Macao Updates Heavy Metal Limits in Food – Administrative Regulation No. 27/2026
The Macao SAR Government has issued Administrative Regulation No. 27/2026, which was published in the Official Gazette No. 39/2026 on 29 September 2026. This regulation amends Administrative Regulation No. 23/2018 on maximum levels of heavy metal contaminants in food. It will take effect on 1 April 2027.
Key Highlights
- Expanded scope: The regulation now explicitly distinguishes inorganic arsenic from total arsenic, and methyl mercury from total mercury, alongside cadmium, lead, and tin.
- Refined categories: Food groups are broken down into more specific tiers, such as rice types, fungi species, seafood species, dried spices and dairy sub categories.
- Stricter limits: Infant foods, dairy products, salt, fruit juices, fruit, vegetable, drinking water, etc. now face tighter thresholds to strengthen consumer protection.
- Differentiated limits: Certain seafood, fungi, cocoa products, etc. are managed with tiered limits reflecting natural accumulation differences.
- New coverage: Chocolate in different cocoa solid percentages is now explicitly regulated for cadmium content.
For full details, please consult the Official Gazette – Administrative Regulation No. 27/2026 and the original No. 23/2018 (Chinese and Portuguese versions available).
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Reference
https://images.bo.dsaj.gov.mo/bo/i/2026/39/rega-27-2026.pdf
