National Monitoring Plan for POAO: Data Analysis Report 2022-23
National Monitoring Plan for POAO: Data Analysis Report 2022-23 - Sampling for heavy metals
A summary of the heavy metals sampling results of imported products of animal origin (POAO) undertaken at UK Border Inspection Posts (BCPs), under the UK’s National Monitoring Plan (NMP), between April 2022 and March 2023.
There were 546 samples from 22 countries taken and checked for the presence of heavy metals. There was one non-compliant sample for Cadmium Cd from Thailand.
The greatest number of heavy metal samples were taken from India (137 or 25%), followed by Sri Lanka (129 or 24%), Pakistan (66 or 12%), Morocco (40 or 7%) and Myanmar (40 or 7%). Countries marked with an asterisk in the table are shown together as ‘other’ on the chart.
Figure 9 - Samples taken by country of origin and percentage of total
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Of the samples tested for heavy metals, the highest numbers were for cadmium Cd (178) followed by mercury Hg (144), lead Pb (120) and arsenic As (72).
Figure 10 - Samples tested for heavy metals
| Hazard | Number of samples |
|---|---|
| Cadmium Cd | 178 |
| Mercury Hg | 144 |
| Lead Pb | 120 |
| Arsenic As | 72 |
| Zinc Zn | 12 |
| Chromium Cr | 11 |
| Copper Cu | 8 |
| Tin for canned products | 1 |
| Total | 546 |