complementary pet food typically references 10 mg/kg. |
| Mercury (Hg) | 0.1–0.3 mg/kg | 0.3 mg/kg is common for complementary pet food. |
| Cadmium (Cd) | 0.1 mg/kg | |
| Arsenic (As) | Inorganic As <0.5 mg/kg | The limit for total arsenic may be higher (e.g., 15 mg/kg). |
| Chromium (Cr) | 2.0 mg/kg (upper limit) | Some studies indicate Cr in dry food may exceed this limit. |
Regulatory Framework & Authorities:
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA): Responsible for risk assessment, issuing scientific opinions on contaminants in the food chain.
European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF): Provides nutritional guidelines for the industry, including safety limit recommendations.
Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF): Issues notifications for non-compliance cases, such as pet food with excessive mercury.
Official Regulations & Guidelines:
Directive 2002/32/EC: Core regulation setting limits for undesirable substances, including heavy metals, in animal feed.
Regulation (EC) 2023/915: Replaces EC 1881/2006, updating maximum levels for contaminants like lead, cadmium, mercury, and inorganic tin in food.
FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food: The industry's authoritative standard, incorporating safety recommendations for heavy metals.
EFSA Scientific Reports:
EFSA "Metals as contaminants in food" Topic Page: Provides the EU regulatory framework, latest assessment reports, and data collection.
Academic Research Articles:
"Pet Food as the Most Concrete Strategy for Using Food Waste as Feedstuff within the European Context"(MDPI, 2018): Lists EU guidance values for Pb, Cd, As, Hg in pet food (Table 2).
"Pet Food contamination: a new study raises health concerns"(2022): Analyzes contamination levels and risks of Cr, Cd, Pb, As, Hg in pet food across multiple countries.
"Animal by-products in the formulation of compound pet food products: contamination by toxic elements…"(2025): Investigates concentrations and long-term accumulation risks of As, Cd, Hg, Pb in pet food from animal by-product sources.
"The Role of ICP-OES in Analyzing the Metal Content in Pet Food"(2025): Discusses limitations of current FDA and FEDIAF standards regarding chronic low-level metal exposure.
"Pet food safety at risk? Investigating toxic metal contamination in Lebanon and the UAE"(RSC, 2025): Compares exceeded the standard situations of Cr, Cd, Hg, Pb, etc., in pet food across different countries, noting the strictness of EU limits.
Daily Practice & Management:
Raw Material Control: Prioritize ingredients with low heavy metal risk (e.g., plant protein from non-polluted regions, non-deep-sea fish sources) and avoid high-risk animal by-products. (Preferred raw material suppliers, strict control of heavy metal indicators for each batch of raw materials.)
Batch Testing: Conduct testing for key metals like Pb, Cd, Hg, and As on every finished product batch.
Transparent COA: Clearly label heavy metal test results to ensure customer confidence.
Track Regulatory Updates: Regularly consult EFSA publications and the EU Official Journal to ensure compliance with the latest limit requirements.
ReviewsNumber of comments: {{ page.total }}
I want to comment?
{{item.nickname ? (item.nickname.slice(0, 2) + '*****') : item.source === 1 ? 'mall buyer' : '--'}}
{{item.comment_time}}
Review in the {{item.country}}
Reviews
Merchant
{{replyItem.nickname ? (replyItem.nickname.slice(0, 2) + '*****') : replyItem.source === 1 ? 'mall buyer' : '--'}}
{{replyItem.parent_nickname ? (replyItem.parent_nickname.slice(0, 2) + '*****') : '--'}}
{{replyItem.is_merchant_reply === 1 ? replyItem.reply_time : replyItem.comment_time}}
Review in the {{replyItem.country}}
Reviews
No customer reviews
Get in touch with us
Contact Person: Owen Zhang
Tel: +86 18217013820
WhatsApp: +86 18217013820
Company Address: No. 156, Pingbei Road, Minhang District, Shanghai
Copyright © 2026 PETANGEL | Sitemap