Xin xiang Ceramic Mug Manufacturer, in April 2025, the EU's Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) notified a batch of melamine tableware from China due to formaldehyde migration reaching 18.7 mg/kg, exceeding the legal limit of 15 mg/kg. The same month, a batch of nylon spatulas was notified by Poland for primary aromatic amines (PAAs) migration, with detected values as high as 0.316 mg/kg, far exceeding the limit of 0.01 mg/kg.
These cases reveal an important trend: international regulatory agencies and brand buyers are expanding the scope of safety scrutiny from traditional lead and cadmium to a broader range of chemical substances.
As a company with 25 years of experience in ceramic production and international trade, Xinxiang Ceramic Mug Manufacturer deeply understand that true food safety extends far beyond passing lead and cadmium tests. This article will systematically the "non-traditional" migration risks that international buyers are increasingly concerned about, helping you comprehensively understand the safety dimensions of ceramic products.

1、Primary Aromatic Amines (PAAs): Risks Hidden in Colors

1.1 What Are Primary Aromatic Amines?
Primary aromatic amines are a class of organic compounds commonly used in the synthesis of azo dyes and pigments. In ceramic products, they may originate from certain colored glazes, printed decals, or decorative coatings.
1.2 Why Be Concerned?
EU regulations set extremely strict limits for the migration of primary aromatic amines from food contact materials—non-detectable (detection limit of 0.01 mg/kg) . This means any detectable PAAs migration could lead to product rejection.
In 2025 notification cases, multiple batches of nylon kitchenware from China were notified by several European countries due to PAAs migration. Although these cases primarily involved plastic products, the ceramic industry must also be vigilant—certain low-cost colored glazes or decals may contain azo colorants that can decompose under acidic conditions, potentially producing primary aromatic amines.
1.3 Our Practice
At Xinxiang Ceramics factory, all suppliers of colored glazes and decals must provide declarations of being azo dye-free along with third-party test reports. For dark-colored products (such as deep red, deep blue, black), we insist on using high-temperature stable inorganic pigments rather than organic colorants, fundamentally eliminating PAAs risk.

2、Formaldehyde Migration: Not Just a Plastic Issue

2.1 Where Does Formaldehyde Come From?
Many people believe formaldehyde is only a concern for melamine tableware or composite boards, unrelated to ceramics. However, resin coatings or special decorative effects on certain ceramic products may involve the use of formaldehyde-based compounds.
2.2 Regulatory Requirements and Risks
The EU migration limit for formaldehyde in food contact materials is 15 mg/kg. In April 2025, a batch of melamine tableware was notified by France for formaldehyde migration of 18.7 mg/kg, demonstrating the strict enforcement of this parameter.
For ceramic products, risks primarily come from:
Resin additives in certain antique-effect glazes
Fixative coatings on some overglaze decals
Organic carriers in special metallic luster effects
2.3 How to Prevent?
We adhere to the principle of "high-temperature fixation, inorganic foundation." All food-contact surfaces are strictly prohibited from using any organic coatings that may contain formaldehyde. Even for decorative areas, we prioritize high-temperature stable, purely inorganic pigment systems.

3、Cobalt, Barium, Zinc and Other Heavy Metals: Hidden Variables in Glaze Formulations

3.1 Scientific Research Reveals Risks
A study published in Food and Chemical Toxicology systematically examined the migration of multiple trace elements from 18 commercial glazes. The research found that beyond lead and cadmium, elements such as aluminum, boron, barium, cobalt, chromium, copper, lithium, manganese, nickel, antimony, vanadium, and zinc could also migrate under specific conditions, posing potential health risks.
3.2 Cobalt: The Concern Behind Blue
Cobalt is a commonly used blue colorant in ceramic glazes. However, research indicates that cobalt can migrate under acidic conditions. In April 2025, a batch of cast iron teapots from Belgium was notified by Germany due to cobalt migration risk, confirming regulatory attention to this element.
3.3 Barium, Zinc: Keys to Stability
Barium and zinc are frequently used as fluxes and opacifiers in glazes. Studies have found that under low pH conditions (pH 2-3), the migration of these elements increases significantly. This means that when ceramic mugs hold acidic beverages like lemonade or fruit juice, risks correspondingly increase.
3.4 Influencing Factors: More Than Just Composition
Scientific research demonstrates that element migration depends not only on glaze composition but is also affected by multiple variables:
Type of acid: Citric acid and malic acid are generally more aggressive to glazes than acetic acid
Temperature: Migration increases linearly with temperature rise
Firing temperature: For ceramics fired at 900°C, temperature effects on migration are particularly significant
3.5 Our Solution
Faced with these complex variables, we adopt a dual strategy of "formula optimization + process control":
First, we collaborate with glaze suppliers to develop stable formulations specifically for export markets, adjusting flux systems to reduce the content of easily migrating elements. Second, we conduct extreme condition testing on batches—not only standard condition migration tests but also performance under more rigorous conditions such as citric acid exposure and elevated temperatures.

