The obvious toxicity of cadmium and lead is at the basis of compulsory concentration determinations for lixiviation solutions of ceramic and earthenware household receptacles such as cups, plates, bowls and others. Concentrations in the food simulant which exceed 0.100 ± 0.005mg Cd dm-2and 1.00 ± 0.05 mg Pb dm-2for flat receptacles, 0.500± 0.025 mg Cd l-1and 5.00± 0.25 mg Pb l-1for low volume (< 5 l) receptacles and 0.250 ± 0.025 mg Cd l-1and 2.50 ± 0.25 mg Pb l-1for high volume (> 5 l) receptacles are not acceptable and measures were taken by the EU member state authorities to enforce these norm concentrations. Generally, the uncertainty on the results forwarded by the legislation amounts to 5%. This value does not at all match the pronounced variability observed for several ‘identical’ trade samples, but rather represents the inherent variability of spectrometric analyses alone. Considering that the coefficients of variation can be as high as ˜30%, either the ranges of acceptable concentrations or the maximal allowable concentrations should be corrected. Aware of the negative health e? ects of heavy metal contamination and of the risk increase due to dietary intake, a downward adjustment of the acceptable concentration ranges to 0.07mg Cd dm-2± 12%, 0.30mg Cd l-1± 12% and 0.10 mg Cd l-1± 12% and to 0.8mg Pb.