Heavy Metal Content for Cosmetic Products
Heavy metals test in cosmetic products determines the presence of heavy metal contamination in products. The presence of heavy metal impurities may pose health risks to consumers.
What are heavy metals?
Heavy metals are naturally occurring substances that can also be introduced as contaminants from colorants, dyes, raw materials, and other sources into finished cosmetic products.
Regulatory bodies and authorities in various countries and markets have set forth guidelines to control the presence of trace levels of heavy metals in cosmetic products, which are known as technically unavoidable limits.
Obtaining a heavy metal test report is crucial as it serves as significant evidence to demonstrate product quality and compliance with standards and/or regulatory requirements.
What are the cosmetic heavy metal limits from different countries?
EU/UK
|
Heavy Metal Parameters |
Limit |
|
Mercury (Hg) |
<1 mg/kg |
|
Lead (Pb) |
<20 mg/kg |
|
Arsenic (As) |
<5 mg/kg |
|
Cadmium (Cd) |
<5 mg/kg |
|
Antimony (Sb) |
<10 mg/kg |
|
Soluble Nickel (Ni soluble) |
<10mg/kg |
Remark:
- With reference to Health Authority BgA (Recommendation of 1965 from German Health Journal No.28, July 1985) and The German Health Journal No. 7/1992, Session 45 from November 14, 1991
|
Heavy Metal Parameters |
Limit |
|
Arsenic (As) |
Theater, fan or carnival make-up: ≤ 2.5 mg/kg Toothpaste and others: ≤ 0.5 mg/kg |
|
Cadmium (Cd) |
≤ 0.1 mg/kg |
|
Lead (Pb) |
Make-up powders, rouge, eyeshadow, eyeliner, kajal, theater, fan or carnival make-up: ≤ 5.0 mg/kg Toothpaste: ≤ 0.5 mg/kg Others: ≤ 2.0 mg/kg |
|
Antimony (Sb) |
≤0.5 mg/kg |
|
Mercury (Hg) |
≤ 0.1 mg/kg |
Remark:
- BVL (2016), Technically avoidable heavy metal contents in cosmetic products (Bund, B. J Consum Prot Food Saf (2017) 12: 51. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00003-016-1044-2)
US
|
Heavy Metal Parameters |
Limit |
|
Lead (Pb) |
See remark
|
|
Mercury (Hg) |
< 1mg/kg for general cosmetics < 65 mg/Kg for cosmetics intended to be used on the eye area |
Remark:
- Mercury: US Limit (non-eye area use) – US Code of Federal Regulations 21CFR700.13
- Lead:
- Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act (HB 1047) Chapter 70A.560 RCW, Cosmetic Products – Toxic Chemicals
Beginning January 1, 2025, no person may manufacture, knowingly sell, offer for sale, distribute for sale, or distribute for use in Washington State any cosmetic product that contains intentionally added lead or lead compounds (CAS 7439-92-1), lead or lead compounds at one part per million (ppm) or above.
-
- US California Proposition 65 (Superior Court of the State of California, April 22, 2009 – Case no. H217587 (Consolidate with no. 01-032306))
< 5 ppm for lipstick & lipliner, < 10 ppm for eye shadow and blush
Canada
|
Heavy Metal Parameters |
Limit |
|
Arsenic (As) |
≤ 3 mg/kg |
|
Cadmium (Cd) |
≤ 3 mg/kg |
|
Lead (Pb) |
≤ 10 mg/kg |
|
Antimony (Sb) |
≤ 5 mg/kg |
|
Mercury (Hg) |
≤ 1 mg/kg |
Remark:
- Guidance on Heavy Metal Impurities in Cosmetics by Health Canada
Australia
|
Heavy Metal Parameters |
Limit |
|
Lead (Pb) |
≤ 250 mg/kg except products containing more than 250 mg/kg of lead acetate designed for use in hair treatments |
Remark:
- Australia Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956 and amendments -Schedule 2 (Item 3)
ASEAN
|
Heavy Metal Parameters |
Limit |
|
Arsenic (As) |
≤5 mg/kg |
|
Cadmium (Cd) |
≤3 mg/kg* ≤5 mg/kg |
|
Lead (Pb) |
≤20 mg/kg |
|
Mercury (Hg) |
≤1 mg/kg |
Remark:
- ASEAN Guidelines on Limits of Contaminants for Cosmetics (version 3.0)
- *The limit of Cadmium in Thailand is 3mg/kg
Hong Kong
|
Heavy Metal Parameters |
Limit |
|
Arsenic (As) |
≤ 2 mg/kg |
|
Cadmium (Cd) |
≤ 5 mg/kg |
|
Lead (Pb) |
≤ 10 mg/kg |
|
Mercury (Hg) |
≤ 1 mg/kg |
Remark:
- With reference to China Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics, 2015 edition, China Food and Drug Administration - Part 1 General, Table 2 (3.4) Restricted Limit of Harmful Elements in Cosmetic Products.
How is the test conducted?
Heavy metal test (except Nickel soluble) is conducted by in-house method using microwave digestion followed by ICP-MS.
Nickel soluble test is conducted by in-house method using ICP.
How long will the test take?
It takes 10 working days for a regular service.
How much sample should be submitted for the test?
Please submit a minimum of 20g or 20mL per product for one test.
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