Section 990. Copper, use limitation

A. Except as specified in subsections B and C of this section, copper and copper alloys such as brass may not be used in contact with a food that has a pH below 6.0 such as vinegar, fruit juice, or wine or for a fitting or tubing installed between a backflow prevention device and a carbonator.^P

B. Copper and copper alloys may be used in contact with beer brewing ingredients that have a pH below 6.0 in the prefermentation and fermentation steps of a beer brewing operation such as a brewpub or microbrewery.

C. Copper and copper alloys may be used in contact with apple butter and molasses that have a pH below 6.0 during the typical processing times (i.e., mixing, cooking, and cooling) for these products, as long as laboratory analysis does not reveal excessive levels of copper or other heavy metals in the finished product. Apple butter and molasses may not be held or stored in copper or copper alloys for time periods any longer than the typical processing times for these products.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 24, Issue 02, eff. October 16, 2007; amended, Virginia Register Volume 32, Issue 22, eff. July 12, 2016.

Statutory Authority

§ 3.2-5121 of the Code of Virginia.