Vietnam has recently published a Circular announcing the use of a National technical standard for the restriction of heavy metals in glass, ceramic, porcelain and enamelled products intended to come into contact with food. This Circular will take effect on 1 May, 2016.
In May 2013, we informed you that Vietnam published a draft technical regulation [1] for the restriction of lead and cadmium in ceramic, glass and enamelled articles intended to come into contact with food.
On 28 October 2015, the Ministry of Health of Vietnam published Circular Number 35/2015/TT-BYT [2] announcing the use of QCVN 12-4:2015/BYT ‘National technical regulation on the safety and hygiene glass, ceramic, porcelain and enameled implements, containers, and packaging in direct contact with food’. This National technical regulation restricts the migration of lead and cadmium, and includes a list of standards which can be utilized for demonstration of compliance.
The list of standards includes:
- ISO 4531-1:1998 ‘Vitreous and porcelain enamels – Release of lead and cadmium from enamelled ware in contact with food – Part 1: Method of test’ (TCVN 7542-1:2005)
- ISO 6486-1:1999 ‘Ceramic ware, glass-ceramic ware and glass dinnerware in contact with food – release of lead and cadmium Part 1: Test method’ (TCVN 7146-1:2002)
- ISO 7086-1:2000 ‘Glass hollowware in contact with food – Release of lead and cadmium Part 1: Test method’ (TCVN 7148-1:2002)
The new Circular will take effect on 1 May, 2016. Highlights of the national technical regulation is summarised in Tables 1 (flatware, hollowware & cups and mugs) and 2 (drinking rim).
Table 1
Vietnam Circular No. 35/2015/TT of 28 October 2015 of the Ministry of Health promulgating QCVN 12-4:2015/BYT ‘National technical regulations on the safety and hygiene glass, ceramic, porcelain and enameled implements, containers, and packaging in direct contact with food’ | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Material | Food contact product | Substance | Requirement | ||
Glass | Flatware, including for cooking | Cadmium | ≤ 0.07mg/dm² | ||
Lead | ≤ 0.8 mg/dm² | ||||
Hollowware | Food containers | Capacity < 600 mL | Cadmium | ≤ 0.5 mg/L | |
Lead | ≤ 1.5 mg/L | ||||
Capacity of 600 mL to less than 3 L | Cadmium | ≤ 0.25 mg/L | |||
Lead | ≤ 0.75 mg/L | ||||
Capacity ≥ 3 L | Cadmium | ≤ 0.25 mg/L | |||
Lead | ≤ 0.5 mg/L | ||||
Cookware | Cadmium | ≤ 0.05 mg/L | |||
Lead | ≤ 0.5 mg/L | ||||
Cups and mugs | Cadmium | ≤ 0.25 mg/L | |||
Lead | ≤ 0.5 mg/L | ||||
Ceramics Glass-ceramics Porcelain | Flatware, including for cooking | Cadmium | ≤ 0.07mg/dm² | ||
Lead | ≤ 0.8 mg/dm² | ||||
Hollowware | Food containers | Capacity < 1.1 L | Cadmium | ≤ 0.5 mg/L | |
Lead | ≤ 2.0 mg/L | ||||
Capacity of 1.1 L to less than 3 L | Cadmium | ≤ 0.25 mg/L | |||
Lead | ≤ 1.0 mg/L | ||||
Capacity ≥ 3L | Cadmium | ≤ 0.25 mg/L | |||
Lead | ≤ 0.5 mg/L | ||||
Cookware | Cadmium | ≤ 0.05 mg/L | |||
Lead | ≤ 0.5 mg/L | ||||
Cups and mugs | Cadmium | ≤ 0.25 mg/L | |||
Lead | ≤ 0.5 mg/L | ||||
Enamel | Flatware | Food containers | Cadmium | ≤ 0.07 mg/dm² | |
Lead | ≤ 0.8 mg/dm² | ||||
Cookware | Cadmium | ≤ 0.05 mg/ dm² | |||
Lead | ≤ 0.1 mg/dm² | ||||
Hollowware | Capacity ≥ 3L, including for cooking | Cadmium | ≤ 0.05 mg/dm² | ||
Lead | ≤ 0.1 mg/dm² | ||||
Capacity < 3L | Food containers | Cadmium | ≤ 0.07 mg/L | ||
Lead | ≤ 0.8 mg/L | ||||
Cookware | Cadmium | ≤ 0.07 mg/L | |||
Lead | ≤ 0.4 mg/L | ||||
Effective date 1 May 2016 | |||||
Table 2
Vietnam Circular No. 35/2015/TT of 28 October 2015 of the Ministry of Health promulgating QCVN 12-4:2015/BYT ‘National technical regulations on the safety and hygiene glass, ceramic, porcelain and enameled implements, containers, and packaging in direct contact with food’ | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Parameter | Substance | Requirement | Effective date |
Drinking rim | Cadmium | ≤ 0.2 mg/article | 1 May, 2016 |
Lead | ≤ 2.0 mg/article | ||
SGS technical experts have extensive knowledge and testing experience in materials and articles in contact with food. They work to ensure that your products meet the appropriate regulations for food contact materials and pave the way for compliance. From overall migration test to expert advices on emerging regulations and compliance issues and documentation review, SGS is the partner to trust. Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information or visit our website.
For enquiries, please contact:
Hing Wo Tsang
Global Hardlines
t: +852 2774 7420
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