Australia to permit irradiation of all fresh fruit and vegetables

On October 30, 2020 Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) called for comments on the draft food regulatory measure that would permit irradiation as a phytosanitary measure for all fresh fruit and vegetables.

Currently, 26 fruits and vegetables can be irradiated according to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. Any addition to the list required the submission of scientific data, in particular the results of nutritional studies. The Queensland Government Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (QLD DAF) petitioned FSANZ for a blanket authorization one year ago. FSANZ has prepared a draft variation to the Code. The same dose range (150 – 1,000 Gy) and conditions (including mandatory labelling) as currently prescribed for permitted fruit and vegetables in the Code would apply. to permit the irradiation of all fresh fruit and vegetables excluding dried pulses, legumes, nuts, and seeds.

The full text of the call for submission can be found here.

We encourage our members interested in expanding the use of irradiation as a phytosanitary treatment to send their comments to FSANZ through the FSANZ website or by email to submissions@foodstandards.gov.au with the mark ‘submission’ , the project number (A1193) and the project name (Irradiation as a phytosanitary measure for all fresh fruit and vegetables).

The deadline for submissions is 6pm (Canberra time) 11 December 2020.