

Wednesday, 27 January 1999

ANZFA Seeks Public Comment On Draft  Standard For Food Treated With Irradiation The Australia New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA) today called for  submissions from the public, the food industry and professional groups in  New Zealand on the proposed draft standard for food treated with irradiation.

The draft standard, which includes a requirement that food treated this way  must be clearly labelled, has already been through public consultation in  Australia. ANZFA is now carrying out an eight week consultation period in  New Zealand.

The proposed standard will only permit irradiation where it protects public  health and safety or national biosecurity. Irradiated food will be clearly  labelled. Based on overseas experience, it is not expected that there will be a  great number of irradiated foods on the market. These would most likely be  some spices (to control food borne diseases) and some tropical fruits and  vegetables (to control pests).

New Zealand currently has a food regulation that permits applications to the  NZ Government for the sale of irradiated food. However, since 1989,  government policy in this country has not allowed irradiation processing of  food for human consumption and the 1984 Food Regulations prohibit the sale  of food treated by irradiation unless specific permission for the use of the  treatment has been granted by the Minister of Health. Currently there is a  moratorium on the irradiation of food in Australia

The proposed standard would permit the entry to New Zealand and Australia  of some foods treated with irradiation only once they have undergone a  specific case by case, safety assessment by ANZFA. There is also provision  for public consultation in this evaluation process. The food must then be  approved by the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Council, which  consists of the New Zealand Associate Minister for Health and Health  Ministers from the States and Territories and Parliamentary Secretary to the  Federal Minister for Health.

The proposed standard also closely follows the international standard  developed by the Codex Alimentarius Commission and the standards

developed in other countries. Already forty-one countries, including the United  Kingdom and the USA, have authorised the irradiation of certain foods. Three  international agencies the World Health Organization, the Food and  Agricultural Organization and the International Atomic Energy Agency accept  the safety and usefulness of food irradiation.

The technology of food irradiation has been researched for over fifty years. it  uses low doses of ionising radiation in a process which is similar to the  sterilisation of dressings and equipment in hospitals. The food does not  become radioactive but the process does destroy harmful bacteria found in  food. This is similar to a pasteurisation process except that it can be used on  solid foods as well as liquid.

The primary use of irradiation of food is to reduce the amount of harmful  bacteria and micro-organisms which can potentially cause foodborne illness  such asCampylobacter, Listeria,andSalmonella, in foods such as dried herbs  and spices, bean sprouts and uncooked chicken. For example, if left  untreated, spices such as paprika (of which New Zealand imports some 80  tonnes per year) can carry the bacteria which cause salmonellosis.

To rid high risk foods of potentially harmful bacteria, some form of treatment is  required. In the case of spices, ethylene oxide gas is currently used which can  leave undesirable chemical residues in foods.

Food irradiation is a very effective method of removing contamination, and  has been well researched and studied overseas for a large number of years.  While it is not a substitute for good manufacturing and hygiene practices, it  provides an additional safeguard.

Irradiation could also play an important role in preventing unwanted insect  pests from entering New Zealand on certain imported food. In order to protect  itself from the introduction of unwanted exotic pests such as fruit fly, New  Zealand requires fruit, vegetables, nuts, cereals and grains that might carry  pests from certain countries to be treated. The predominant current treatment  is fumigation using chemicals such as ozone-depleting methyl bromide, which  is being phased out internationally. Irradiation could provide an effective  alternative in some instances.

Another use for irradiation is in maintaining food quality (e.g. by preventing  sprouting in potatoes) and extending the shelf-life (e.g. in berry fruit such as  strawberries).

The proposed new standard would therefore permit the use of this alternative  technology for enhancing both the safety and wholesomeness of food, as well  as protecting New Zealand’s biosecurity.

Copies of the draft food standard (P89B) can be obtained from the ANZFA  website www.foodstandards.govt.nz or by contacting ANZFA at:

PO Box 10559

The Terrace WELLINGTON 6063

NEW ZEALAND

TEL (04) 473 9942 FAX (04) 473 9855

Submissions should be received by ANZFA by 26 March 1999.

Media contact for more information: Dr Hugh Baber

General Manager New Zealand

ANZFA

(04) 473 9942 bh or 021 648 054 ah

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