INIS-mf—12864 Food Irradiation Newsletter
JOINT FAO/IAEA DIVISION OF NUCLEAR TECHNIQUES IN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY, VIENNA
Vol. 14, No. 2 ISSN 1011-2588 December 1990
CONTENTS
TO THE READER 2
INTERNATIONAL CONSULTATIVE GROUP ON FOOD IRRADIATION (ICGFI) 1. Food Irradiation Process Control School (FIPCOS) for Technical Supervisors/Plant Managers of Irradiation Facilities, Montreal, Canada, 4-22 June 1990 ^ 2. Food Irradiation Process Control School (FIPCOS) for Food Inspectors/Control Officials, Bombay, India, 3-14 September 1990 5 3. Regional Workshop on Techno-Economic Feasibility of Food Irradiation for Latin America, Santiago, Chile, 2-13 July, 1990 6 4. Workshop on Dosimetry Technique for Food Irradiation, Wageningen, The Netherlands, 19-31 August, 1990 7
INTERNATIONAL FACILITY FOR FOOD IRRADIATION TECHNOLOGY (IFFIT) General Training Course on Food Irradiation, Wageningen, The Netherlands, 11-14 April, 1990 9
FOOD IRRADIATION IN ASIA a. RCA Workshop on Commercialization of Food Irradiation, Shanghai, People's Republic of China, 8-12 January, 1990 , 11 b. First FAO/IAEA Research Co-ordination Meeting on the Asian Regional Co-operative Project on Food Irradiation with Emphasis on Process Control and Acceptance (RPFI Phase III), Bombay, India, 16-20 April, 1990 24 c. Status Reports , 35
COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED 61
RECENT CLEARANCES AND DEVELOPMENT OF REGULATIONS 8l
COMING EVENTS 87 TO THE READER
The membership of the International Consultative Group on Food Irradiation (ICGPI) has grown to 36 countries with Bulgaria, Peru and Vietnam joining during 1990. This issue reports specific training activities on Food Irradiation Process Control School (FIPCOS), both for technical supervisors of irradiation facilities and food control officials/inspectors. Also, summary reports of Workshops on dosimetry techniques for food irradiation and on techno-economic feasibility of food irradiation for Latin American countries are included.
After 12 successful years of operation, the International Facility for Food Irradiation Technology (IFFIT) will cease to function after 31 December 1990. This issue reports the last inter-regional training course Organized by IFFIT. In total, fourteen inter-regional and regional training courses were organized by IFFIT during this period. In recent years, IFFIT also organized Workshops on different aspects of food irradiation, sponsored by ICGFI. Through IFFIT, some 500 scientists/officials from over 40 countries have received their training. IFFIT, thus, provided not only a cost-effective training programme but also an efficient means of transferring the technology to developing countries.
An important feature of this issue is activities on food irradiation in Asian countries. Active developments in the field in several Asian countries may be found in the report of the Workshop on Commercialization of Food Irradiation, Shanghai, and Research Co-ordination Meeting on Asian Regional Co-operative Project on Food Irradiation (with emphasis on acceptance and process control), Bombay. Status of programme in these countries is also included.
We were pleased to receive communications from Argentina, India, Indonesia, The Netherlands and the position of the North American Plant Protection Organization on its acceptance of irradiation as a quarantine treatment. The details of recent approval of irradiated food in Mexico and France are also inciucfed in this issue. The reader will be interested in the report of the National Committee on Food Irradiation of the Philippines which could leaa to development of regulations in the country.
The Food Preservation Section welcomes Dr. G. Giddings, a well-known consultant on food irradiation from the USA, to join its staff starting 1 November 1990. Dr. Giddings will look after a number of Technical Co-operation projects in the field. Dr. A. Brynjolfsson, formerly Project Director of IFFIT, will also take up duties with the Section starting 1 January 1991.
The staff of the Food Preservation Section send their greetings to the readers for the Holiday Season.
FOOD PRESERVATION SECTION I. INTERNATIONAL CONSULTATIVE GROUP ON FOOD IRRADIATION 1. Food Irradiation Process Control School (FIPCOS) for Technical Supervisors/Plant Managers of Irradiation Facilities, Montreal, Canada, 4-22 June 1990. This Second FIPCOS was held at the Canadian Irradiation Center (CIC), Laval/Montreal, 4-22 June 1990. Ten participants who are technical supervisors/plant managers of irradiation facilities being used for treating food, attended the FIPCOS. The list of participants and observers is included in the Annex. A series of lectures and laboratory exercises on different aspects of radiation processing of food (radiation safety, principles of food irradiation, dosimetry, irradiation of specific groups of foods, techno-economics, packaging, consumer issues, etc) was covered. Four sessions were devoted to operation and control of irradiation facility where the participants had to go through all steps required for such processing. The participants were required to take 5 tests and a final examination during the training. All participants successfully completed the course of study and were awarded ICGFI certificates for their training. Annex ICGFI FOOD IRRADIATION PROCESS CONTROL SCHOOL (FIPCOS) Canadian Irradiation Centre, Laval, Canada 4-22 June 1990 List of Participants ARGENTINA Mr. Atushi Hayaia Mechanical Technician Gerencia Area de Radioisotopos y Radiaciones Comision Nacional de Energia Atomica Avenida del Libertador 8250 RA 1429 Buenos Aires CHILE Mr. Luis Felipe Urrutia Silva Plant Manager Comision Chilena Energia Nuclear Amunategui no. 95 Casilla 188-D Santiago CHINA, PEOPLE'S Mr. Hou Hailin REPUBLIC OF Engineer, Shanghai Irradiation Center Shanghai Institute of Nuclear Research, Acaderoia Sinica. 1467 Chaoyang Road, Shanghai 200333 COTE D'lVOIRL' Mr. Ettien Adiafi Production Chief, Food Irradiation PRODEXI-Conserva t ion 01 BP 2407 Abidjan 01 CUBA Mr. Jesus Yanez Querejeta Research Officer (Food Research Institute) 100 Street #5718 /57 y 59 Marianao, Havana GERMANY Mr. Thomas Luther Operator Academy of Sciences of the GDR Central Institute of Isotope and Radiation Research Leipzig Permoserstr. 15 Leipzig 7050 HUNGARY Mr. Mihaly Styevko Chief Engineer AGROSTER Irradiation Co. Jaszberenyi ut 5 H-1106 Budapest INDIA Dr. D.R. Bongirwar Head, Food Engineering Service Station FIPLY, FTEE Dn. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Trombay. Bombay 400 085 INDONESIA Ms. Rahayuningsih Chosdu Centre for Applications of Isotopes & Radiation National Atomic Energy Agency Jl. Cinere Pasar Jumat Kotak Pos 2 Kebayoran Lama. Jakarta 12240 ISRAEL Mr. Reuven Padova Soreq, Nuclear Research Center Israel Atomic Energy Commission Yavne 70 600 THAILAND Mr. Kovit Nouchpramool Senior Radiation Biologist Biological Science Division Office of Atomic Energy for Peace Vibhavadi Rangsit Road. Bangkhen. Bangkok 10900 U.S.A. Dr. Burrell J. Smittle Biological Scientist IV Florida Department of Agriculture Division of Plant Industry P.O. Box 1269 Gainesville. FL 32602 VIET NAM Mr. Nguyen Dinh Duong Engineer, Experimental Nuclear Physics Hanoi Irradiation Centre Viet Nain National Atomic Energy Institute 59 Ly Thuong Kiet Hanoi 2. Food Irradiation Process Control School (FIPCOS) for Food Inspectors/Control Officials, Bombay, India, 3-14 September 1990. This Second FIPCOS was held at the Bhabha Atomic research Centre, Bombay from 3 to 14 September, 1989 for the Food Inspectors/Control Officials from the countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The course was attended by 17 participants from 8 countries. The list of the participants" is given in the Annex. The programme of the course was based on that developed for the First FIPCOS in Wageningen (4-15 September 1989) with more emphasis on practical demonstrations. At the end of the course, a short test was given for auto evaluation. The results of the test showed that participants had acquired a good grasp of the fundamentals of the control of food irradiation facilities and irradiated foods. All participants were awarded certificates for their participation at the course. Food Irradiation Process Control School (FIPCOS) For Food Inspectors/Control Officials 3-14 September, 1990 Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Trombay, Bombay, India List of Participants Mr. Mahfouz Al Bachir Dr. Rohani bte Ali P.O. Box 6091 Health Division Damascus Ministry of Health SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC Block E, Office Complex Jalan Dungun Dr Rahardjo Damansara Heights Jl. Pondok Kopi VII 50490 Kuala Lumpur Blok F 8/10 MALAYSIA Jakarta Timur - 13460 INDONESIA Ms. Saiyuod Prasertvit Food Control Division Hs. Zhao Rong Food and Drug Administration 146 7 Cao Yang Road Ministry of Public Health Shanghai Irradiation Center Devaves Palace, Samsen Road Shanghai 200333 Bangkok 10200 P.R. CHINA THAILAND Hs. Josephine Nketsia-Tabii-i Ms. Srisuda Leelachaikul Ghana Atomic Energy Commission 146/4-5 Soi Sukumvit 77 P.O. Box 80 Sukumvit Road Legon-Accra Bangkok GHANA THAILAND Mr. Vo Hoang Quan Viet Nam Atomic Energy Commission Lythuong Kiet Street 59 "-foreign participants Hanoi VIET NAM 3. Regional Workshop on Techno-Economic Feasibility of Food Irradiation Cor Latin America, Santiago, Chile, 2-13 July 1990. This Regional Workshop on Techno-Economic Feasibility of Food Irradiation for Latin America was held at the Chilean Nuclear Energy Commission in Santiago, Chile from 1 to 13 July 1990. The Workshop was attended by 16 participants from 10 Latin American countries. The list of participants is given in the Annex. The# programme of the Workshop included dosimetry, irradiation processing of foods, irradiation technology, technical and economical feasibility, technical and economical evaluation of irradiation facilities, infrastructure development, political and legal aspects concerning food irradiation and marketing of irradiated foods. Emphasis was given to the economic use of irradiation facilities considering their use in Latin American countries. Use of irradiation as a quarantine treatment was also highlighted. The participants were awarded certificates at the end of the Workshop. Annex Regional Workshop on Techno-Economic Feasibility of Food Irradiation for Latin America Santiago, Chile 2 to 13 July 1990 List of Participants ARGENTINA Mr. C. Daniel Gomez Comision Nacionai de Energia Atomica, Avenida Libertador 8250, Buenos Aires - 1429. BOLIVIA Mr. J.C. Mendez Ferry Executive Director, Instituto Boliviano de Ciencia y Tecnologia Nuclear (IBTEN), Casilla Postal A821, La Paz. BRAZIL Mr. R.H. Moretti Faculty of Food Engineering, University of Campinas, 13.100 Campinas, Sao Paulo. COLOMBIA Mr. L.H. Velez Agudelo Instituto de Asuntos Nucleares, Facilidad Gamma, Apartado Aereo 8595, Bogota, D.E. ECUADOR Mr. E. Jordan Instituto de Cifcncias Nucleares, Comision Ecuatoriana de Energia Atomica, Apartado 1029, Quito. GUATEMALA Mr. S.R. Rodriguez Jimenez Direccion General de Energia Nuclear, Diagonal 17, No. 29-78, Zona 11, Apartado Postal Ht21, Guatemala. MEXICO Mi'. G. Torres Contreras Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares (ININ), A.P. 18-1027, Col. Escandon, 11801, Mexico, D.F. PERU Mr. M. Guzman Quesada Offcina de Ingeniei ia d~1 Froyecto Planta de It i adiacion, Iiislituio r^ruano VENEZUELA Mr. J. Antonio Lozada Qireccion de Asuntos Nucl~arf-s, Minist-.-iio de Energia y Miivis, Tonv Oestc, Pi so 17, Av 4. Workshop on Dosimfctry Technique for Food Irradiation, Waqeninqen, The Netherlands, 19-31 August, 1990. This Workshop on Dosimetry Technique for Food Irradiation was held at the International Agricultural Centre (1AC) and State Institute for Quality Control of Agricultural Products (RIKILT), Wageningen, The Netherlands, from 19 to 31 August, 1990. Twelve participants from 12 countries attended this Workshop. The list of participants is given in the Annex. A series of lectures were given that included fundamentals of dosimetry, description of electron and gamma irradiators, use of various dosimetry systems in food irradiation, dose distribution in products and plant operation and process control. Special emphasis was placed on problems in dosimetry and methods and approaches for eliminating or reducing these problems. The participants were also familiarized with procedures for calibrating their measured dose against international standards; for example, through International Dose Assurance Service (IDAS). Practical dosimetry exercises were performed in the Pilot Plant for Food Irradiation, Wageningen, the Federal Research Centre for Nutrition, Karlsruhe and Beta Gamma Service, Bruchsal, Germany. A visit was also organized at a commercial irradiation facility (Gammaster), Ede, the Netherlands. The participants were awarded certificates for their participation at the Workshop. Participants in the ICGFI/IFFIT Dosimetry Workshop at 19th - 31st August 1990 at the International Centre and State Institute for Quality Control of Agricultural Products (RIKILT) Wageningen, The Netherlands and at the Federal Research Center for Nutrition Karlsruhe, Federal Republic of Germany Ms. Elisabeth Marta Dorda Mr. Cirilo Cesar Sant'Anna da Conceicao Chief, Chemistry and Dosimetry Div. National Atomic energy Commission National Atomic Energy Commission Av. das Americas French 2756 km 11,5 Barra da Tijuca 1425 Buenos Aires Post Box 37750 Argentina 22642 Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil Mr. Juan Miguel Espinoza Berdichevsky Mr. Muhammad Thoyib Thamrin Comision Chilena de Energia Nuclear Dosimetry Division Amunategui 95 CSRSR-NAEA Casilla 188-D PSPKR BATAN Santiago Jin. Cinere Pasar Chile Jum'at Jakarta Selaten Jakarta Mr. Li Chenghua Indonesia Director, Dosimetry Lab. China University of Science and Technol. Ms. Eli Eshet (Eisenberg) 7, District 11 Radiation Technology & Engineering He Pingli Soreq Nuclear Research Center Beijing 100013 Vavne 70600 China Israel Mr. Manolis Niagasas Mr. Taiman Bin Kadni Director Nuclear Energy Unit Medical Physics department Prime Minister's Department Hippokratio Hospital of Athens Puspati Complex Terpsihoris 34 43000 Bangi P. Faliro Selangor Darul Ehsan 17562 Athens Malaysia Greece Mr. Jerzy Maro2 Mr. Jozsef Nagl Lab. of Nuclear Methods in Agric. Head, Food Production Department University of Agriculture Agroster Company ul. Mazowiecka 41 Marokszedo u.ll 60-623 Poznan Budapest H 1110 Poland Hungary Mr. Siriratana Biramontri Mr. Arun Govind Behere Office of Atomic Energy for Peace Food Tech. & Enzyme Eng. Div. Vibhavadee Rangsit Road Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Bangkhen Trombay Bangkok 10900 Bombay 400 085 Thailand India II. INTERNATIONAL FACILITY FOR FOOD IRRADIATION TECHNOLOGY (IFFIT) General Training Course on Food Irradiation, Waqeninqen, The Netherlands, 11-14 April, 1990. The last IFFIT General Training Course on Food Irradiation was held at the International Agricultural Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands from 11 to 14 April, 1990. It was attended by 19 participants from 18 countries. The list of participants is given in the Annex. The course covered a wide range of topics, i.e. fundamentals of radioactivity and radiation, dosimetry and radiation protection, technological feasibility of irradiation of specific group of foods, techno-economic aspects of irradiation processing including types of irradiation facility, good manufacturing practices and process control, food irradiation regulations, international status and role of international organizations, etc. The