ISO/DIS 6486-2

ISO/TC 166

Secretariat: AFNOR

Date: 2025-11-28

Ceramic ware, glass-ceramic ware and glass dinnerware in contact with food — Release of lead and cadmium —

Part 2:
Permissible limits

Vaisselle en céramique, vaisselle en vitrocéramique et vaisselle de table en verre en contact avec les aliments — Émission de plomb et de cadmium —

Partie 2: Limites admissibles

DIS stage

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Contents

Foreword

Introduction

Scope

Normative references

Terms and definitions

Permissible limits

Bibliography

Foreword

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International Standard ISO 6486-2 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 166, Ceramic ware, glassware and glass ceramic ware in contact with food.

This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (ISO 6486-2:1999), which has been technically revised.

ISO 6486 consists of the following parts, under the general title Ceramic ware, glass-ceramic ware and glass dinnerware in contact with food - Release of lead and cadmium:

• Part 1: Test method
• Part 2: Permissible limits

Introduction

Lead and cadmium release from ceramic and glassware surfaces is an issue which requires effective means of control to ensure the protection of the population against possible hazards arising from the use of improperly formulated and/or processed ceramic, glass-ceramic and glass dinnerware used for the preparation, cooking, serving and storage of food and beverages. As a secondary consideration, different requirements from country to country for the control of the release of toxic materials from the surfaces of ceramic ware present non-tariff barriers to international trade in these commodities. Accordingly, there is a need to maintain internationally accepted methods of testing ware for lead- and cadmium-release, and to define permissible limits for the release of these toxic heavy metals.

Updating of part 2 – Permissible Limits is also done in coherence with the previous work done in part 1 – Test method, with the new consideration given to analytical techniques such as Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) or Inductively Coupled Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES).

The limits for lead and cadmium release specified in this part of ISO 6486 are not intended to be regarded as the maximum amount of these metals to which exposure can be considered safe. They are levels which are consistent with good manufacturing practice in the respective industries, harmonize regulatory levels in principal world markets and reflect a general objective of reducing overall exposure to these metals.

Ceramic ware, glass-ceramic ware and glass dinnerware in contact with food — Release of lead and cadmium —

Part 2:
Permissible limits

This part of ISO 6486 specifies permissible limits for the release of lead and cadmium from ceramic ware, glass-ceramic ware and glass dinnerware intended to be used in contact with food but excluding vitreous and porcelain enamel articles (covered by ISO 4531).

This part of ISO 6486 is applicable to ceramic ware, glass-ceramic ware, and glass dinnerware which is intended to be used for the preparation, cooking, serving and storage of food and beverages, excluding articles used in food manufacturing industries or those in which food is sold.

The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

ISO 4531:2022, Vitreous and porcelain enamels — Release from enamelled articles in contact with food — Methods of test and limits

ISO 6486-1:2019, Ceramic ware, glass ceramic ware and glass dinnerware in contact with food — Release of lead and cadmium — Part 1: Test method

ISO 7086-1:2019, Glass hollowware in contact with food — Release of lead and cadmium — Part 1: Test method

ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:

• IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp

For the purposes of this part of ISO 6486, the following terms and definitions apply.

Atomic absorption

Absorption of electromagnetic radiation by free atoms in the gas phase wherein a line spectrum is obtained which is specific for the absorbing atoms.

Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS)

Spectroanalytical method for qualitative determination and quantitative evaluation of element concentrations wherein the technique determines these concentrations by measuring the atomic absorption of free atoms.

Flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS)

Atomic absorption spectrometry that uses a flame to create free atoms of the analyte in the gas phase.

Graphite Furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS)

Atomic absorption spectrometry involving electrothermal atomization in a graphite furnace.

Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)

Analytical method for qualitative determination and quantitative evaluation of element concentrations by measuring the ions produced by a radiofrequency inductively coupled plasma. In the mass spectrometer the ions are separated and the elements identified according to their mass-to-charge ratio m/z, while the concentration of the elements is proportional to the numbers of ions.

Inductively Coupled Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES)

Trace-level, elemental analysis technique that uses the emission spectra of a sample to identify, and quantify the elements present.

Extraction solution

4 % per volume acetic acid solution recovered after the extraction test and which is analyzed for lead and cadmium concentration.

