Heavy metals are naturally occurring elements such as lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury that can contaminate food through soil, water or industrial pollution, and whose levels in food are regulated in the EU to protect consumer health.
In trade practice
Suppliers of fruit, honey, grains and dried products are expected to provide third-party laboratory certificates of analysis confirming compliance with the maximum levels in Regulation (EU) 2023/915. Buyers typically specify which metals must be tested and which accredited laboratory standard applies. A common oversight is testing only lead while omitting cadmium, which is particularly relevant for cereals and leafy vegetables. Results should be product-specific, not generic crop-level data.
In a specification
A product specification or purchase contract will list each heavy metal by name alongside a reference to Regulation (EU) 2023/915 and require a certificate of analysis from an accredited laboratory with each shipment.