The limitation of heavy metals in raw materials is an important issue for quality control of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The amounts of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As) and copper (Cu), in 13 items of raw materials, such as Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens, Acori Graminei Rhizoma, Lycii Radicis Cortex, Pheretma, Myristicae Semen, Prunellae Spica, Alpiniae Katsumadai Semen, Houttuyniae Herba, Perillae Fructus, Polygalae Radix, Draconis Os, Longan Arillus and Gentianae Rhizoma et Radix, were determined by ICP/MS (inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometer). The 80th percentile of each heavy metal in raw materials lay in the range of 0.05-27.64 ppm for Pb, 0.03-2.44 ppm for Cd, N.D.-0.23 ppm for Hg, 0.01- 14.09 ppm for As, and 6.66-19.09 ppm for Cu. These survey data could provide the reference for the limitation assessment of heavy metals in raw materials of TCM by the regulatory authority in Taiwan.