course included laboratory exercises on dosimetry, irradiation of specific foods, microbiology, detection of irradiated food, and a visit to commercial facilities. The participants expressed their gratitude to the sponsoring organizations and noted with appreciation the role IFFIT had played during its existence in training scientists/engineers from developing countries. The participants were awarded certificates for their participation in the Course. List of Participants for the 10th IFFIT General Training Course in Food Irradiation 11th March - 14th April, 1990 International Agricultural Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands Mr. Mario Eidi Sato Dr. Abdel-Mohsen Mohammed Abdel-Kader Hekal Instituto Biologico Sao Paulo Plant Prot. Department Av. Conselheiro Rodrigues Faculty of Agriculture Alves no. 1252, v. mariana Ain Shams University Sao Paulo Shoubra El-Khema Brazil Cairo Egypt Mr. Rumen Petrov Todrov Meat Industry Institute Ms. Krisztina Horti 65 Cherni Vrach blud. 1407 University of Horticulture & Sofia Food Industry Bulgaria Dept. of Refrigeration Technology Menesi fit 45 Mrs. Wei Qijian H-1118 Nanjing Radiation Centre Budapest, Pf. 53 1502 Xisolingwei Hungary Nanjing China Dr. A.S. Kamat Food Technology and Enzyme Mr. Ernesto Lucero Engineering Division Escuela Politecnica Nacional Bhabha Atomic Research Center Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares Chatrapati, Bombay 400 08S Apartado 2759 India Quito Ecuador Mrs. Rosalina Sinaga Dr. Mohamed O.M. Elhassan National Atomic Energy Agency P.O. Box 213 Jl. K.H. Abdul Rohim Khartoum North Kuningan Barat Sudan Mampang Prapatan P.O. Box 85 Kby Ms. Pair in Radomvivat Jakarta 12710 Inspection Division Indones ia Food & Drug Administration Ministry of Public Health Ms. Jaleh Emami Said Samsen Road Food & Drug Control Labs. Bangkok Ministry o£ Health Thailand No. 31 Amam Khomeini Ave., Vali-Asr Sq., Ms. Tipawan Ningnoi 11136 Box 9385 Division of Food Analysis Tehran Department of Medical Services Iran Yodoe Bangkok 10100 Ms. Shadia Mohamed Ma tug Thai land Tajura Nuclear Research Centre P.O. Box 30878 (Tajura) Mr. Tran Mann Hung Tripoli Irradiation Center Libya Vietnam Nat. Atomic Energy Commission 59 Ly Thuong Kiet Mr. Ahmad B. Sudin Hanoi Food Technology Division Vietnam Mardi P.O. Box 12301 Mr. Musasa Tshisand G.P.O. 50774 Commissariat General a l'energie Atomique Kuala Lumpur C.R.E.N.K. Malaysia B.P. 868 Kinshasa XI Dr. Abiodun Isiaka Sanni Zaire University of Ibadan Mr. Michael M. Nawa Dept. of Botany & Microbiology Mount Makulu Central Research Station Ibadan Food Conservation & Storage Unit Nigeria P.O. Box 7 Chilanga Mr. Maciej Taczanowski Zambia Poznan Agricultural University Dept. of Nuclear Technique in Agriculture ul. Wojska Polskiego 28 60-637 Poznan Poland 10 III. FOOD IRRADIATION IN ASIA a. RCA Workshop on Commercialization of Food irradiation, Shanghai. People's Republic of China, 8-12 January 1990. Background Many countries in Asia and the Pacific have actively conducted research on food irradiation during the past three decades. Research and development including pilot-scale studies on irradiation of selected food items were strengthened in the RCA countries under the Asian Regional Co-operative Project on Food Irradiation (RPFI Phase I) from 1980 to 1984. This technology was being transferred to local industry in the region under RPPI Phase II (1985-1988). As a result, large scale demonstration irradiators for treating foods have been or are being constructed in Bangladesh, the People's Republic of China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Multipurpose commercial irradiators have been established in the Republic of Korea and Pakistan and two demonstration irradia^ors are planned in India. Indonesia is considering the construction of one commercial irradiator. As a result of these developments, it is expected that trade in irradiated foods within and from Asia and the Pacific region is likely to occur in the near future in view of the efficacy of irradiation as a quarantine treatment of tropical fruits, as a method to ensure hygienic quality of "solid foods", eg. spices, frozen seafoods, poultry and as a method for reducing postharvest food losses. Several countries in the region including Bangladesh, the People's Republic of China, India, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea and Thailand have not only taken a liberal attitude to approving irradiated foods but are also keen in using it as a tool to facilitate food trade. Thus, many countries in the region are about to implement the technology on a practical scale. At the invitation of the Government of the People's Republic of China, which had agreed to sponsor this Workshop as its special contribution to the RCA, the Workshop was convened at Jinsha Hotel, Shanghai from 8 to 12 January 1990. The government had sponsored the participation of 11 senior scientists/officials from other RCA countries and 3 participants and many observers from China, to the workshop. One observer from Japan also attended the workshop. IAEA through its Technical Co-operation Programme and the Joint FAO/IAEA Division assis'ed in providing 4 lecturers to the workshop. The list of participants, observers and lecturers is attached as Annex I. The purpose of this workshop was to assist the national authorities in planning proper implementation of food irradiation processing, especially on commercial application in the RCA countries. Special emphasis was given to the specific needs of the region, i.e. need of the food industry for the technology, need for consumer education and information, and need for irradiation as a quarantine treatment and as a method to ensure hygienic quality of food. The workshop also dealt with food regulations and proper control of the process according to the principles of the Codex General Standard for Irradiated Foods and its associated Code of Practice to facilitate national and international trade in irradiated foods. The Workshop was opened by Dr. Liu Zhenyuan, Vice-Mayor of Shanghai. He stressed that the Government of China and the Shanghai Municipality attached high priority to food irradiation. The Shanghai Irradiation Center was built in 1986 with a strong support of the former Mayor of Shanghai, Mr. Jiang Zemin, who has become Secretary General of the Central Committee of China. In April 1986, Shanghai was also the venue of the FAO/IAEA Regional Seminar on Food Irradiation. He was pleased that Shanghai had been chosen again as the venue of the Workshop. 11 The programme of the Workshop is attached as Annex II. The participants also discussed specific needs of various sectors involved in implementing the technology on a piactical scale, which are summarized below. I. THE NEEDS OF THE FOOD INDUSTRY FOR IRRADIATION There are recent developments which have influenced the food industry to search for alternatives to conventional food treatments or even to implement new technologies. These-interconnected developments are: change in food consumption habits. increasing strict demand for higher quality products and regulations. increasing awareness of negative effects of the use of chemicals. Today, the production and processing of food have become more centralized. In competing for the market share, the number of food items containing exotic ingredients are being increasingly produced and also items minimally processed having different storage times, are being offered to the market. Such foods, which offer more variety and convenience, could serve as vehicles to spread microbial contamination and increase the risk to consumers of certain pathogens if the foods are not properly processed. There are strict national regulations with regard to quality and hygiene of food products. The food industry has to comply with these regulations and is taking appropriate measures to meet the demand of national authorities and consumers. However, the presentation of the products as being fresh/untreated or still having the original properties often does not allow the application of conventional processes like heating or freezing. In many cases it will not be possible to reduce the microbial contamination through the use of chemicals. There is a tendency to restrict the use of preservatives and several conventional chemical treatments applied for the reduction of microbiological load. Other chemicals are banned or under scrutinization. Outbreaks of food poisoning will have a backlash on sales opportunities and the food producer will be faced with very high liabilities in case of calamities. It is therefore essential to find methods which will control risk from pathogenic micro-organisms, without impairing the properties of the food. Irradiation of ingredients and/or the final product can reduce such a risk. A good example is the increasing application of irradiation to spices. Due to production and handling conditions, spices contain a high microbiological load, often with pathogenic bacteria. A widely applied method, i.e. the treatment with ethylene oxide gas has been prohibited in many countries or is being strictly controlled in others. The need of the food industry to produce high microbiological quality food will become even more important in the future. Irradiation is recognized as a most viable treatment to ensure hygienic quality of food of animal origin, in particular poultry and pork, as well as dry food ingredients, e.g. spices. The treatment could play an equally effective role to heat pasteurization of liquid food, e.g. milk, rruit juices, etc. in "pasteurizing" the solid foods mentioned above. Irradiation also has an advantage in low energy consumption for food treatment. II. NEED FOR CONSUMER ECUCATION AND ACCEPTANCE STUDIES Irradiation of food offers consumers the benefits of greater food availability, high hygienic quality, reduction of post harvest losses, and longer shelf life. Consumption of irradiated foods could result in reducing the risk of food borne illness, higher nutritional status due to a more diverse diet, and greater consumer satisfaction due to increased availability of higher quality food products. 12 The majority of consumers are not familiar with the irradiation process and its use for food quality and safety or with the safety controls of irradiation facilities. The most effective response to consumer concern is education. Consumer studies reveal that when consumers are informed about irradiation, concern for safety for a majority of consumers is minor and willingness to buy irradiated food increases to 60 to 80 percent. Consumer appreciation of irradiation is increased when they are informed more completely about food safety and when given the reasons for irradiation. Quantified consumer acceptance studies are needed to demonstrate local acceptance and enhance opportunities for international trade. An irradiated product should be selected for market testing that clearly responds to consumer desires and easily demonstrates the advantages of irradiated foods. These advantages, rather than the details of the technology, should be highlighted to the consumer; however information about the technology should be available to those who request it. Market acceptance should be quantified by recording sales data of irradiated as compared to non-irradiated foods. Measures of consumer attitudes and stated willingness to buy irradiated foods in the future should be obtained. III. THE NEED FOR QUARANTINE TREATMENT BY IRRADIATION There is general agreement regarding the effectiveness of using irradiation as a quarantine treatment method. The question arises as to the need for quarantine treatment of various food and agricultural products by irradiation in international trade. This question can be answered from the following perspectives: (a) Food and agricultural products are often infested by certain insects especially fruit flies in the native growing areas and markets. When these products are prepared for entry into international trade especially in countries which have strict quarantine regulations, they must be treated to satisfy quarantine and other regulations. (b) Countries importing these food products are distant markets in non-infested areas. They definitely do not want to have imported foods entering their countries with undesirable pests that could spread and infest locally grown produce. Therefore, these importing countries logically impose restrictions and require suitable quarantine treatment of produce known to be infested. (c) The use of chemical fumigation for quarantine treatment is prohibited or increasingly restricted in most countries. Without these chemicals, the food industry has sought and is continuing to seek other means of effective quarantine treatment. (d) Thermal treatments such as double-dip hot water and vapour heat have been used as quarantine treatments for tropical fruits such as papayas in Hawaii since EDB has been banned. These thermal treatments have problems of long treatment time (1.5 to 6 hrs.), inconsistent fruit quality (due to inadequate ro uneven ripening, resulting in hard texture in some papayas), and are energy-intensive. Irradiation has a number of advantages over other treatments and could be effectively used as a substitute for chemical fumigation. There is, however, a lack of harmonization of regulations on the use of irradiation for this 13 purpose among trading nations. In addition, there is no agreement on the experimental protocols required to establish the quarantine security of the use of irradiation. IV. NEED FOR IRRADIATION AS A METHOD TO ENSURE HYGIENIC QUALITY OF FOOD Food-borne diseases continue to affect adversely the health and productivity of population in most countries. Quite often foods produced in accordance with good manufacturing practices may still harbour low levels of disease-causing microorganisms and parasites. Human suffering from these diseases and economic losses are enormous. In the USA alone, the FDA estimated that up to 81 million cases of food-borne diseases occur annually. A similar study in Canada estimated an annual cost of Canadian Dls. 2.9 billion to the Canadian economy. The economic loss of such diseases in developing countries could be even greater. For example, the loss o£ productivity due to liver-fluke infection attributable to consuming raw fish in the North Bast of Thailand may be as high as US$ 600 million per year in view of an estimated 6 million population currently infected. Approx. USS 43 million worth of pork is incinerated each year in Mexico because of tapeworm infection. A Task Force on the use of Irradiation to Ensure Hygienic Quality of Food was convened by the International Consultative Group on Food Irradiation (ICGFI) in 1986. The Task Force concluded that, at the present and in the foreseeable future, no known technology can guarantee the production of pathogen free raw foods of animal origin, particularly poultry and pork. Such pathogens include Salmonella, Campylobacter, Toxoplasma and Trichinella. Foods contaminated with these pathogens pose a significant threat to public health, the Task Force stated that, where such foods are important in the epidemiology of food-borne diseases, irradiation must be seriously considered as a valid option for pathogen control. In the past few years, there have been significant increases in diseases from other organisms (e.g. Listeria, E. Coli, Vibrio, etc.) in food, especially those of animal origin. Irradiation has significant potential for controlling most disease-causing microorganisms and parasites in such food. The role of irradiation to ensure hygienic quality is even more important in minimally cooked, chilled and ready to eat food products as well as in certain meat and fish products, commonly consumed raw because of habit or preference (e.g. oyster, fermented sausages). The losses resulting from contamination of food have enormous socio-economic consequences for countries in Asia as many are major producers of seafood, spices and poultry. V. NEED FOR PROPER CONTROL OF THE FACILITY AND THE PROCESS The Codex General Standard for Irradiated Food and its associated Code of Practice has included a number of provisions to proper control of the irradiation facility and the process of food irradiation to strengthen these provisions, the following control aspects of food irradiation were highlighted: 1. Guidelines for Preparing Regulations for the Control of Food Irradiation Facilities. Such guidelines are being developed by the International Consultative Group on Food Irradiation (ICGFI) to assist national authorities: (i) To ensure that the irradiation treatment of food is implemented safely and correctly, in accordance with the provisions of the Codex Standard, and the recommendations of the 1968 Geneva Conference. 