T.C.
TARIM ve KÖYİŞLERİ BAKANLIĞI
Koruma ve Kontrol Genel Müdürlüğü
Communiqué on Ceramic Articles which come into Contact with Foodstuffs 
Authorization Law: Turkish Food Codex
The Official Gazette: 04.09.2001-24603
Communication No : 2001/38
Objective
Article 1- The objective of this Communiqué is to determine the possible migration of lead and cadmium to foodstuffs from ceramic articles which are come into contact with foodstuffs or ready-to-use for that purpose.
Scope
Article 2- This Communiqué covers the ceramic articles which are come into contact with the foodstuffs or ready-to-use for that purpose.
Legal basis
Article 3- This Communiqué has been prepared in accordance with the “Turkish Food Codex Regulation” published in Official Gazette dated 16/11/1997, reiterated No 23172.
Definition
Article 4- The terms used in this Communiqué:
Ceramic articles means the articles that are generally manufactured from the mixtures of inorganic materials either high argillaceous or silicate content to which small quantities of organic materials may have been added, that are first shaped, then cooked and so fixed, may be glazed enameled and/or decorated.
Article specifications
Article 5- The specifications of ceramic article under the scope of this Communiqué are given below:
a) Amount of lead and cadmium transferred from the ceramic articles; are determined by using the test conditions given in Annex-2 and methods of analysis given in Annex-3.
b) Lead and /or cadmium limits in the container and its cover that are made of ceramic article should not exceed the limits given only for the container as mg/dm2 or mg/L. Inner surface of either the container or the cover should separately be tested under the same conditions.
c) Total lead and/or cadmium extraction levels obtained should be calculated in accordance with only the surface area or volume of the vessel.
d) Amount of lead and cadmium transfer from the ceramic articles should not exceed the limits given in Annex-1.
e) When the samples of at least three other ceramic article with similar shape, size, decoration and glaze are subject to the test applied under conditions specified in Annex-2 and Annex-3, if average quantities of lead and/or cadmium extracted from these articles and non of these articles do not exceed the given limits and more than 50% of these limits, then these ceramic articles are considered to meet the requirements of this Communiqué.
Sampling and methods of analysis
Article 6- In sampling from the production line and storage of ceramic articles that are in contact with the foodstuff or ready-to-use for this purpose, the rules included in the relevant section of “Turkish Food Codex Regulation” should be obeyed. The samples should be analyzed according to the methods in Annex-2 and Annex-3.
Registration and Inspection
Article 7-The establishments that producing and selling the products covered in this Communiqué are obliged to obey the provisions of this Communiqué during registration, authorization, importation, control and inspection. The establishments that do not obey these provisions are subject to legal procedure according to the provisions of the Decree Law No560, dated 24/6/1995, on Production, Consumption and Inspection of Foodstuffs.
Inspection
Article 8- The provisions of this Communiqué are inspected by the Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, according to the provisions of the Decree Law No.560, dated 24/6/1995, on Production, Consumption and Inspection of Foodstuffs.
Compliance with European Union
Article 9- This Communiqué has been prepared within the framework of compliance with European Union Directive 84/500/EEC for “Ceramic articles intended to come into contact with the foodstuffs ”.
Provisional Article-1 Presently active establishments that are producing and selling the products under the scope of this Communiqué are obliged to obey the provisions of this Communiqué within 1 year.
Enforcement
Article 10- This Communiqué enters into force on the date of publication.
Execution
Article 11- The provisions of this Communiqué are executed by the Minister of Health and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs
ANNEX-1
Lead and Cadmium Limits Penetrating From Ceramic Articles
| Pb | Cd | |
| Category 1: Articles whose inner depths are measured from the lowest point of the horizontal surface passing along the highest corner and dimensions do not exceed 25 mm, either available to be filled or not. |
0.8 mg/dm2 | 0.07 mg/ dm2 |
| Category 2: All other articles, available to be filled |
4.0 mg/L | 0.3 mg/L |
| Category 3: Cooking vessels; packing and storing vessels having a capacity more than 3 liters |
1.5 mg/L | 0.1 mg/L |
ANNEX-2
Basic Rules For Determining the Migration of Cadmium and Lead
Test liquid-simultant to food
4% Acetic acid (volume/volume), freshly prepared aqueous solution.
2. Test Conditions
1.1. Test is performed at 22 ± 2 °C for a period of 24 ± 0.5 hours.
1.2. When migration of lead is to be determined, the sample should be covered with a appropriate means of protection and left in the laboratory under normal lighting conditions. When migration of lead and cadmium or only cadmium is to be determined, the sample is so covered as to keep the test surface in total darkness.
3. Filling
3.1. Samples that can be fiiled
Articles is filled with acetic acid solution of 4% to the level not to exceed more than 1 mm of overflow point, where the distance is measured from the upper rim of the sample. Flat or slightly sloping samples should be filled so that the distance between the surface of liquid and overflow point shall not be more than 6 mm along the sloping rim.
3.2. Samples that can not be filled
The surface of the sample that is not intended to come into contact with the foodstuffs is first covered with a suitable protective layer, which will resist to the action of acetic acid solution of 4%. Furthermore, the sample is immersed into the medium that ensures a penetration including a known volume of acetic acid so as, for the surface that is intended to come into contact with the foodstuffs, to be completely covered with testing liquid.
4. Determination of the Surface Area
1. Surface area of the articles in the 1st category; is equal to the surface area of the meniscus obtained by complying with filling requirements set out in the 3rd section, and formed by free liquid surface.
ANNEX-3
Methods of Analysis for Determining the Migration of Cadmium and Lead
1. Objective and Field of Application
Method determines specific migration of lead and/or cadmium.
2. Principle
The determination of specific migration of lead and/or cadmium is carried out by atomic absorption spectrophotometer.
3. Reagents
- All reagents must be in analytical quality, unless otherwise is specified.
- Where the reference is made to water, this means the distilled water or water of equivalent quality.
3.1. Acetic acid of 4%, volume/volume, aqueoussolution; 40 mL glacial acetic acid is added to the water and filled up to 1000 mL.
3.2. Stock solutions
Stock solutions containing 1000 mg/L lead and at least 500 mg/L cadmium are prepared in acetic acid solution of 4%.
Instructions
4.1. Atomic absorption spectrophotometer
The instruments’s detection limit for lead and cadmium must be equal to or lower than the following values:
- 0.1 mg/L for lead
- 0.01 mg/L for cadmium
The detection limit; is defined as the concentration of the element in 4% acetic acid, which gives a signal equal to twice the background noise of instrument.
5. Method
5.1. Preparation of the sample
The sample should be clean and free from grease and other matter that affect the test.
The sample is washed with a solution containing household liquid detergent, at a temperature of 40°C. It is rinsed initially in tap water and later in distilled or water of equivalent quality. In order to prevent any stain, the water in the area is poured away and dried. The surface area will be tested should not be handled after it has been cleaned.
5.2. Determination of lead and/or cadmium
- Prepared sample is tested under the conditions laid down in Annex-2.
- Prior to taking the test solution to determine lead and/or cadmium, content of the sample are homogenized and an appropriate method which avoids any loss of solution or abrasion of the surface being tested is applied.
- A blank test is preformed on the reagent used for each set of determination.
- Determining the lead and/or cadmium is performed with atomic absorption spectrophotometer under appropriate conditions.