Treatment of food and food ingredients with ionizing radiation

Citation

Jukes, D. (1999), "Treatment of food and food ingredients with ionizing radiation", British Food Journal, Vol. 101 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/bfj.1999.070101dab.008

Treatment of food and food ingredients with ionizing radiation

Community rules on the sensitive issue of treating foodstuffs and food ingredients with ionizing radiation have been agreed between the two branches of the Community’s legislative authority, i.e. the European Parliament and the Council.

Meeting in the conciliation committee, the delegations of the two institutions agreed on:

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  a framework directive laying down general provisions such as the conditions for treatment, the rules governing the approval and control of irradiation facilities and labelling;

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  an implementing directive listing the foodstuffs which can be treated with ionizing radiation.

The Commission’s proposal initially a single text was presented ten years ago in December 1988. The agreement provides for a harmonized approach as to the principles governing irradiation; in contrast, harmonization of the list of foods and food ingredients that may be treated by this method will only be achieved in stages.

The framework directive applies to the manufacture, marketing and importation of foods and food ingredients. Food irradiation may be authorized only if:

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  there is a reasonable technological need;

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  it presents no health hazard and is carried out under the conditions proposed;

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  it is of benefit to the consumer;

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  it is not used as a substitute for hygiene and health practices or for good manufacturing or agricultural practice.

Food irradiation may be used only for the following purposes:

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  to reduce the incidence of food-borne disease by destroying pathogenic organisms;

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  to reduce spoilage of foodstuffs by retarding or arresting decay processes and destroying spoilage organisms;

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  to reduce loss of foodstuffs by premature ripening, germination or sprouting;

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  to rid foodstuffs of organisms harmful to plant or plant products.

The treatment of foodstuffs or ingredients with ionizing radiation even when such an ingredient constitutes less than 1 per cent of the finished product will always have to be mentioned on the label; for products sold in bulk, the words ‘‘irradiated’’ or ‘‘treated with ionizing radiation’’ must appear on a display or notice.

The purpose of the implementing directive is to establish a positive list of foodstuffs which may be treated with ionizing radiation.

The initial Community list, together with the maximum doses authorized for this purpose, is limited to dried aromatic herbs, spices and vegetable seasonings. Such products, if not treated, are frequently contaminated and/or infested with organisms harmful to human health, and the alternative form of treatment by using fumigants is no longer allowed because of the toxic potential of their residues.

The complete list will be established in stages, with the Commission submitting proposals (to the European Parliament and the Council which will decide under the co-decision procedure), after examination of the national authorizations in force and after consultation of the Scientific Committee for Food. By 31 December 2002 at the latest, the Commission will submit a proposal intended to establish the final positive list.

Full harmonization will therefore be achieved only with the entry into force of the final positive list. Until that date, member states can maintain existing authorizations concerning the treatment of foodstuffs with ionizing radiation provided that:

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  the treatment of the foodstuff concerned has been subject to a favourable opinion of the Scientific Committee for Food;

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  the overall average absorbed radiation dose does not exceed the limit values recommended by the Scientific Committee for Food;

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  ionizing radiation and placing on the market are effected in accordance with the framework directive;

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  such authorizations are notified to the Commission and the other member states.

Likewise, member states may, in compliance with the rules of the Treaty, continue to apply existing national restrictions or bans on ionizing radiation of foodstuffs and food ingredients and on trade in irradiated foodstuffs as long as the foodstuff or food ingredient does not appear on the positive list established by the implementing directive.

The following transposition periods apply: member states have 18 months to adapt their legislation in such a way as to permit the marketing and use of irradiated foodstuffs, and a period of grace of 24 months to prohibit the marketing and use of irradiated foodstuffs not complying with the framework directive. As for the initial list referred to above, the transposition period is again 18 months.