14 (ii) To establish a system of documentation to accompany irradiated foods, so that the fact of irradiation can be taken into account during the subsequent handling, storage, and use of such foods, or their possible re-irradiation. (iii) To ensure that irradiated foods which enter international trade conform with uniform and mutually acceptable standards of food irradiation treatment. 2. International Register of Licensed Food Irradiators. To ensure that food is processed only by irradiation facilities which are licensed and registered for this purpose, are properly controlled by competent national authorities and are staffed by competent personals, the ICGFI has establsihed an International Register of Licensed Food Irradiators in 1989. The Secretariat of ICGPI has already received detailed information on a number of licenced irradiators which are being used or will be used for treating food from a number of national authorities. The information of these facilities is being evaluated according to the criteria adopted by the ICGFI for inclusion in the International Register. The International Register will be maintained and updated by the Joint FAO/IAEA Division, Vienna, in its capacity as the Secretariat of the ICGFI. The Register will be made available in whole or in part to governments of Member States of FAO, IAEA and WHO, on request. 3. Food Irradiation Process Control School (FIPCOS) Two target groups are being trained on proper irradiation of food and control of food irradiation treatment, at FIPCOS operated by the ICGFI, as follows: a. Operators/Plant Managers of irradiation facilities on proper food irradiation technology with special emphasis on GMP, dosimetry techniques, record keeping, lot identification, etc. b. Food control officials on proper inspection procedures required for food irradiation processing. Internationally recognized training programmes for both groups have been developed by the ICGFI and used since 1989. RECOMMENDATIONS Government 1. Governments should encourage the use of irradiation as an alternative to some of the processes that have potential adverse effect on the environment, worker safety and consumer health. 2. Governments should take the necessary action in response to f>e recommendations of the Codex Alimentarius Commission's provisions on food irradiation as well as those aspects related to regulatory control of food irradiation adopted by the Geneva Conference on Food Irradiation in 1988. Governments should inform the appropriate international agencies with regard to action taken. 3. Governments are urged to implement and strengthen the infrastructure necessary to facilitate international trade in food irradiation. Governments should expedite certification of irradiation facilities recommended by the Codex Standards according to the criteria provided by the ICGFI. 15 4. Governments should invite industry to take an active role in developing a food irradiation programme including market development and consumer education. 5. Post-harvest food losses and food-borne diseases continue to adversely affect the economy and health of the population in Asian countries. Governments are requested to identify the nature and extent of the losses and diseases as well as to estimate the economics of these problems. Industry and Trade 1. The food industry should identify the product(s) that give(s) the greatest opportunity to demonstrate the needs and benefits of irradiation. Examples include use of irradiation as a quarantine treatment, enhance hygienic quality, reduce food storage loss. 2. The food industry should actively seek opportunities for co-operation among trading partners to promote trade of irradiated products. 3. The food industry should be encouraged to participate in activities which demonstrate the economic and health benefits of irradiated foods to consumers. Market testing is a means to demonstrate consumer acceptance. 4. Educational efforts to inform the public regarding the saf~cy, benefits and limitations of irradiated food should be undertaken. Professional societies/ consumer and community organizations as well as the general public should be the focus of educational efforts. Regional Co-operation 1. Countries within the region should strive to cooperate in shipping trials and market testing of irradiated products. 2. Countries should harmonize regulations based on the Codex Standard and actively exchange information which would facilitate acceptance and application of irradiation in the region. International Organizations 1. As trade in agricultural produce is of importance in this region, the ICGFI should reactivate its international expert group on the use of irradiation as a quarantine measure with active participation of the national quarantine authorities in trading countries concerned with insect infestation of imported commodities. 2. FAO, WHO and IAEA should continue to support information exchange and training of personnel for process control involved with food irradiation. 3. The ICGFI should continue to assist countries in the region in providing up-to-date information on regulations/ developments, acceptances and applications of irradiation. 4. The ICGFI should seek co-operation from national authorities in establishing an International Register of Irradiation Facilities for Food Treatment in order to strengthen the confidence in international trade in irradiated foods. 16 ANNEX I LIST OF PARTICIPANTS AND OBSERVERS RCA WORKSHOP ON COMMERCIALIZATION OF FOOD IRRADIATION Shanghai, People's Republic of China 8 - 12 January 1990 PARTICIPANTS COUNTRY NAME ADDRESS BANGLADESH Dr. M. M. Hossain GAHMATECH LIMITED 17 Dhanmondi R.A. Road No. 2 Dhaka - 5 Telex:632203 BATOM BJ CHINA, PEOPLE'S REP. Mr. Chen Oixun Sichuan Provincial Inst. of Nuclear Technology Application (SPINTA) Irradiation Div. on Food 124 Sha He Bao Chengdu Mr. Sha Zhen yuan Shanghai Irradiation Centre/ Shanghai Inst. of Nuclear Res. SIC/SINR 1467 Cao Yang Road Shanghai 200333 Fax: 86-21-9528021 Mr. Zhu Jiang Office of IAEA Affairs Ministry of Energy (OIA/MOE) P.O. Box 2102 Beijing Telex: 22240+CNE INDIA Dr. P. M. Nair Bhaba Atomic Research Centre Food Technology and Enzyme Engineering Division Trombay Bombay-400 085 Telex:011-71017 BARC IN Or. S.K. Krishnamurthy Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology, Unit of Dept. of Atomic Energy Gov. of India V.N. Purav Marg Deonar, Bombay 400 094 India Telephone:551 5535 Telex: 011-72212 17 COUNTRY HAKE ADDRESS INDONESIA Ms. Nazly Hilmy Centre for the Application of Isotopes and Radiation P.O. Box 2, Keb. Lama Jakarta Selatan 12240 Telephone:(021)7690709 Telex: 47113 CAIR IA Fax: 7691607 KOREA, REP. OF Mr. Myung-Woo Byun Korea Advanced Research Energy Inst. (KAERI) Food Irradiation Dept. P.O. Box 7 Cheong Ryang Seoul Telex: KAERI K45553 Fax: 001-62-42-820-2702 MALAYSIA Me. Muhamad Lebai Juri Nuclear Energy Unit Prime Minister's Dept. Bangi, 4300 Kajang Selangor Telephone: 03-8250510/11/12 Telex: ATOMAL MA 31619 PAKISTAN Dr. Ismail Khan Nuclear Institute for Food and Agrciculture (NIFA) P.O. Box No. 446 Peshawar Telex: 52369 PCOPE PK Telephone:61683 PHILIPPINES Dr. Alica O. Lustre Food Development Center FTI Complex, Taguig Metro Manila The Philippines Tlx.45684+FTI SRI LANKA Dr. M. A. Munasiri Atomic Energy Authority Ceramics Building Galle Road Colombo 03 Sri Lanka Telephone:501 467 - 468 Telex: 21208 HPT CE Cable: LANK-ATOM THAILAND Mr. Sanquan Chiravatanapong Office of Atomic Energy for Peace Thanon vibhavadi Rangsit Bangkhen, Bangkok 10900 Telephone: 5791940 Telex: 87161 ATENPEA TH Fax: 66-2-2468106 VIET NAM Mr. Dinh Ngoc Lan Viet Nam National Atomic Energy Coanicsion SO - Ly Thuong Ki*t Hanoi Telephone: 52103, 56479 18 OBSERVERS •MB ADDRESS CHINA, People's Rep. Chen Jiahua Shanghai Import and L'xport Commodity Inspection Bureau of the P.R.C. 13 Zhong Shan Road (E, 1) Shanghai 200002 P.R.C. Du Delin Xinjiang Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica Xinjiang Province 630011 P.R.C. Fan Yunpeng Fu Xin Irradiation Company Qing He Street, Qing He Men District Fu Xin City, Liaoning Province 123006 P.R.C. Feng Shanghai Irradiation Center Shanghai Institute of Nuclear Research Academia Sinica P.O.Box 800-204 Shanghai, 201800 P.R.C. Gao Meixu Institute for Application of Atomic Energy Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science P.O.Box 5109 Beijing 10009it, P.P.C. Gu Junren Beijing Institute of Nuclear Engineering P.O.Box BkO, Beijing 1OO8V> • P.R.C. He Qinghua Ministry of Public Health l+k Kouhai Beiyan, Beijing 100725 P.R.C. Hua Fenmei Institute for Application of Atomic Energy Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences No. it8. Stone Bridge Road Huangzhou, Zhejiang, 310021 P.R.C. OBSERVERS (cont.) NAME ADDRESS Huang Kongmin Institute for Application of Atomic Energy Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Science No. 48. Stone Bridge Road Huangzhou, Zhejiang, 310021 P.R.C. Jiang Jiakun Shanghai Institute of Food Hygiene Control & Inspection Lin Hianyun Shanghai Institute of Nuclear Research Acaderaia Sinica F.O.Box 800-20;, Shanghai 201800 r.R.C. Liu Renzhong Shanghai Institute of Huclear Research Academia Sinica P.O.Box 800-204, Shanghai 201800 P;R.C. Liu Zijing China National Food Industry Technology Development Corporation Ho 7 Chuwenmen West Street of Beijing 100005 P.R.C. Lou Xeumei Biology Department South China Agricultural University Canton 51061+2 P.R.C. Qi Shengchu Beijing University Department of Technical Physics Beijing University, Beijing 100671 P.R.C. '.Vang Chuaiizhen Beijing Institute of Nuclear Engineering P.O.Box 840, Beijing 100040. KR.C. '.Vane Ying Beijing Radiation Center No 12. Xue Yuan Nan Lu, Haidian District Beijing 100875 P.R.C. IVen Xianfang National Center for Rural Technology Development State Science and Technology Commission of China 100036 Beijing P.R.C. 20 OBSERVERS (cont.) NAME ADDRESS '.Vu !!onghua Kin Bei Irradiation Center Jianou County, Fujian Province 353100 P.R.C. '.Vu Jinshui Crop Breeding and Cultivation Institute Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Science 35 Nan Hua Road, Shanghai 201106 P.R.C. Xie Zongchuan Ranjing Irradiation Center Xiaolinwei, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210014 P.R.C. Xu Dechun Institute for Application of Atomic Energy Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences 50 Xue Fu Road, Harbin 150086 P.R.C. Xu Jinkang Institute of Food Safety Control and Inspection Ministry of Public Health 29 Hanwei Road. Beijing 100050 P.R.C. Xu Zhicheng Shanghai Irradiation Center Shanghai Institute of Nuclear Research Acadeoia Sinica P.O.Box 800-204 Shanghai, 201800 P.R.C. Yan '.Venyu Shanghai Medical Sciences University P.R.C. Yan Youqi Hunan Institution for application of atomic Energy in Agriculture Hunan Province 410125 P.R.C. Yang Qiling Sichuan Provincial Institute of Nuclear Technology Application 124 Sha He Bao, Chengdu, Sichuan 610066 P.R.C. 21 if •• OBSERVERS (cont.) NAME ADDRESS Yin Daochuan Nanjing Irradiation Center Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Science Hanjing 210014 P.K.C. i'u Zhihou Shandong Irradiation Center 36 Gong Bei Road, Ji Nau, 250100 P.K.C. Zheng '.Vcnzuan Laboratory of Iluclear-Agricultural Application Institute of Rice and '.Vheat Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences Fujian Province 350019 P.R.C. Zhou Ruiying Beijing Radiation Center Low Energy Nuclear Physics Institute Beijing Normal University Haidian District, No 12. Xue Yuan Nan Lu Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875 P.R.C. JAPAN Mr. Masakazu Furuta Osaka Prefectural Radiation Res.Inst Shinke-Cho, Sakai Osaka 22 LECTURERS NAME ADDRESS Center for Consumer Research University of California Dr. Christine M. Bruhn Davis, CA 96616 USA GAMMASTER, b.v. Postbus 4250 Mr. J. G. Leenhorst 6710 EG Ede The Netherlands Dept. of Pood Science and Human Nutrition Dr. J. H. Moy University of Hawaii 1920 Edmondson Road Honolulu, Hawaii 96822 USA Mr. Paisan Loaharanu International Atomic Energy Agency Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture Wagratnerstrasse 5 P.O. Box 100 A-1400 Vienna Austria 23 b. First FAQ/IAEA Research Co-ordination Meeting on the Asian Co-operative Project on Food Irradiation with Emphasis on Process Control and Acceptance (RPFI Phase III). Bombay, India, 16-20 April, 1990. Introduction Favourable climatic conditions in developing countries o£ Asia and the Pacific encourage the speedy growth of pests and microorganisms causing considerable post-harvest losses of foods. Losses in cereals and legumes are estimated at 10-30% and in more perishable food such as fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, dried fish, etc. at 20-50%. These losses affect the overall food supply situation in the region and also the potential for export of the greater quantities of agricultural, fisheries and meat products. Recognizing its importance, many countries in Asia have active research and development programme on food irradiation. The purpose of using this technology is to supplement existing technology in reducing high level of postharvest losses of food such as fish and fishery products, tropical fruits, roots and tubers; enhancing hygienic quality of certain food such as frozen shrimps and spices to comply with strict quality requirements in importing countries; and in disinfestation of fruit fly in tropical fruits (e.g. mangoes) to satisfy quarantine regulation in certain importing countries. Most countries in the region have legislative framework allowing a number of food items to be processed by irradiation and put the irradiated products on the market. The Asian Regional Co-operative Project on Food Irradiation (RPFI) was initiated in 1980 under the financial support of the Japanese Government for 4 years. This project put emphasis on research and development including pilot-scale studies of irradiation of selected food items of economic importance to the region, i.e. fishery products, mangoes, spices and onions. Further work on technology transfer to local industry was carried out under financial support of the Australian Government from 1985 to 1988 (RPFI-Phase II). The Asian Regional Co-operative Project on Food Irradiation with Emphasis on Process Control (SPFI-Phase III) which is being funded by the UNDP (RAS/89/044) places a collaborative approach of research and development, technology transfer, training of scientists and officials and harmonization of national