On December 20, the European Food Safety Agency established a weekly allowance for the main forms of mercury in food-methyl mercury and inorganic mercury. The EU pollutant expert group sets a limit of 4 mg/kg body weight for inorganic mercury, which is consistent with the limit set by the Food Additives Committee; for methylmercury, the expert group sets a limit of 1.3 mg/kg body weight, which is lower than food additives Committee limit (1.6 mg/kg).

For people who regularly consume fish foods, the dietary exposure of methyl mercury may exceed the allowable intake limit, including pregnant women, which may affect the critical period of fetal brain development due to excessive methyl mercury intake. Inorganic mercury is relatively less toxic, and it is widely found in fish and other seafood. Therefore, excessive consumption of these products may also cause the intake of inorganic mercury to exceed the limit. EU experts remind consumers to be vigilant.

(Source: WTO Inspection and Quarantine Information Network)