4、Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Hidden Risks in Silicone Accessories

4.1 Silicone Accessories ≠ Absolute Safety
Many ceramic mugs come with silicone lids, non-slip pads, or insulating sleeves. Although these accessories may not directly contact food, they can release volatile organic compounds during use.
4.2 Stringent Limit Requirements
The EU limit for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in food-contact silicone materials is 0.5% . In April 2025, multiple batches of silicone air fryer accessories from China were notified by Austria for VOC exceedances (up to 2.28%).
4.3 Our Quality Control Standards
For all orders involving ceramic mugs with silicone accessories, we insist on:
Requiring silicone suppliers to provide VOC test reports
Conducting incoming inspection on each batch of silicone accessories
Prioritizing platinum-cured silicone over peroxide-cured systems (the latter has higher VOC risk)

5、Overall Migration: The Invisible "Comprehensive Indicator"

5.1 What Is Overall Migration?
Overall migration testing measures the total amount of substances migrating from food contact materials into food simulants, regardless of whether these substances are toxic. It is a comprehensive safety indicator reflecting the overall stability of the material.
5.2 Why Is It Important?
Even if individual element migrations are within limits, exceeding the overall migration limit still indicates insufficient material stability and potential release of excessive foreign substances into food. For ceramic products, insufficiently dense glazes or inadequate firing are primary causes of elevated overall migration.
5.3 Our Control Methods
We ensure overall migration compliance through:
Strict monitoring of firing temperatures: Ensuring complete glaze vitrification
Regular water absorption testing: High absorption rates directly signal insufficient glaze density
Specialized evaluation of special glaze effects (such as crackle glazes, matte glazes)

6、From Compliance to Trust: Buyers' Real Concerns

6.1 Regulatory Trends: Expanding Scope
2025 notification data shows the regulatory scope for food contact materials is continuously expanding:
Non-traditional parameters like formaldehyde, PAAs, and VOC account for significantly higher proportions
Increasingly stringent review of declaration documents (e.g., notification 2025.3032 rejected due to missing test reports)
Information sharing among regulatory agencies in different countries means a single violation could block global market access
6.2 Brand Buyers' Deep Concerns
International brand buyers we work with have concerns that extend far beyond the basic question of "compliance." What they truly care about is:
"Is your production process traceable?"
Compliance cannot rely solely on final testing. True safety is built upon full-chain control encompassing raw material procurement, formula design, and production processes.
"Is your product safe even under extreme conditions?"
Standard test conditions (4% acetic acid, 22°C, 24 hours) represent minimum requirements. Buyers increasingly focus on product performance under more rigorous conditions such as high temperature, long-term use, and contact with citric acid.
"Do you understand and control all potential risks?"
A ceramic mug supplier unaware of PAAs, cobalt migration, and VOC risks cannot win the trust of high-end clients.

7、An Action Checklist for Buyers

Based on two decades of experience, we recommend that international buyers incorporate the following questions into their supplier evaluation system when selecting ceramic mug factories:
7.1 Documentation Level
Does the supplier provide third-party test reports within the last 12 months, covering lead, cadmium, as well as primary aromatic amines, formaldehyde, and specific heavy metal migration?
Are Declarations of Conformity (DoC) and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for glazes and colorants provided?
For products with silicone accessories, are VOC test reports available?
7.2 Technical Level
Does the ceramic mug manufacturer understand the effects of different acids (acetic, citric, malic) on migration?
Are colored glazes specially evaluated to ensure they are free from azo colorants?
Does the ceramic mug manufacturer have the capability to conduct extreme condition testing (high temperature, extended duration, multiple food simulants)?
7.3 Production Level
Is there process control data demonstrating firing temperature stability?
Are water absorption tests conducted to monitor glaze density?
Is there an incoming inspection process for raw materials?

Conclusion: Safety Is a Systemic Capability

Looking back on two decades in the industry, we have witnessed the evolution of understanding ceramic safety from "lead and cadmium compliance" to "comprehensive chemical substance control." Each regulatory update and every notification case reminds us: true food safety has no shortcuts; it is rooted in profound understanding of material science, meticulous control of production processes, and continuous exploration of unknown risks.
When a ceramic mug travels from our kilns to the global market, it carries not just a cup of coffee or tea, but a solemn commitment to consumer health. This commitment requires us to continuously ask: beyond lead and cadmium, what else should we be concerned about?