regulations in the region. A co-ordinated programme on technology transfer and process control of food irradiation provides a mechanism for acceptance and application of the technology by local industry. Training of operators/supervisors of irradiation facilities and food inspectors will ensure the effective application and control of the technology to ensure compliance with the national regulations. Harmonization of national regulations in the region based on the Codex General Standard for Irradiated Foods will facilitate trade in irradiated food both within the region and from the region. Bangladesh, People's Republic of China, India, Indonesia, Korea Republic of, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam are participating in this project. Australia and Japan are also participating at no cost to the sponsoring Organizations. The first FAO/IAEA/UNDP (RAS/89/044) Research Coordination Meeting on the Coordinated Research Programme of RPFI Phase in was held at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Bombay, India from 16 to 20 April 1990. The meeting was attended by the participants from Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam. The complete list of the participants and observer of the meeting is attached as Annexure I. The participants to the Meeting were welcomed by Dr. P.M. Nair, Head of the Food Technology and Enzyme Engineering Division of the Bhabha Atomic 24 Research Centre (BARC). The meeting was inaugurated by Dr. C.R. Bhatia, Director of Bio-Medical Group, BARC. Among his remarks he mentioned the importance of reducing the post-harvest losses to increase the food availability and the role irradiation could play to supplement the existing technologies. He stressed the importance of a proper evaluation of the economic viability of the irradiation process especially for low value food items in the context of the developing countries. After the inaugural function the meeting elected Dr. P. M. Nair of India as Chairman, Dr. Munsiah Maha, Centre for the Application of Isotopes and Radiation, Indonesia as Vice-chairperson, and Dr. Paul Thomas of BARC as Rapporteur. In his opening remarks the Chairman emphasized the need for proper process control as well as harmonization of regulations for the acceptance of the irradiation technology by consumers and international trade. Dr. M. Ahmed of FAO/IAEA explained the objectives of the RPFI Phase III which is being funded by the UNDP. He updated the latest developments on food irradiation including the activities of International Consultative Group on Pood Irradiation (ICGFI). He stated that 37 countries have cleared the irradiation processing of food and il commercial irradiation plants are operating in 24 countries. More than 20 multipurpose irradiation facilities are under construction in various countries and it is expected that in the next few years the number of countries which will be active in commercial irradiation of food will increase to 30. Status Reports of Member Countries The participants presented the respective country status reports on food irradiation. The Japanese participant informed the meeting about the renewed interest in food irradiation in Japan. The efficacy and the safety of the process has already been established for a number of food items. Due to commercial interest studies have been initiated on spices, frozen shrimps and prawns. The representative from India highlighted the collaborative studies with 5 other National Laboratories in establishing the efficacy of the process for microbial decontamination and fixing the microbiological standards for irradiated spices. Discussion on Food Irradiation Process Control and Acceptance RPFI Phase III The participants held detailed discussions on the project strategy and instituttional arrangements as enumerated in the Project Document. The Chairman emphasized the importance of process control in food irradiation and recalled the Codex General Standards which have to be strictly followed with respect to the Process Control. He also stated the need for registration of food irradiation facilities at National and International level, and the need to follow the International Code of Practices and Standards for harmonizing national regulations in order to achieve the acceptance of the process by the consumers and trade. During discussions the following points emerged. 1. Technology Transfer In addition to the items outlined in the project document (RAS/89/044/A/01/18), the members felt that additional data need to be generated on mango seed weevil disinfestation for quarantine purposes. 25 With respect to transfer of technology (eg. grains, root crops), the committee considered the need for quality evaluation of the irradiated products for industrial processing. It was felt that while constructing commercial food irradiation facilities, in developing countries, the feasibility of processing multiple products having similar dose requirements should be looked into. This will maximize the utilization of the facility which in turn would reduce processing cost. The committee also recognized the need for further R & D on packaging materials for commercial use both for bulk storage and retail marketing. 2. Process Control It was agreed that all the participating institutes will strictly adhere to the Codex General Standard for Irradiated foods and the Codex Recommended International Code of Practice for the Operation of Radiation Facilities Used for the Treatment of Foods. They will also follow the guidelines for irradiation of food items in accordance with the written protocol prepared for a specific application of food, on the basis of the ICGFI Provisional Guidelines wherever applicable. Although the importance of good manufacturing practice (GMP) in irradiation processing is recognized, it was Eelt that it is necessary to improve the exisiting practices of commodity handling and also to educate farmers and food handlers on all apsects of post-harvest management of the produce to reduce losses during post irradiation handling, storage and marketing. It was felt that proper dosimetry as per the International Guidelines and Code of Practices should be followed during irradiation of foods. Also, it was suggested that countries where large scale irradiators and facilities for dosimetry exists, detailed dose mapping in packaged food products should be carried out and such data should be made available for reference to the countries of the RCA region. In this context the meeting encouraged all the RPFI countries to participate in the International Dose Assurance Service of the IAEA (IDAS). 3. Market Testing of Irradiated Foods: All the participants attached great importance on market testing and consumer acceptance of irradiated foods which will, to a large extent, determine the introduction of the technology on a commercial scale. All participating countries were urged to carry out consumer acceptance and market testing of irradiated products of interest to them and also to conduct intercountry market and consumer acceptance trials with products of common interest. The meeting agreed that market testing and consumer acceptance of irradiated foods should be done with the active participation of commercial enterprises. Plan of work to be carried out under the Project The distribution of work as detailed in the Project Document of RPFI-Phase III on Page 9 and as enumerated below with additions was discussed and agreed upon. 26 Bangladesh Institute of Food and Radiation Storage trials with larger Biology/ Atomic Energy Research quantities of onions, pulses Establishment/ Dhaka and dried fish, process control and consumer acceptance studies. Gamma tech, Ltd. Chittagong Commercial scale irradiation of onions, pulses and dried fish and determination of economic feasibility. China( P.R. Shanghai Irradiation Centre Commercial irradiation and Shanghai storage trials/ process control and market tt3ting with potatoes, onions, garlic and fruits. Sichuan Provincial Institute of Commercial irradiation of Nuclear Technology Applications spices and Chinese sausages. Chengdu South China Agricultural Univ. Irradiation disinfestation of Guangzhou fruits as quarantine treatment. India Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Commercial irradiation of Trombay/ Bombay onions, seafood and spices and process control of the irradiated products and public acceptance. Irradiation as a quarantine treatment of tropical fruits. Quality Control Laboratory Commercial irradiation and Spice Board, Cochin, Kerala shipping trials with spices. Indonesia Centre for the Application of Irradiation of fishery Isotopes and Radiation (CAIR) products, seafood/ spices and Indonesian National Atomic grains for storage, market Energy Authority, Jakarta testing and economic feasibility analysis. Takasaki Radiation Chemistry Irradiation of spices and Research Establishment, Japan frozen seafoods. Atomic Energy Res. Inst. (JAERI) Takasaki Korea< Rep, of Korea Atomic Energy Research Technology transfer to local Institute, Seoul food preservation industry concerned with storage of root crops, dried fish and spices. Public information materials for acceptance by consumers. Malaysia Nuclear Energy Unit, Prime Commercial irradiation of Complex Puspati, Bangi, Selangor pepper and transportation trial. Malaysian Agriculture Research Irradiation of tropical fruits and Development Institute, to meet quarantine regulations Bangi, Selangor 27 Pakistan Nuclear Institute of Food and Irradiation studies with Agriculture, Pakistan Atomic spices and poultry. Storage Energy Commission, Peshawar and consumers' acceptability studies with semi-commercial quantities of potatoes, onions, garlic and spices. Philippines Food Development Centre Pilot-scale irradiation Food Terminal Incorporation studies with seafood, root Complex, Manila crops and tropical fruits. Philippine Atomic Energy Irradiation of mangoes to meet Commission, Quezon City quarantine regulations. Thailand Office of Atomic Energy Commercial irradiation studies for Peace, Bangkok with onions, garlic, cereals and pulses. Department of Fisheries Market testing of irradiated Fishery Technology Div., Bangkok fish and fishery products. Agricultural Regulatory Div. Irradiation as a quarantine Dept. of Agriculture, Bangkok treatment of tropical fruits. Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Authority, Colombo Irradiation decontamination of spices and quality evaluation of irradiated spices, onions and dried fish. Viet Nam National Insitute for Nuclear Semi-commercial studies on Research, Ha Noi radiation preservation of roots, seafood and grains. Dalat Nuclear Research Institute Radiation disinfestation and Dalat decontamination of fish and fishery products. Programme of work for 1990-1991 and Discussion on On-going Activities Work envisaged under this project has already been initiated by Bangladesh. About 1 ton of dry fish was irradiated and after different periods of storage in commercial godowns released for market testing through traditional marketing channels. This test marketing is scheduled to end by April 1990. Suitability of packaging materials and standardization of packages developed for dried fish and pulses during RPFI-Phase II were found to be acceptable to the traders. Bulk procurement of onions for irradiation and market testing has been initiated. In India the work on radiation disinfestation of mango seed weevils is in progress. Microbiological assessment of the spices from various retail and wholesale sources is being carried out. Different primary packaging materials are being evaluated for their suitability. Methods are being standardized for the extraction of volatile and non-volatiles in spices. Indonesia has initiated work on disinfestation of rice and mung beans (green grams) in association with a public sector corporation. A comparative study of the microbial decontamination by 1-3 MeV electron beam and gamma ray irradiation undertaken in Japan has shown that both these sources are equally effective in microbial decontamination. 28 The packaging materials developed by Malaysia for pepper will be further tested for storage, transportation and market trials in collaboration with the Pepper Marketing Board. Malaysia has recieved a request from Finland for export of 10 tons of irradiated black pepper in 1990/91. Thailand has initiated dose distribution studies in packaged food products of varying densities in the newly commissioned commercial food irradiation facility. Viet Nam has initiated studies in irradiation disinfestation of dried herring. The plan of activities for individual contracts and agreements are given below: Name of Chief Scient. Research Project Plan of Work for 1990 - 1991 Investigator (CSI)/ Title/No. Ins i tute/Country Research Contracts 1. Mr. M.A. Matin Irradiation of onions, Seraicommercial/pilot scale Inst. of Food Rad. pulses and dried fish irradiation studies, test Biology, Atomic (BGD/5917/DP) marketing, consumer accept.; Energy Res. Establ. transportation trials and Dhaka, Bangladesh quality evaluation at potential markets of dried fish, pulses and onions. Process control through dose measurement, adherence to standards and guidelines, regulations and approved protocols. 2. Ms. Munsiah Maha Commercial irradiation of Packaging, dosimetry, storage Centre for the Appl. grains, dried fish and trials, market testing, of Isotopes & Rad. spices (INS-S920/DP) physico-chemical and organo- Jakarta, Indonesia leptic evaluation of irradiated rice. Determination of free radicals immediately after and during storage of irradiated rice. 3. Ms. Zainon Othman Pilot scale study of Development of theoretical Nuclear Energy Unit of pepper irradiation model package size; packaging Complex Puspati using Co-60, cost with selected packaging Bangi, Selangor evaluation and marketing materials, irradiation, Malaysia trials (MAL-5943/DP) irradiation dosimetry, quality evaluation of packaging and other products. 4. Or. Ismail Khan Food irradiation process Storage studies, test market- Nuclear Inst. for control and acceptance ing and transportation to Pood and Agric. distant markets and consumers Peshawar, Pakistan acceptability with commercial quantities of irradiated onions, potatoes, garlic, spices and poultry. 29 Naae of Chief Scient. Research Project Plan of Work for 1990 - 1991 Investigator (CSI)/ Title/No. Insitute/Countrv Research Contracta 5. Dr. Alicia Lustre The Use of gamma irradia- Micro-biological, physico- Food Dev. Centre tion for enhancing the chemical, storage condition FTI Complex marketability of selected and sensory evaluation of National Food Auth. sea-food and agricultural irradiated headless shell-on Taguig, Metro Manila Crops (PHI-5944/DP) shrimps and black frozen Philippines shrimps; evaluation of frozen shrimps in storage and chilled shrimps in post-storage. Microbiological, physico-chemical and sensory evaluation of irradiated cooked and peeled and chilled shrimps at 0-5°C. 6. Dr.M.A.Munasiri A study of the efficacy Determination of microbial Sri Lanka Atomic of gamma irradiation of load, irradiation decontami- Energy Authority spices for microbial nation, storage, chemical and Colombo/ Sri Lanka decontamination organoleptic evaluation of (SRL-5922/DP) spices. 7. Mr.S. Chiravatha- Control of rice and mung Establishment of dosimetry napong bean infestation by irrad. system, disinfestation dose, Thai Irradiation processing and market package dosimetry and Centre, Office of trials (THA-5929/DP) packaging materials, physico- the Atomic Energy chemical and sensory evalua- for Peace, Bangkok tion of irradiated rice for Thailar.i insect and mould control. 