Reference surface area

The area that is intended to come into contact with foodstuffs in normal use

Drinking Rim

20 mm wide section of the external surface of the item, measured downwards from the upper edge along the wall of the item^[1][2].

Test solution

4 % per volume acetic acid solution used in the test to extract lead and cadmium from the article.

Ceramic ware

Ceramic articles which are intended to be used in contact with foodstuffs, e.g. food ware made of china, porcelain, earthenware or stoneware, whether glazed or not.

Cups

Small ceramic or glass-ceramic hollowware commonly used for the consumption of beverages. Cups normally have a handle and are typically, but not exclusively, used for the consumption of beverages at elevated temperatures. Cups are generally used with a saucer.

[SOURCE: ISO 6486-1. “glass” is removed from cups definition since is covered by ISO 7086]

Mugs

Small ceramic or glass-ceramic hollowware commonly used for the consumption of beverages. Mugs normally have a handle and are typically, but not exclusively, used for the consumption of beverages at elevated temperatures. Mugs are generally not used with a saucer.

[SOURCE: ISO 6486-1. “glass” is removed from mugs definition since is covered by ISO 7086]

Dinnerware

Combination of ceramic ware, glass ceramic ware (3.18) and glass ware specially intended for the serving of food on the table, including plates, dishes and salad bowls, but excluding ware typically used for beverages.

Flatware

Ceramic or glass ware (3.17) which has an internal depth not exceeding 25 mm, measured from the lowest point to the horizontal plane passing through the point of overflow.

Food ware

Articles which are intended to be used for the preparation, cooking, serving and storage of food or drinks

Glass ware

Articles which are intended to be used in contact with foodstuffs and made of glass.

Note 1 to entry: Glass is an inorganic material produced by the complete fusion of raw materials at high temperature into a homogeneous liquid which is then cooled to a rigid condition, essentially without crystallization. The material may be clear, coloured, or opaque, depending on the level of colouring and opacifying agents used.

Glass ceramic ware

Articles which are intended to be used in contact with foodstuffs and made of glass ceramic.

Note 1 to entry: Glass-ceramic is an Inorganic material produced by the complete fusion of raw materials at high temperatures into a homogeneous liquid which is then cooled to a rigid condition and temperature treated in such a way as to produce a mostly microcrystalline body.

Ceramic Hollowware

Ceramic ware having an internal depth greater than 25 mm, measured from the lowest point to the horizontal plane passing through the point of overflow.

Hollowware is subdivided into three categories based on volume:

• Small: hollowware with a capacity < 1,1 l;
• Large: hollowware with a capacity of ≥ 1,1 l;
• Storage: hollowware with a capacity of ≥ 3 l.

Cooking ware

Ware, whose primary intended use is the cooking of food or liquids on the top of a stove, cooker or hob, and/or in an oven and which transfers heat from the heat source to food.

[SOURCE: Additional definition with respect to ISO 6486-1]

These limits refer to the testing conditions described in ISO 6486 part 1: i.e., three leaches with 4 % ^v/_v acetic acid for 24 hours (±0,5 hours) at 22 °C (±2 °C) with the limits being applied to the results of the third leach.

Table 1 — Permissible limits for lead- and cadmium-release

NOTE If the applicable metal release limits are met after the first leach, then no further testing is required^[3][2].

Bibliography

[1] “Scoping investigations on the release of metals from the rim area of decorated articles (in support of the revision of Ceramic Directive 84/500/EEC) “ Mercedes Ana Peltzer, Giorgia Beldì, Natalia Jakubowska and Catherine Simoneau ISSN 1831-9424 - ISBN 978-92-79-47228-2 – DOI: 10.2788/484454 Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union 2015

[2] “Towards suitable tests for the migration of metals from ceramic and crystal tableware: Work in support of the revision of the Ceramic Directive 84/500/EEC” Peltzer Mercedes, Beldì Giorgia, Jakubowska Natalia, Simoneau Catherine, EUR 28872 EN, ISBN 978-92-79-76302-1 (pdf), doi:10.2760/54169 (online), JRC108092 Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2017

[3] “Scoping investigations on the release of metals from crystalware (in support of the revision of Ceramic Directive 84/500/EEC) “ Mercedes Ana Peltzer, Giorgia Beldì, Natalia Jakubowska and Catherine Simoneau ISSN 1831-9424 - ISBN 978-92-79-47230-5 – DOI: 10.2788/885263 Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union 2015