Overview
ISO 6486-2:1999, "Ceramic ware, glass-ceramic ware and glass dinnerware in contact with food - Release of lead and cadmium - Part 2: Permissible limits," sets international permissible limits for the migration (release) of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) from ceramic, glass-ceramic and glass tableware intended for food contact. The part excludes porcelain-enamel articles and items used in food manufacturing or retail sale. It complements ISO 6486-1 (test methods) and uses a 4% (V/V) acetic acid extraction solution for migration assessment.
Key topics
- Scope and applicability: Covers cookware, serveware and storageware used for preparation, cooking, serving and storage of food and beverages (consumer use), excluding industrial/retail food equipment and porcelain enamel.
- Permissible limits: Numeric thresholds are given by ware type and test criterion (as specified in the standard). Key limits include:
- Flatware (mean of 4 specimens): Pb ≤ 0.8, Cd ≤ 0.07 (units as specified in the standard)
- Small hollowware (each specimen): Pb ≤ 2 mg/l, Cd ≤ 0.5 mg/l
- Large hollowware: Pb ≤ 1 mg/l, Cd ≤ 0.25 mg/l
- Storage ware: Pb ≤ 0.5 mg/l, Cd ≤ 0.25 mg/l
- Cups and mugs: Pb ≤ 0.5 mg/l, Cd ≤ 0.25 mg/l
- Cooking ware: Pb ≤ 0.5 mg/l, Cd ≤ 0.05 mg/l
(Refer to ISO 6486-2 for the precise units and test specimen counts.)
- Terminology and measurement: Defines terms such as extraction solution, reference surface area, rim in contact with lips, spectrometric methods (AAS/SAA), and specimen categories.
- Data quality considerations: Discusses analytical reproducibility and sampling variability; notes that sampling variability is often the dominant source of measurement uncertainty.
Applications
Who uses ISO 6486-2 and why:
- Manufacturers and product designers - to ensure raw materials, glazes and processes meet international migration limits for lead and cadmium.
- Quality assurance and testing laboratories - to evaluate compliance using the extraction conditions and limits in conjunction with ISO 6486-1 (test methods).
- Regulatory authorities and importers - for product conformity assessment, consumer safety oversight and cross-border trade harmonization.
- Procurement and compliance officers - to specify accepted limits in supplier contracts and technical specifications.
Practical benefits include safer consumer products, reduced non-tariff trade barriers, and harmonized regulatory expectations for ceramic and glass foodware.
Related standards
- ISO 6486-1 - Methods of test (extraction procedures and analytical techniques)
- Relevant laboratory and glassware standards referenced in ISO 6486-2 (e.g., ISO 3696 for water, ISO 1042 for volumetric glassware)
Note: ISO 6486-2 sets manufacturing-state "permissible limits" reflecting industry capability; these values are not presented as toxicological exposure safety maxima. For testing and compliance always consult the full standard text.
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