8. Dr. Vo Hoang Quan Preservation of dried fish Irradiation disinfestation and Viet Nam Irradiation (VIE-5923/DP) decontamination of physico- Centre, Viet Nam chemical and organoleptic National Atomic evaluation of stored dried Energy Institute fish. Development of suitable Ha Noi, Viet Nam packaging materials 9. Dr. Chen Qixun Research for the process Establishment of commercial Sichuan Province control and the acceptabi- irradiation of seasoning i.e. Inst. of Nucl. Tech- lity of the irradiated dose determination, package nology Applications seasonings dosimetry, microbial, physico- Cheng-du, Sichuan chemical and sensory evaluat. China, P.R. of free radicals and detection of irradiated products. Market testing and acceptance, and intra-country transportation and evaluation studies with spices. 30 Naae of Chief Scient. Research Project Plan of Work for 1990-1991 Investigator (CSI Title/No. Institute/Country) Research Agreements 1. Dr. P.M. Nair Hygienization of spices Decontamination and quality Food Tech.&Enzyme by gamma irradiation evaluation, development of Engineering Div. (IND-5918/CF) packaging materials, inter and Bhabha Atomic Res. intra-country transportation Centre, Trombay, trials and test marketing of Bombay, India irradiated spices 2. Dr. P. Thomas Comparative studies on the Irradiation of mangoes after Food Tech.&Enzyme efficacy of gamma irrad. surface decontamination with Engineering Div. vapour heat and refriger- anti-microbial agents; Bhabha Atomic Res. ation as a quarantine radiation disinfestation, Centre, Trombay treatment for mango fruits development of post-irradia- Bombay, India (IND-5919/CF) tion storage conditions, quality evaluat. of vapour heat treated & irradiat.fruits 3. Dr. Joong Ho Kwon Commercial preservation of Comparative analysis of irrad. Korea Atomic Energy dried fish, spices and and fumigation treated prod.; Research Institute powdered vegetable prod. establishment of decontami- Seoul, Korea Rep.of by irradiation(ROK-5921/CF) nation and desinfestation doses; physico-chemical and organoleptic evaluation of irradiated products. 4. Dr. Xu Zhicheng Storage transportation, Semi-commercial storage, tran- Shanghai Irradiation test-marketing and consu- sportation, wholesale and Centre, Shanghai mers acceptance of irrad. retailsale of irrad. potatoes, Inst. of Nucl. Res. potatoes, onions, garlic onions, garlic and apples. Academia Sinica and fruits (CPR-6007/CF) Perfection of irradiation Shanghai, China,P.R. technology and regulations, & enhancing quarantine control of fruits. Determination of techno-economic feasibility i data collection of consumer acceptance. 5. Dr. P. Moore Establishment of standard Establishment of standard Australian Nuc.Scie. operating procedures for operating procedures and qual. and Technol.Organiz. research and commercial assurance of gamma-plants Lucas Heights gamma irradiation plants, based on international guide- Australia dose mapping, and detec- lines. Establishment of tion methods of irradiat. similar procedures to dose foodstuffs (AUL-6006/CF) measurement and dose mapping for gamma facilities and packages. Development of procedures and methods of detection of irradiated foodstuffs. 6. Dr. H. Ito Irradiation of spices and A comparative study Takasaki Radiation frozen seafood of the decontamination and Chemistry Research quality evaluation of spices Establishment by electron and gamma irrad. Japan Atomic Energy Package dosiwetry studies Research Institute with electron and gamma irrad. Takasaki, Japan and inter-country quality evaluation. 31 Group Discussions on Future Collaborative Plans of Work and Participating Countries The meeting identified the following areas of collaborative studies among participating countries. It was agreed that countries where pilot-scale irradiation facilities do not exist at present would consider acceptance of irradiated products of interest to them from other member countries for conducting transport performance, quality evaluation, and consumer acceptance studies. Country of Origin I teas Receiving Purpose of transportation Country Bangladesh Onions India Quality evaluation Dry fish Sri Lanka Quality evaluation and consumer acceptance India Onions Bangladesh & Quality evaluation and Sri Lanka consumer acceptance Spices Japan & Quality evaluation Sri Lanka Mangoes Thailand 6 Quality evaluation Indonesia Indonesia Dried Korea Quality evaluation anchovies Korea Dried Korea & Qua1i t y eva1ua t i on anchovies Indonesia Japan Electron beam India Quality evaluation irrad. spices Pepper India Malaysia Quality evaluation Additionally, it was agreed that Thailand and India would undertake detailed dosimetry studies in food packages and make available such data to other interested countries. Japan has agreed to provide information on dosimetry and dose distribution in electron beam irradiated spices. Exchange of information and collaborative studies on packaging meterials and packaging of irradiated food items of common interest to the region should be undertaken. Technical Assistance The following areas of technical assistance under this project have been sought by the participating countries: Area Requesting Countries Process control and dosimetry Bangladesh, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Viet Nam Market testing, consumer Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Korea, acceptance and public information Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Viet Nam 32 Economic feasibility Malaysia, Korea, Sri Lanka, Viet Nam Training Apart from the three Group Training Programmes indicated in the Project Document, the need for a fourth Group Training Programme on Public Information and Consumer Acceptance was felt by the participating countries. Conclusions and Recommendations The meeting has come out with the following recommendations: All participating countries should make every effort to convince the user industry and trade about the efficacy of the process and involve them in commercial scale trials, market testing and consumer acceptance studies. Harmonization of regulations should be done by Governments of participating countries to facilitate trade in irradiated foods in the region. Exchange of information on market testing, consumer acceptance and other aspects of commercialization of food irradiation among member countries should be maintained. Intercountry transportation trials of irradiated food items of common interest should be undertaken. Public awareness leading to the acceptance to irradiated foods by the consumers and trade should be given strong emphasis. The anticipated 4th workshop under the project should be on Public Information and Consumer Acceptance. Acknowledgement The participants of the RCH requested the FAO/IAEA to convey their gratitude to the UNDP for supporting this Regional Project. ANNEX I LIST OF PARTICIPANTS AND OBSERVER PARTICIPANTS BANGLADESH Mr. A.D. Bhuiya Institute of food Radiation and Biology Atomic Energy Research Establishment P.O. Box 3787. Dhaka INDIA Dr. P. M. Nair Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Trombay, Bombay 400 085 Dr. P. Thomas Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Trombay, Bombay 400 085 INDONESIA Ms. rtunsiah liana Centre for Application of Isotopes & Radiation Jakarta 12240 33 JAPAN Dr. H. Ito Takasaki Radiation Chemistry Res. Establishm. Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute Matanuki-Machi, Takasaki, Gunma-Ken KOREA, REP. OF Dr. Joon Ho Kwon Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute Seoul 130 - 650 MALAYSIA Ms. Zainon Othman Nuclear Energy Unit Complex Puspati, Bangi, 4300 Kajang Selangor SRI LANKA Dr. M.A. Munasiri The Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Authority Colombo-3 THAILAND Mr. S. Chirauathanapong Thai Irradiation Centre Office of Atomic Energy for Peace Bangkok - 10900 VIETNAM Dr. Vo Hoang Quan Viet Nam National Atomic Energy Inst. Irradiation Centre Hanoi OBSERVER INDIA Dr. S. R. Padwal Desai Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Trombay, Bombay 400 08b 34 c. Status Reports of Developments Leading to Commercialization of Food Irradiation*. BANGLADESH The Institute of Food Radiation Biology (IFRB) of the BAEC has been using since 1979 a 50,000 curie Cobalt-60 gamma source (gamma beam-650) R&D and pilot-scale studies on a variety of food and food products. The irradiated foods which are now ready for commercial introduction in our country include potatoes, onions, dried fish, fresh fish, frozen shrimps, grains, pulses, spices and some fruits and vegetables. Semi-commercial experiments were conducted with irradiated potatoes, onions and dried fish, pulses and some spices for packaging, transportation and storage of irradiated products and for marketing and consumers acceptability studies - with encouraging results. At the advice and recommendations of a Committee formed for the purpose, the Bangladesh Standard Institution formally adopted for Bangladesh in December 1983, the General Standard for Irradiated Foods and Code of Practice for Operation of Irradiation Facilities as were recommended by the Codex Alimentarius Commission to the Member States. Public awareness of acceptance of irradiated food were created with the help of mass media, seminars, group meetings, news-bulletins and science exhibitions. The government and the general public are now favourably disposed towards irradiated foods and are actually approaching BAEC for commercial release in the local market. Following the legal clearance of irradiated foods in Bangladesh, an irradiator of the initial size of about 110 K curie Cobalt-60 has been provided by the IAEA under its Technical Assistance Programme to BAEC. The plant is now under construction and is expected to be operational in the later part of this year (1990). The irradiator will be installed in the port city of Chittagong and will irradiate frozen foods, fish, dry fish, potatoes, onions and some medical products on service charge basis. The plant will be operated by a joint venture company in the name of Gammatech Limited formed by ; BAEC and a Private Industrial Group, BEXIMCO. The company is also planning to : set up commercial irradiation plants near the capital city of Dhaka and other suitable locations in different parts of the country. CHINA Development Status of Food Irradiation , 1. Simple Retrospect Studies of food irradiation in China have dated back to 1958 under the leadership of the Nuclear Science and Technology Committee of Academia Sinica, the sub-committee on food Radiation Preservation in Beijing. The preservation of wheat, rice, maize and potatoes have been studied. In October 1980, the National Meeting organized by the Ministry of Public Health on Hygienic Standard for Irradiated Food was held at Chengdu, the "Draft Proposal on Hygienic Standard for Irradiated Food" was proposed. | i Based on reports presented at the RCA Workshop on Commercialization of Food ; Irradiation, Shanghai, and the First RCM on RPFI Phase II, Bombay. 35 In 1983, Expert Group on Hygienic and Safety Evaluation on Irradiated Foods was set up. In November 1984, the clearance of irradiated potato, onion, garlic, rice, mushroom, peanut and pork sausage have been approved by the Ministry of Public Health. In April 1986, FAO/IAEA Seminar on Practical Application of Irradiated Food in Asia and Pacific Region was convened at Shanghai. In June 1986, "Provisional Regulation on Hygienic Standard Control on Irradiated Food" was submitted by the Ministry of Public Health. From 1986 to 1987, several large scale irradiation facilities were put in operation at Shanghai, Nanjing, Zhengzhou, Shandong, Shenzhen and other places. Their establishment promoted the commercialization of food irradiation in China. In 1987, China participated IAEA Regional Project on Food Irradiation (RPFI). In January 1988, "The National Seminar on Food Irradiation Development in China" sponsored by Ministry of Nuclear Industry was convened in Beijing. In September 1988, clearance on irradiated apple was approved by the Ministry of Public Health (Table 1). Table 1. List of irradiated food products cleared in China. Product Purpose of Sort of Dose permitted Date of irradiat ion clearance approval Potatoes sprout inhibition unconditional up to 0.20 30 Nov. 1984 Onions sprout inhibition unconditional up to 0.15 30 Nov. 1984 Garlic sprout inhibition unconditional up to 0.10 30 Nov. 1984 Peanut insect disinfestation unconditional up to 0.40 30 Nov. 1984 Grain insect disinfestation unconditional up to 0.45 30 Nov. 1984 Mushroom growth inhibition unconditional up to 1 30 Nov. 1984 Sausage decontamination unconditional up to 8 30 Nov. 1984 Apples shelf-life extension unconditional up to 0.40 30 Sept.1988 In September 1988, The National Coordination Committee of Food Irradiation (NCCFI) was established. The members of NCCFI are: The State Science and Technology Commission (SSTC). The Chinese National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) (formerly The Ministry of Nuclear Industry) The Ministry of Public Health (MPH) The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) The Ministry of Light Industry (MLI) The Chinese Academy of Sciences The Chinese Import and Export Commodities Inspection Bureau The Chinese Food Industry Corporation of Technical Development and others 2. Establishment of Irradiation Facilities for Food Irradiation Since 1986, many irradiation facilities for food irradiation and multi-purpose have been established in China, (see Table 2 and Fig. 2). 36 Table 2. List of irradiation facilities Facilities Date of completion Capacity KCi ) initial desi Sichuan Institute of Nuclear Applied Technology (Chengdu) 1979 no 300 Shanghai Irradiation Center 1986 177 500 Nanjing Radiation Center 1986 100 500 Institute of Atomic Energy (Beijing) 1986 77 300 Shandong Radiation Center (Jinan) 1986 J00 300 Shenzhen Irradiation Center 1986 300 3000 Lanzhou Radiation Center 1987 100 1000 Daging Radiation Center 1987 100 600 Tianjing Radiation Center 19B7 100 500 Beijing Radiation Application Center 1988 300 1000 Changsha Irradiation Center 1989 100 500 Changshu Irradiation Center 1989 100 500 Shijiazhuang Irradiation Center 1989 100 500 II. The Market Testing of Irradiated Food Has Been Developed Since 1986, many research institutes began to develop the market testing and commercialization of irradiated foods. The table 3 is the items and quantities of market testing of irradiated foods in China, up to 1988. Table 3. Market testing of irradiated foods in China Item Quantity (approximate tonnes) Apples 800 Garlic 2000 Hot pepper and products 70 Onion 1000 Orange 10 Pear 5 Potato 500 Spirit made of sweet potatoes 10000 III. Some Problems in Market Testing 1. Not only Enlargement in Quantity Except for the enlargement in the quantity, a series of characteristics should be taken into consideration from research result to market testing, they are: A. To strictly implement Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). The massive scale is one of the important characteristics for market testing or commercialization. Some factors including the quality control of the raw materials, pre-irradiation and post-irradiation condition should be considered specifically such as the place of production, breeds, the gathering period, the gathering method, the wheather of the gathering period, the package and storage, etc. At the laboratory scale, the dose of irradiated products is usually well-distributed. But in the case of massive scale of market irradiation, the dose of irradiated products is no longer uniform, there are Dmax and Drain and 37 overall dose. It is an investigated item of irradiation facilities. For the massive scale irradiation, the minimum dose (Drain) must be higher than the minimum effective dose of this product, while the maximum dose (dmax) must be lower than the maximum tolerable dose of this product. For apple irradiation, the Dmin is 0.2 kGy, the Dmax is 0.8 kGy. So that, in the case of the market irradiation for apples, we must control both the overall average dose of 0.4 kGy and the Dmin, Dmax at the range of 0.2-0.8 kGy. B. More factors contain in the market testing than in the laboratory scale, any careless with these factors will be the failure of the whole thing. In the laboratory research, it is an ideal condition, we can select optimum factors for experiment. But in the larger scale market irradiation, with the increase of quantity, such as the condition of transportation, the economic benefit etc., should be considered. Many data cannot be collected in laboratory research. Therefore, we must draw the conclusion from market testing. In larger scale market irradiation, the pre-treatment, post-treatment and storage condition etc also influence the irradiation effects. For example, the poLatoes should be irradiated one month after harvesting, to allow healing of the epidermis. After irradiation, the good ventilation of boxes loading potatoes is a key factor. 