Through its notification dated 28 April 2016 the FSSAI has proposed to omit the specific labelling requirement as well as the logo for all irradiated foods. The proposed amendment is for the sub-regulation ‘Labelling of Irradiated Foods’ under the category ‘Specific Requirements/ Restrictions on manner of labelling’ in the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011. In these regulations it was mandatory for all irradiated foods to carry a statement indicating the type of irradiation process the food had undergone. All packaged irradiated foods had to mention the method used for irradiating the food, license number of the irradiation unit and the purpose for which irradiation was used.
Now the FSSAI has notified that this specific labelling requirement for irradiated foods could be omitted and in its place there would be a new labelling requirement as recommended in the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Amendment Regulations, 2016.
The FSSAI has also proposed changes in the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, for regulation relating to “Irradiation of Food”. The regulation will be called RADIATION PROCESSING OF FOOD. No other foods except those mentioned in the tables given in the draft proposals will be permitted to go through the radiation process and in doses as mentioned in the tables. Records of the routinely carried out dosing during the radiation process will be maintained as recommended under Atomic Energy (Radiation Processing of Food and Allied Products) Rules, 2012.
The FSSAI has said that if any person has any objections or suggestions regarding the proposed changes requirement for irradiated foods then they can send those to FSSAI within a period of 60 days from the publication of this notification and the Food Authority will consider the suggestions if they are supported by scientific evidence. Once published in the Official Gazette they will be called the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Amendment Regulations, 2016.
Classes of Food Products and Dose Limits for Radiation Processing
| Class | Food | Purpose | Dose Limit kGy (kilo Gray) | |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | Minimum | Maximum |
| 4 | 5 | |||
| Class 1 | Bulbs, stem and root tubers and rhizomes | Inhibit sprouting | 0.02 | 0.2 |
| Class 2
|
Fresh fruits and vegetables
(other than Class 1) |
Delay ripening | 0.2 | 1.0 |
| Insect disinfestation | 0.2 | 1.0 | ||
| Shelf -life extension | 1.0 | 2.5 | ||
| Quarantine application | 0.1 | 1.0 | ||
| Class 3 | Cereals and their milled products, pulses and their
milled products, nuts, oil seeds, dried fruits and their products |
Insect disinfestation | 0.25 | 1.0 |
| Reduction of microbial load | 1.5 | 5.0 | ||
| Class 4 | Fish, aquaculture, seafood and their products (fresh or
frozen) and crustaceans |
Elimination of pathogenic
micro organisms |
1.0 | 7.0 |
| Shelf -life extension | 1.0 | 3.0 | ||
| Control of human parasites | 0.3 | 2.0 | ||
| Class 5 | Meat and meat products including poultry (fresh
and frozen) and eggs |
Elimination of pathogenic
microorganisms |
1.0 | 7.0 |
| Shelf -life extension | 1.0 | 3.0 | ||
| Control of human parasites | 0.3 | 2.0 | ||
| Class 6 | Dry vegetables, seasonings, spices, condiments, dry herbs and their products, tea, coffee, cocoa and plant product | Microbial decontamination | 6.0 | 14.0 |
| Insect disinfestation | 0.3 | 1.0 | ||
| Class 7 | Dried foods of animal
origin and their products |
Insect disinfestation | 0.3 | 1.0 |
| Control of moulds | 1.0 | 3.0 | ||
| Elimination of pathogenic
micro organisms |
2.0 | 7.0 | ||
| Class 8 | Ethnic foods, military rations, space foods, ready to-eat, ready-to-cook/ minimally processed foods. | Quarantine application | 0.25 | 1.0 |
| Reduction of microbial load | 2.0 | 10.0 | ||
| Sterilization | 5.0 | 25.0 | ||
Dose Limits for Radiation Processing of Allied Products
| Sr.No | Allied Product | Purpose | Dose Limit kGy (kiloGray) | |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | Minimum | Maximum |
| 4 | 5 | |||
| 1. | Packaging materials for food or allied products | Microbial decontamination | 5.0 | 10.0 |
| Sterilization | 10.0 | 25.0 | ||
| 2. | Food additives | Insect disinfestation | 0.25 | 1.0 |
| Microbial decontamination | 5.0 | 10.0 | ||
| Sterilization | 10.0 | 25.0 | ||
| 3. | Health foods, dietary
supplements and nutraceuticals |
Insect disinfestation | 0.25 | 1.0 |
| Microbial decontamination | 5.0 | 10.0 | ||
| Sterilization | 10.0 | 25.0 | ||
Previously FSSAI had called this process ‘irradiation of foods’ and now proposes to call it ‘radiation processing of food.’ All radiation processes need to conform to and need to be carried out under the Atomic Energy (Radiation Processing of Food and Allied Products) Rules, 2012 in all areas as given below
- Approval and license of facility undertaking the radiation process needs to be process to be carried out as prescribed under the same Rules.
- Food cannot leave the facility unless the radiation process has been carried out as per the Rules
- Irradiated foods need to be accompanied with a certificate of irradiation indicating the dose of irradiation and the purpose of irradiation
FSSAI has also proposed restrictions on Radiation Processing of Food and so
- The dose limit, the radiation source, and the conditions specified for each type or category of food for processing by radiation have to be as under the Atomic Energy (Radiation Processing of Food and Allied Products) Rules, 2012.
- All radiation processed food will be identifiable so that it is not subjected to re-irradiation. And food will not be irradiated unless specified in the FSSAI regulations.
- Personnel undertaking the radiation process will have minimum qualifications and training as prescribed under the Atomic Energy (Radiation Processing of Food and Allied Products) Rules, 2012.
Standards
Standards of radiation processed food must comply with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act and the Regulations made thereunder specific standards of such food. No radiation processed food shall be sold, stored or transported unless it is as per FSSAI regulations. All radiation processed food can be offered for sale only in pre-packaged form.
Labelling of Radiation Processed Food
In close proximity to the name of the food the label will carry a statement indicating the radiation treatment of the food and label will carry the Radura logo in green colour and will be as follows:
PROCESSED BY RADIATION
Name of the Product:
Purpose of Radiation Processing:
Operating License No. :
Batch Identification No. (BIN) (as provided by facility)
Date of Processing…………………………”
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