Food Irradiation: Status report on Steritech Pty Ltd application to irradiate food
Application A413: Irradiation of herbs, spices, herbal infusions, peanuts, cashew nuts, almonds and pistachio nuts
Steritech Pty Ltd applied to the Australia New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA) for permission, under ANZFA Standard A17 - Irradiation of Food, to irradiate herbs, spices, nuts, seeds and teas. The application covers the use of irradiation to destroy food poisoning bacteria, control insect infestation, delay sprouting and destroy weed seeds.
Following discussions with ANZFA, the applicant has deleted oilseeds, green and black teas and other nuts from the application. The applicant also amended the application to exclude the decontamination of nuts.
ANZFA accepted the application for further consideration, in accordance with its normal statutory processes, following a preliminary assessment and the preparation of a paper discussing the issues associated with the application. On 11 October 2000 ANZFA sought public comment and asked for written submissions on the potential impact of the application on consumers, industry and government, with supporting evidence for any claims made in respect of the application. Submissions were invited from any interested group or individual.
The eight-week period for the presentation of submissions closed on 6 December 2000. By the end of June 2001, ANZFA had received submissions from a total of 303 signatories, including 269 individuals, 13 community groups, 11 industry associations and 10 government agencies. The submissions have come from Australia and from New Zealand.
Application evaluation process
A Steering Group of representatives from government (health and agriculture agencies), industry and consumer groups from Australia and New Zealand, together with an independent expert in the field or irradiation, is assisting ANZFA with the evaluation of this application.
After a review of the submissions and the data submitted by the applicant, ANZFA sought additional information from Steritech Pty Ltd. ANZFA has now received the information and will be working with the Steering Group to complete a full assessment of the application.
ANZFA's original timetable for the evaluation of this application has been delayed by the time taken to provide the additional information. The second round of public consultation on the draft risk assessment report will take place from 18 July to 15 August 2001.
A copy of the application, the draft risk assessment report and the preliminary issues paper can be found on FSANZ's website (www.foodstandards.gov.au or www.foodstandards.govt.nz ) or requested through the FSANZ offices in Canberra and Wellington. Following the current four week public consultation period, a recommendation will be put to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Council.
Separate Fact Sheets provide general information on food irradiation and information on Standard A17 - Food Irradiation. These are also available on FSANZ' s website.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand | Food Standards Australia New Zealand |
P O Box 7186 | P O Box 10559 |
Canberra BC, ACT 2610 | Wellington NZ 6036 |
Tel: 02 6271 2222 Fax: 02 6271 2278 | Tel: 04 473 9942 Fax: 04 473 9855 |
Website: www.foodstandards.gov.au | Website: www.foodstandards.govt.nz |
Email: info@foodstandards.gov.au |
July 2001