2. Consumer Acceptance Generally speaking, the following problems are concerned by consumer: Is irradiated food safe to eat?. Does irradiation make food radioactive?. Do irradiated foods look, smell or taste different from ordinary food?. Are irradiated foods still nutritious?. Are all kinds of food suitable for irradiation?. It is important to make irradiated food to be accepted by the public. The general public has been well informe of the non-harmful for eating irradiated processing food. We still need to make further clarification of the misunderstanding resulted from the nuclear events and radioactivity through various channels such as newspapers, radio, TV broadcasting, exhibitions and forms. What shall we do next is the taste test of irradiated food. If people can taste it themself, the effects are better than education and propaganda. In the consumer acceptance test of irradiated apples some gourmets from various fronts (commerce, scientific institution, food factory, worker, etc.) grade the irradiated apple in appearance, color, taste, fragrance and freshness. Most got 7-8 points out of 9. In a downtown fruit store on Nanking road in Shanghai the irradiated apples labelled were sold at regular prices. The quantities of the irradiated apples were: 1984 25 tons 1985 50 tons 1986 80 tons 1987 150 tons 1988 200 tons The public show great interests in buying irradiated apples. With these market message, the Shanghai Irradiation Centre has irradiated following quantities of foods for market testing: 38 Apples 650 tons Garlic 1740 tons Onions 780 tons Potatoes 300 tons These market testings fully prove that the food irradiation has caught great interest by the public and will have bright prospects in the future. Of course we should make further efforts to attain our objective. INDIA Considerable amount of R t D work was completed in BARC by i 1980 on the standardization of irradiation technology for food preservation under tropical conditions, for economical ly advantageous commodities, such as onion, wheat, potatoes, seafoods and spices. After the unconditional clearance accorded by the Joint Expert Committee of FAO/IAEA/WHO on wholesomeness of irradiated foods, BARC has approached Government of India for the clearance of this process for agricultural commodities meant for human consumption. A Joint committee of experts and secretaries after scrutinizing the wholesomeness and food safety data on irradiated food, and also recognising the commercial feasibility of this process, has recommended the clearance of irradiated foods for human consumption. Subsequently the Union Cabinet has approved the adoption of irradiation technology in principle for the preservation of food stuffs and constituted a National Monitoring Agency (NMA) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to oversee all matters related to the implementation of this tecttn6*togy. NMA in its first meeting in 1987 reviewed the urgency and necessity for the introduction of this technology to economically important' foots items. Most important application of this technology as far as India is concerned is the decontamination of spices. The maximum dose, 10 kGy, permitted is sufficient to decontaminate spices of insect, moulds fungus and microorganisms. 39 Spices are major foreign exchange earner for India. Our spices are often rejected by importing countries due to their insect, mould and microbiaJ contamination. The quality control of importing countries are becoming more stringent and also the i fumigation process is being banned by many countries. Some of the importing countries like USA, China, ECC countries are using irradiation for decontamination of spices. The time is not far that they would demand that all the spices imported by them should be irradiated to maintain hygienic standards. Therefore, NMA has considered clearing irradiated spices for export. Similarly there is no other method for effective elimination of pathogenic microflora, like Salmone1 la. Vibrio. present in frozen seafoods and frog legs. Irradiation of these commodities at S kGy was also cleared for export purpose. Onion is also an important crop as far as export is concerned. Each year huge quantities of onions are lost because of the absence of adequate preservation technology. Our studies with NAFED has given encouraging results. Irradiated onions showed 20% saving under normal storage conditions in chaw Is for a five month period. Irradiation processing of onions is also cleared for export. The first major task undertaken by NMA, apart from these clearances, towards commercial ization is framing of rules for the control of and trade in irradiated food under the existing laws of Atomic Energy Act and Prevention of Food Adultration Act, based on Codex Genera 1 standard for irradiated foods and recommended International Code of Practice for the operation of radiation facilities. Draft rules have been finalized and it needs now the vetting of Law Ministry for notification. Once these rules are approved then we are in a position to start commercialization of this technology. 40 Before this other preliminaries such as fabrication and erection of irradiation facilities and massive consumer education programme have to be completed. Government requires to know the pulse of the people in accepting irradiated food before clearing this process for domestic consumption. As you know that there are many consumer organisations actively engaged in propaganda against this process which cause a fear psychosis among the innocent consumers. To counteract this we have initiated education programme to the benefit of these consumers and general public about the merits, benefits and efficacy of the new technique for food preservation by giving demonstrations, organising exhibition, talking to school children, T.V. programmes and confabulations with consumer organisations which are not hostile to this technology. In the meantime government has permitted us to conduct market trials on irradiated onions on a limited scale to different strata of income groups and get their response as a preclude to the clearance of this process for preservation of onions for internal consumption. For commercialization of this technique we will have to install irradiation facilities at varicus export points and production centre. Government has forimd the Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology for this purpose. Food Technology and Enzyme Engineering Division and Reactor Engineering Division of BARC and BRIT jointly designed a portable moving bed onion irradiator with a through-put of 1.5 tons/hr. for demonstrating irradiation preservation of onions at various locations. The fabrication of this irradiator is in progress and it is expected to be in operation within H years. Similarly a memorandum has been signed by Chairmen, Atomic Energy Commission and Spices 41 Board to construct an irradiator for spice irradiation at Cochin Port area. BRIT is actively engaged in designing and fabrication of this demonstration irradiator. As soon as the rules governing the control of irradiation process is approved and notified by the Government and the harmony of these rules established at international level regarding control and operation of the irradiation process and labelling of irradiated food, we will be ready for launching commercial trade in irradiated food. INDONESIA Legislation Since December 1987/ food irradiation has been approved by the government to be used commercially in Indonesia. In the regulation only 3 groups of food commodities are cleared for processing by irradiation, i.e. spices (up to 10 kGy), tuber and root crops (up to 0.15 kGy) and grains (up to 1 kGy). Several aspects are also included in the legislation i.e. control of irradiation facility, control of irradiation process, sale of irradiated food and organization of control. Facilities for Food Irradiation Presently, there are two irradiation facilities that can be used for food preservation, namely IRKA (100 kCi at Jan. 1990) and IRPASENA (15 kCi at Jan. 1990). IRPASENA has been modified and the modification will be finished by April 1990. The source of IRPASENA will be increased up tc 100 kCi. All of the irradiator are located at CAIR, Jakarta. At present, construction of a commercial irradiation which is owned by a private company has been started and will be finished by November 1990. The initial source loading will be 400 kCi and the source can be increased up to 2 MCi. The irradiator will also be used for food preservation. Information Transfer Efforts to facilitate public acceptance and successful commercialization of food irradiation has been done continuously. In 1989 two Seminars and one exhibition were held to promote commercialization of food irradiation, namely "The role of Packaging in Radiation Technology Application for Supporting non-oil export" (May 1989) and National Seminar on Radiation Technology (Dec. 1989). In February 1989 an exhibition of Irradiated food was held at the National Coordination Meeting on Research and Technology. The exhibition was attended by private companies as well as by government institutions. To facilitate continuous communication concerning various aspects of radiation technology, it is recommended to set up a "Communication forum for Radiation Technology Application" in Indonesia. Prospect for Trade in Irradiation Foods National Trade The commercial application of irradiation technology on spices and herbal tea for local consumption was increasing each year i.e. 20 m-* in 1988 and 42 90m3 in 1989. The average density of spices and herbal tea was 0.3. The spices consisted of garlic, onion, tumeric, promate and spice mix. The future prospect for local consumption of irradiated food depends on consumer acceptance. International Trade Spices are one of the biggest Indonesian export commodities where radiation technology can be used. Export of Indonesian spices such as white pepper, black pepper and nutmeg to countries where spices irradiation has been legalized increased each year, i.e. 19,000 tonnes 1986 and 28,000 tonnes 1988. It is hoped that in the future all of the importing countries will accept irradiated spices instead of fumigated spices from Indonesia. JAP AM In 1967 the Japan Atomic Energy Catmission decided to promote the research and development of food irradiation as a national project. In this project, the efficacy of irradiation of foods, radiation engineering, and the wholesomeness of irradiated foods were studied on seven representative foods in Japan. The national project on food irradiation investigated the following: 1) the inhibition of sprout growth of potatoes and onions, 2) the prevention of infestation of rice and wheat, 3) the extension of shelf life of sausage and fish-paste products by using gamma-rays, and 4) the growth inhibition of molds on the surfaces of oranges by using electron beams. As a result of this project, a commercial potato irradiation plant was constructed and has been operating for 17 years. The success of the potato irradiation is shown in that radiation processing has been effectively included into one of the storage systems of a huge potato distribution facility. However, a boycott movement by consumer unions against irradiated potatoes has seriously affected on food irradiation development in Japan. After the termination of the national project, studies are carried out on spices, frozen shrimps and etc. for decontamination of microorganisms or chemical changes. The development of radiation sources and radiation engineering of gamma-rays, electron beams and X-rays is expected for commercialization of food irradiation. 1. RESEARCH ACTIVITIES OF FOOD IRRADIATION Research and development on food irradiation in Japan has designated as national project by Japan Atomic Energy Commission in 1967, and has been carried out more than 15 years and was terminated in March 1983 upon completion of this work. The project was aimed to evaluate a feasibility of food irradiation in a commercial stage. Food items in the research program were selected from a viewpoint of their importance to the national economy. Seven items, potato, onion, rice, wheat, Vienna sausage, fish-paste product(Kamaboko), and mandarin orange were chosen at the steering committee of the national research program on focd irradiation. In this project, the efficacy of irradiation of foods, radiation engineering, and the wholesomeness of irradiated foods were studied. All of these results were obtained as wholesome and effective<1). To establish food irradiation on a commercial scale, there are at least three steps which must be considered: 1) the effect of irradiation on each food must be determined, and the optimum conditions suitable for the purpose must be set) 2) suitability of irradiated foods for human consumption from a health and 43 safety standpoint must be confirmed; and 3) an economically feasible irradiation technology must be developed. As, it is difficult to pursue these investigations in any single research institute, systematic and long-range research was planned in the natinal project. In this project, the study of radiation effects on agriculrural products was carried out mainly at the National Food Research Institute. Seafoods were studied at the Tokai Regional Fishery Research Laboratory, animal products at the National Institute of Animal Industry, and packaging materials at the Industrial Product Research Institute. Studies to ascertain the wholesomeness of irradiated foods were carried out at the National Institute of Hygienic Science, the National Institute of Nutrition, and the National Institute of Health. Radiation engineering and pilot scale irradiation effects were studied at the Takasaki Radiation Chemistry Research Establishment of the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute. Basic research was carried out at the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research, and by association members from universities/ other institutes, and industries. Accordingly, the steering committee on food irradiation research was established in the Atomic Energy Bureau for the planning of food irradiation research to ensure smooth progress and the evaluation of resultant data. Thus, a special feature of the national research program is the participation of national and Dublic research institutes and universities. Wholesomeness tests were conducted most vigorously. The .nain subjects of the wholesomeness tests were as follows: 1) induced radioactivity in the irradiated food, 2) nutrient loss, 3) production of toxic compounds, 4) production of carcinogens, 5) production of teratogens. Experiments in items 3 to 5 include animal feeding tests of more than three generations using rat,- mouse, dog, and monkey. For toxicological studies in this project, optimum concentration of each test item in diets for feeding studies was decided, and studied using with many animals on each items(Table 1). Wholesomeness tests, based on studies such as chronic toxicity in mice and rats and on three-generation carcinogsnicity tests combined with teratogenicity tests on mice, showed no significant differences between all of irradiated and nonirradiated items of this project. Mutagenicity tests, such as Salmonella/microsome tests, prophage lambda induction tests with Escherichia coli, chromosome aberration tests in vivo using Chinese hamster fibroblast, and micronucleus tests in vivo with mice, were carried out simultaneously on the same sample but at different institutes. This national project of food irradiation has been carried out more than 15 years and was terminated in March 1982 upon completion of this work. Official reports on 6 items of this project were already accepted by the Atomic Energy Commission as irradiated foods are effective and wholesome, and recently, final results of oranges were reported in March 1968. All foods studied, processed or natural, have been evaluated as throughly wholesome as irradiated foods. As a result of this national project, a commercial potato irradiation plant was constructed and has been operating for 17 years. However, a boycott movement by some consumer unions against irradiated foods has seriously affected on the development of food irradiation processing in Japan. After the termination of the national project, some basic research has been continued at several institutes and universities. Recently, trend of food irradiation in the world is giving the influence to Japanese industry, and many food processors have interest for application of radiation treatment of foods. 