This European Standard is one in a series of Standards for the determination of heavy metals in an aqueous extract of paper or board intended for contact with food. This European Standard specifies the test method for the determination of cadmium, lead and chromium in an aqueous extract. It is applicable to paper and paperboard with extractable metal contents exceeding: 0,02 mg per kg for cadmium; 0,15 mg per kg for lead; 0,05 mg per kg for chromium. Metal content levels below those given can be measured by this European Standard if very sensitive equipment is available and if all other laboratory conditions fulfil the requirements for trace element analysis.