Import Alert 52-08

"Detention Without Physical Examination of Ceramicware Due to Excessive Lead and/or Cadmium"

FDA has identified dietary lead exposure as a significant public health issue. Lead and cadmium are components of the glaze used in making ceramicware, and can leach into foods in significant amounts when the glaze is improperly formulated, applied, or fired. Lead can also leach from the colors used to make patterns in some ceramicware. In FY'93, approximately 15% of the imported lots analyzed were found violative for lead and/or cadmium.

Districts may detain, without physical examination, ceramicware for food use from the manufacturers and/or shippers identified in the Red List to this alert.

Continued surveillance of imported ceramicware intended for food use is warranted. Emphasis should be placed on those items designed to hold liquid foods. Refer to CP 7304.019B, "Toxic Elements in Tableware and Cookware," for guidance on methodology, countries with violative histories, etc. CPG's 545.400 and 545.450 contain specific guidelines for violative levels of cadmium and lead for various types of ceramicware, as well as criteria for release of decorative articles.

Recommendations for detention without physical examination should be forwarded to DIOP when analysis shows the guidelines in the CPG's have been met. Detention recommendations should be pattern specific.

For questions or issues concerning science, science policy, sample collection, analysis, preparation, or analytical methodology, contact the Division of Field Science (DFS) at 301 796-6600. ***

All requests for removal from detention without physical examination should be address to DIOP 301-796-0356.

Ceramicware

"The article is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to Section 801(a)(3) in that it appears to contain excessive [lead and/or cadmium] residues, unsafe food additives within the meaning of Section 409 [Adulterated 402(a)(2)(c) (i)]."

OASIS charge code - UNSAFE ADD