44 overall samples at 0.5 MeV electron beams was best when the slope of the side of the sample pallet was 11' and was irradiated at a distance of 70 cm from the beam window and then the overall dose uniformity was less than 2.0. 2. COMMERCIAL POTATO IRRADIATOR Just after the permission of gamma-irradiation of potato for sprout inhibition by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in 1972, it was decided to construct a commercial potato irradiator in Shihoro, Hokkaido. The Shihoro irradiator was the first successful, full-scale food irradiator in the world(lO). The Shihoro Agricultural Cooperative Association had already set up potato storage and transportation systems using large baskets containing 1.5 t of potatoes before the construction of the irradiator. After permission was granted for irradiation of potatoes, design studies for the irradiator began at the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute, under a contract with the Shihoro Association. The Shihoro Association required that the irradiator be such that it could be used with large baskets(98 cmD x 164 cmL x 130 cmH), the large containers already in use for storage and transportation. Since such large containers had never been used for irradiation, experimental measurements of dose distribution in the containers were necessary to establish the irradiation conditions for the required doses. The build-up factor in this design calculation was based on a dose distribution measurement in the potatoes in the 1.5 t containers. Fig. 8 shows geometry of radiation source, 30 cm x 30 cm, and the basket. Dose measurement was carried out with Fricke's solution filled in a small glass ampule positioned at a bore in potato. Irradiation was performed with use of 62 and 217 kCi Co-60 depending on the distance between source and basket. The position of the measurement was on line A, B, and C together with point O whore the lowest dose is estimated after both side irradiation. Fig. 9 shows dose rate distribution on the center line of the basket positioned 2 and 4 m from the source. The dose rate distributions along lines B and C, were similar to the one on line A. The dose uniformity was calculated from these results, and it was obtained as 3 at distance of 2 m rrom the source. At 4 m, dose uniformity was obtained as 2.5 which is acceptable for potato irradiation within the dose range of 0.06-0.15 kGy(9). A conceptual design for an irradiator was made after a study of dose distribution in the basket containing potatoes. Based on the conceptual design, the irradiation plant was established with a 300 kCi Co-60 which can irradiate about 350 ton of potato per day(Fig. 10). The potato irradiator was constructed in 1973, and has been operating for 17 years, irradiating 15,000-20,000 tons of potatoes per year. The irradiation plant cost the sum total of 389 million yen(approx. 1.4 million dollars), of which 230 million yen were supplied by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries as an experimental radiation application to an agricultural product, and 23 million yen by Hokkaido local government. The process cost of irradiation was calculated to be 1-6 yen per kg and is in the range of commercial feasibility. The Shihoro Association has large complexes of storage and processing facilities. If necessary, they can use irradiated potatoes for in-house consumption, and the cost of the irradiated potatoes can taken out of the profit of the processing factory. Fron a technical viewpoint, the radiation efficiency of the Shi'ioro irradiator was lower than that of the usual irradiation facility using a carton box. The success of the Shihoro irradiator is shown in that radiation processing has been 45 Table 1. Summary of Toxicological Studies in National Project Carried out in National Institute of Hygenic Sciences. Items SubJccLs of test Kind of Used matter Feeding Concentra- Radiation Dose (Feeding aninals of aninals* periods tion in Diet groups) Potatoes Subacule test Monkey o"2.93 6 Months 35 0. 0.6 kGy Ctironic lest Mouse 80 ( e*40 940)5 2laonlhs 35 0. 0.15. 0.3. 0.6 kGy. C Ditto Hat 60 ( o"30930)-5 24aonlhs 35 Ditto llree generations Mouse 4I< d"l8°-23)-3 4 genera 35 0. 0.6 kGy test lions** Onions Chronic test Mouse SOI o*40940)-6 2l>onths 25 0. 0.07. 0. 15. 0.3 kGy.C Ditto Kai 60 ( o*3C930|-6 24aonths 25 Ditto Ditto Hal 401 o*20920)-3 I2»onlhs 2 0. 0.3 kGy. C Tree generations Mouse 40( o*20920)-3 4 genera 4 OUto lest Mouse 20(o"l09IO)-2 lions 2 0. 0.15 kGy. C Wlieat Clironic lest Mouse 80( 0*409401-2 24nonlhs 45 0. 2 kGy Ditto Hal 8U( o"40¥ 401-3 24wxillis 45 0. D.2. 2 kGy Three generations Mouse 80 ( o"40940H 4 genera 45 0. 2 kGy lest tions Rice Chronic test Monkey d"5x2 24nonths 40 0. 1 kGy Ditto Mouse IOO(o*50960M 2l*onlhs 40 0. 0.5. 1 kGy. C Di llo Hat 60( o*30¥30)4 24nonths 50 Ditto Iiirce generations Mouse I6( o*6 910)2 4 genera 40 0. 0. 5 kGy lest tions Vinna Chronic lest Monkey 6(o"3 93)«2 24«onlhs 5 0. 6 kGy sausages Ditto Mouse IOO(o"60960)-2 24a»nlhs 5 0. 6 kGy. C Ditto Hal 60 ( o"30930)-2 24aonths 2 0. 6 kGy Ditto Hat Ditto 24»onths 5 0. 6 kGy Iiirce generations Mouse IOO(o"50950)-3 4 genera 5 0. 6 kGy. C lesl tions Fisli-patte Tronic test Mouse 100(0*50950)2 24iHnlhs 2 0. 4.5 kGy product Ditto lat 60 ( a"309 301-2 24«OIIUIS 2 0. 4.5 kGy Ditto lat Ditto 24months 7.5 0. 4.6 kGy Ihrce generations Mouse 80 ( 0*409 40)-3 4 genera 2 0. 4.S kGy.C test tions Mandarin Clronic lest Monkey 6(o*3 ¥3)>2 24nonths 6 EDO. 1.6 kGy orange Ditto louse IOO(o"50950)-2 24«onths 6 0. I.S kGy Ditto lat I00(o"50960)2 24«nths 2 0. 1.5 kGy Ditto (at IOOW50?St»-2 24KnUis 6 0. 1.5 kGy llree generations Mouse SOI o"40¥40r3 4 genera 6 0. 1.5 kGy lest lions • Numbers of parent. "Parent. Fi. Fi. Ft . C:control 46 effectively included into one of the storage systems of a huge potato distribution facility. 3. PROSPECTS OF FOOD IRRADIATION IN JAPAN Recently, the trend of food irradiation in the we Id has given the influence to Japanese industries, and many of food processors seem to take interest in the application of radiation treatment to foods. The most important foods expecting to the application are as follows; 1) decontamination of microorganisms in spices and medicinal herbs, 2) elimination of pathogens from animal feeds, 3) elimination of pathogens from frozen fishery products or meat products, 4) sprout inhibition of onions, 5) disinfestation of imported fruits. Research activities are also increasing again. For example, researches on spice irradiation are carried out in many institutes, universities and private companies. Wholesomeness study and identification method of gamma irradiated grapefruit are carried out by National Institute of Hygenic Science. Irradiation effects of frozen shrimps are investigated by Japan Atomic Research Institute. Basic studies on radiolytic compounds are carried out in national institutes and universities. As a result of the national project, a commercial potato irradiation plant was constructed and has been operating for 15 years. Market price fluctuations during the off-season were also successfully reduced. However, a boycott movement by some consumer unions against irradiated potatoes has seriously affected food processors. In Japan, most important task in food irradiation now is to overcome some consumer's resistance to irradiated foods, it is necessary to publicize radiation of foods as an alternative to fumigation or chemical preservatives. In Japan, about 200 t per annum of laboratory animal diets have been irradiated at 30-50 kGy for over 20 years with no adverse effects. This is another evidence of wholesomeness of irradiated foods. Basic data on radiolytic compounds compared to those produced by usual cooking or food processing, or microbiological safety, wholesomeness data, and identification methodology of irradiated foods for process control must be assembled and presented to the public. Co-60 and limited supplies are stimulating the development of electron beain(EB) accelerators of 1 to 10 MeV that can provide an alternative to gamma sources for the treatment of package and bulk materials for commercial irradiation. Recently, accelerator technology lias evolved considerably, and operational reliability for accelerators with adequate EB energy and power is established well than before. Limited location of commercial gamma irradiator in large population area has favored to use the electron accelerators as alternative of gamma sources. In Japan, commercial facilities of EB irradiator at 3-5 MeV are planning to construction by private companies intending to use for sterilization of medical products and packaging aseptic films for food. Most practical and economical application of EB processing on food irradiation should be bulk irradiation of grains for disinfestation or animal feeds for elimination of salmonellae. Basic study of irradiation effects of these items are already carried out in some institutes. The use of 3-5 MeV X-radiation in food processing is also expected as similar irradiation cost of Co-60 gamma-rays. Pilot scale study was already carried out to convert EB to X-rays(bremsstrahlung production: 7-8% at S MeV EB machin). The complementary nature of these technologies is destined to become more competive in future as more powrful, high-energy machines 47 are developed in response to increasing demand for the treatment of packaged and bulk materials for food irradiation. Recently, Atomic Energy Commission decided to promote the practical application of food irradiation in the new Long-Term Program for Development and Utilization of Nuclear Energy. New Steering Committee of Food Irradiation is also started again from February 1990 for evaluation the needs of application on industries. REPUBLIC OF KOREA Based on the research results accomp] ished by KAERI and Food irradiation Research Conl rat;I !>y RCA ond on Dm recomm'-ndalinn >>f jrrndjat ion food by the Join! Kvpr.-H Commit!ir "f FAO/IAEA/WHO in 1980, the Minister of Health an.) Social Welfare of the Republic of Korea has approved the irradiated pot.ntoes, onions, garlic, chestnut and, fresh and dried mushrooms in September 28, 1987 nnd dried spices (red and black pepper, onion, Kurlic, Rinfler, welsh onion) wert approved in 198R. Also, nccordinn I" the government polity of technical transfer to small and medium sized industries, KARRI has assisted u private firm (Ryunp, VonK Co.) in the field of food irradiation for five years. Ryuni? Yong Co. proposed the construction of a 500kCi Co-60 commercial irradialor (shielding capacity : 300kCi) to the Ministry of Science and Technology in 1984, and the facility was completed in June 19, 19R7 under the government financing(80%) and private s«i:t This facility are used commercially for irradiation of approved food items and medical products. In spite of the recognition for wholesomeness and economic feasibility of irradiated food by FAO/IAEA/WHO Joint Committee in 19B0 and Codex Alimentarius Commission in 1983, it ie indicated that the principal reason why the commercialization of food irradiation has bfcfn delayed is due to not fully understood of the irradiated food 48 by the nuthorities concerned and consumers. For the purpose of expanding the industrinl applications of food irradiation technology, accordingly, it is? necessary thnt the steering committee on food irradiation be ortfunir.ed under thi- auspices nf 1 hf fiuvt/rrimentb y the fpri.-s'-ntnl i vi.'s from consumer's sissm-inl ions, f.-irmors und fisheruiiMi, food industries, and. trade association for the purpose of expanding industrial applications- of this useful technology and so play an important role in consumer's education and public relations in connection with, the wholesomeness, safety and economical efficiency of this technology. Although we have had a hard time* in consumer n irradiated food, there is growing interest by the food industry and government in the practical utilization of food irradiation is 2 scar.5 of decontamination, disinfestation, storage-Jiff extent ion >v.d pathogens control. Presently, the Agricultural and Fishery Marketing Corporation in. Korea is making efforts to promote the cornnwr- cialization of food irradiation by educating the consumer's unions that have been in a suspicious attitude to irradiated fond. A]so, we had organized the panel discussion with government officials concerned representative of consumer society and televised by KBS-TV and MBC-TV. (1987, 1988, 1989) In this connection, we hope that international orgnizations, trade association, food industries and consumer's associations w,11 play a leading role in successful commercial applications of this technology throughout the world. 49 MALAYSIA Research The main ttuust areas in food irradiation research are as follows: -Pilot scale irradiation of pepper, cocoa beans and rice, -quarantine treatment of tropical fruits, -disinfestation of aites and thrips in cut flowers and ornamentals, -disinfestation of legumes, -irradiation disinfection of debcned chicken aeat (chilled and fro:en), Regulatiov Malaysian Food Act 1985 stipulated that no irradiated foods can be sold, advertised or marketed locally. Irradiated foods destined for export are not covered by the tc*. However, food coapanies interested in irradiating foods or importing irradiated foods for local consumption should get prior permission fro* the Ministry of Health. Upon receiving such request, the Ministry ml! convene a meeting of National Advisory Group comprising of various governaent agencies to consider such app! i cati on '. e). Facilities for food irradiation Presentlv. dedicated facility tor food irradiation is not available. The facility at the Nuclear Energy Unit is a multipurpose (max. capacity of 2MCi> co«»issioned in Jan. 1989 and now utilised mainly for medical product sterilisation. However, the , facility is also eaployed to a linited extent to accumulate data ! on techno-economic feasibility Df food irradiation and other irradiation research on 'off-carrier' basis. PAKISTAN CONSUMERS ACCEPTABILITY AND MARKETING OF IRRADIATED PRODUCTS The consumers acceptability and market testing of potatoes, onions and dry fruits performed during the past six years were quite encouraging and the consumers were having no reservation about the acceptability of irradiated products. Large quantities of the above products were marketed at different times and in different shops in Peshawar, which were accepted more than the unirradiated products by the consumers. The consumers were always having very positive attitude and there were no problems with the consumers, who were offered the irradiated commodities. This attitude of the masses in the country is a great step towards the commercialization of radiation technology. 50 COST ECONOMICS The cost economics for food irradiation was calculated for a source strength of 100 Kci and throughout rate of 20 tens/hour. It was found that if €£> thousand tons of potatoes and onions were to be irradiated then the cost per ton wili be KS.60.50 ($3.00). The cost could further be reduced if more items were included for irradiation. For cost economics, totai production of potatoes and onions in the unit area was estimated to be 152000 tons and out of this 50% produce was considered to be available for irradiation whereas the rest for fresh consumption. CLEARANCE OF IRRADIATED FOODS The successful marketing and consumers acceptance of irradiated fruits and vegetables paved the way for the application of this technology in the country. The great setback in the way of going commercial uptil now was the lack of legislation and clearance of irradiated foods in Pakistan. Now the Government of Pakistan have accorded approval in June, 1938 for the irradiated foods (potatoes, onions, garlic and spices; in the country. Tnis clearance is a major step forward in going commercial for food irradiation in Panistan. Arrangements have already been made to start sterilization of aifferent spices by gamma radiation in tne first instance. FOOD INDUSTRY AND TRADE The Food Industry has shown great interest in the preserva- tion of frozen meat and chicken. Similarly, preservation of dry fruits and nuts by radiation has also aroused the interest of tne trading community to avoid colossal losses in these commodities. A number of traders have requested for preserving various foodstuffs by gamma radiation, which are exported to a number of countries in the region. These recent developments have necessitated the promotion of food irradiation and the transfer of this technology to the food industry and trade. TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER The Ministry of Science and Technology and Inaustry in Pakistan in collaboration with the Asia and Pacific Centre for Technology Transfer, Bangiore, India organized a Regional Technology Transfer Exposition and Workshop on Promotion of Technology Transfer 51 and Utilization, which were held from December 4-8, 1989 in Lanore, Pakistan. In this exposition and workshop, some 13 countries from the region participated by putting stalls to display different products and technologies developed in these countries. Some food commodities preservea by radiation were exhiDited by NIFA for the transfer of this technology in the region. A lecture was also held on the Prospects of Food Irradiation Technology, showing the benefits and advantages of reducing tne post-harvest losses and improving the hygienic quality of various food products. A number of entrepreneurs showed keen interest in installing commercial food irradiators in Pakistan and in some other countries in Asia and the Pacific. COMMERCIAL IRRADIATOR The Pakistan Radiation Services (*ARAS), the commercial irradiator (200 Kci) at. Lahore is already functional for the last more than two years. This dual purpose commercial plant is sterilizing various medical products/appliances and is running quite successfully. The provision of irradiating food commodities is also available in the plant. After granting clearance for irradiated foods by the government, it is intended to start, in the first instance, steriliza- tion of spices on commercial scale. The radiation of other products will also follow in the near future to take full advantage of the radiation technology, which is badly needed specially in the developing world. PROSPECTS OF THE RADIATION TECHdOLOQY The prices of important fruits and vegetables in different markets of the country are facing great fluctuations. As a result, the growers are bearing huge iosses for their produce at tne time of harvest when there is glut in the market. Similarly., tne consumers are also required to pay high prices for fruits and vegetables during the off-season. Tnis impalance in the supply and demand and the setback of the producers and consumers are due to Lnf?. non-availability of proper storage facilities and a viable preservation technology. The Pakistan Agricultural marketing and Storage Limited is responsible for controlling the market supply of different food commodities in the country. After having come to 52 know tc.f aavantages of radiation preservation, they are quite convinced to apply this technology on commercial scale, iney are interested either to utilize the facilities of Pakistan Radiation services or install their own small irradiators in aifferent growing areas of the country. PHILIPPINES 1. Legislation The Official Philippine regulatory agency, the Bureau of Food and Drug of the Ministry of Health has not given clearance for the irradiation of food commodities. Its position is to review international data on wholesomeness and to issue a clearance after such review is completed. The BFflD, however, issued a permit for the test marketing of onions and garlic on a yearly basis. 2. Facilities A multipurpose irradiation plant was completed in July 1989. It is located at the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology. The facility has 30,000 curies of high specific activity Co-60 pencils and a concrete shield designed to accommodate a maximum of SOO kilocurjys of Co-60. The achievable does rate is 30 krad/hour. The facility has four (4) timetables with a maximum loading of one (1) cubic meter per turntable. It com irradiate twelve 20 kg bagi of onions at ony time. The plant charges a service fee of Plb .OO/krad/cubic meter (1US$ -P2'/ .00) . 3. Technology Transfer The technology for onion irradiation will be transferred this year to thr National Onion Growers Marketing Cooperative, a private farmers cooperative. They will conduct a trial irradiation of 6 tons of newly harvested onions. 4. Market Testing Market testing of one of the following commodities has beon conducted by the Phi1 ippine Nuclear Research Institute and/or the Food Development. Center for the last 5 years: red Creole onions, yellow granex onions, multiplier onions and garlic. The results show very significant control of cold storage and post storage distribution losses, primarily due to the control of sprouting. 5. Trends in Commercial Application Inasmuch as the technology has not been commercialized, existing food irradiation activities only show potentials, rather than trends in commerc i1i^ation. 53 b.l Potential Areas of Application Pnod irradiation applications wilh the greatest potential ("or commercialisation in the Philippines, because they solve major marketing problems, are the following. a. Irradiation of onions to control 30-45* of cold storage losses and 20-70% of post storage distribution losses. b. Irradiation of mangoes as a quarantine treatment for export, (particularly to the U.S., which believes Philippine mangoes have the seed weevil and not just fruit fly). c. Irradiation of frozen shrimps and other shrimp products to insure against rejection due to microbial pathogens especially Sa lmon_el 1 a. 5.2 Barriers to Local Commercialization of Food Irradiation The barriers to the loral commercialization of the above applications are the following: a. Lack of an international trade protocol for the use of irradiation as a quarantine treatment for mangoer.. b. Non acceptance of importing countries of the use of irr^iiiat i'jn for shrimps. c. Absence of Iocs*! clearance for the irradiation of above foods o_r_ any f'.nd. d. Uncertain economic feasibility due to a and b abovo. Q. 'inc.^rtain finaru ial stability dui? to inadi^quc'te pilot plant scale testing of multipurpose applications of radiation processing. f. Possible consumer resistance to irradiated foods. SRI LANKA Over a decade ago, an IAEA Expert undertook a abort term miaaion to bdvimn the Atomic Energy Authority of Sri Lanka on the technoeconomic feaaibility in setting up a national food irradiation programme. After investigating a large number of different classes of locally produced food items, be concluded that tha following food irradiation applications have prospects for future commercialization in Sri Lanka: 1. Disinfestation and microbial decontamination of whole apices as a quality improvement measure during atorage and shipment tor export. 54 2. Disinfestation (fruit fly, seed weevil) as a guarantive disinfection to control fungal infection and delay in ripening > for ahalf life extension of fresh fruits. 3. Disinfestation and mould control of cocoa beans for export. 4. Radurization of fresh fish and disinfestation and disinfection of dried/cured fish for internal marketing. The first three recommendations are important to Sri Lanka as irradiation of these commodities can increase her much needed foreign exchange earnings. 'constraints to Commercialisation of Food Irradiation in Sri Lankai 1. Failure to clear at learnt a tarn irradiated food itamm for consumption by the^Pood Advisory Group of the Ministry of Bmalth, the lagal body responsible for pausing national food laws. The members are still not disposed well towards food irradiation mainly due to unfounded teats of radioactivity. However, the group baa allowed experimental trials to be carried out to study the rewwi—r reaction to irradiated foods. 2. Government Poliey Planners have not given high priority'to tood irradiation. 3. Mon availability of a ammi commercial irradiator atill in Sri Lanka. This has greatly impeded any meaningful tood irradiation programme ia the country. However, en international firm with local collaboration in setting up an irradiation plant in the out aktrta of Colombo tor aterilisation ot medical supplies. The firm bam indicated its willingnera to allow the AEA to undertake apice irrdlatioB, Furthermore, wa are hopeful in installing a aulti purpose irradiator at the Rubber Research Institute for radiation vulcanisation ot natural rubber. This irradiator will also be used tor tood irradiation work. 55 THAILAND Food irradiation clearances date back to 1573 when onions were cleared for sprout inhibition upto a dose of 0.1 J-.Gy. Ir. 3V7>» the Ministry of Public -Health issued notification tJo. 9 preseribi:l£; irrtdiatc-d food to be specially controlled food, "ne'er this Notification, irradiation of frozen chricp, frozen chicken, garlic an;; ferr:e:'.te:n. por?. sausage (nhan) for test marketing has been approved. In 1S>£5I the Sub-Coaaitteo on Industrial Application of .nadioisotopes and SaJiaticnc held a public heirir.t; by inviting representatives of food industries, fruits ar.;! vevet-ble e-x?orters, onior.e trailers, 0:.:.:-.vi.:-cn Cor.pany a:., .'d'-^ ote.-ilis.'-tic:; .'crvico Co:jpcjiy toar.c-c-ti::c 3:.J r-;>:«.-c thcr. to e.~rc-s: their ccnc>..'':: :i.i dii'ficultits ir. corcfcrciilis-.tic:! of fooci irradiation ic-c/.^olc^j". 1CSUL-J OS. irr-a:-tion tc-ch.r.clotJj , eafety, accept. :ice, market::::, i::vostn>i::t, Limited clc-ur^nce;: foi irradiated focc1, lubclli::^- -.••t Codex General Standard for Irradiated Foods and update the existing regulation. As a rcrult, the Sub-CoriEit'tce appointed a ..orking Group to work on dataile and recommendations for revising oi reeulation in order to encourage invostracnt in irradiation technology. On the bacic of the recoaoondstions and in the interest of improved regulations on food irradiation to be mostly Euitablc for the present social and economic situation, the liinistry of ?ullic Health issued Totification Ko. 105 for the control of food irrodiotion. Ihic Notification cane into operation on '•th December 19&6. Under ti:ic new i-t -ulation, food irradic.tion is coniiiicred I as a process and the- approval for -;):e treat,.!;:.t. as nanyaolt foou e iter.3 buch a-3 onions, frozen c:::i-p, fruitc, ..;iictr, etc. Jv ?• '..•: on f. ': accorded. The i.iunuficturcr oiu^t hold licence -.nr. irradir-tc-d foods 56 must display the label in Thai l-nguasc-. TJ:er lubul shall bear registration pornito and a lo^o in cm junction with the purpose of the treatment. TZCB'CLCGY T Factual information on iifferent aspects of food irradiation was transferred through 6cr.in_rr< en different occasions to t-ert- thar. 100 participants fro'i different rovemncntal institutions ~.3 j?rivitc cc^-icc working on productio.-., Jtora£C- ar.d trc.de of fruits, vigi-tr.blcs, ccrc-:Js, poultry snti seafood. Coliibcration i.ork betweo;: i.-.t 6i"iicc- of Atcrric Srx-rgy for Peace (C.C?) snfi onions tracers on r;idi«tior. eprout inhibitic:; of or.ior.c; c;.'; Lirlic ivith csphasis on tec;-.r;olo^y tr-risfc-r i.:-.i bwun curried out. 'Josonstratior. o: t!.c efficucy of radiitici or. -prout control of ;::.t_tet-s to >"c;U Troc^ ^si::^ :OR-•-::•• - io ur.r'.er 'jy. Irrali-tcd foods such as nhan, onior.c and o.-irlic hive been on market trials. Sc-c-ir.^ t^t privatcd sectors have s;.own their interest in utilizing the irradiution tc-chnolocy, the OAEP jroposod to the governncnt for construction of a 100 l-.Ci food irrauiation plant in order to facilitate technical development and to denonetratc the efficacy ol the technology at 6eni-coniraorciil ccalc. The project was approved by the covcrnuant' and tbc requested budget vne allocated in 1986. In the DC-antimo, the OAEP received CIi)A aid of CA.V / ^+.8 million. The aided project, including the eetiblishncr.t of r. ^$0 kCi rulti^urjiosu irradiation facility, irrndictor operation, traininc of personnel r Tlic plant rill certainly i-'lay an important role in providing necessary technical and economic information under the local rorkir.c environment and will be used ao an important vehicle for industrial technology transfer of food irradiation. 57 a* 7003 ;.\HDI.-.TIO» In the past, Ga™abeanH65O (20,000 curies) at the OAEP was the only facility ucod fcr ti.c t»'u-t-'0nt of ioi.c in Thailand, -vith th.it. facility, L-proxir-.r.tciy 29 to:;s ei irr.-'i''.:; f-i-.r-;,to.' , crh easije v.'Cro protiuce'. \r.l pJi oi. t:ic .. sr^ct ;"or tr?.:.l by t'-.c C«iT . Ir-ci-o^iiinj; J;T._r.d fro" retail c!;ops/ctorco ;.rcvcii the cccc;-t_aility of the product. ..'ith the satiof-ctov results obtained i- 19CS storage tri^l of 10 tone of irradiated onionu, irrjdi.-.tio:i cwi-vicc for spi'.roxi:.iitely 500 tor.s cf cr.ions vv^s giver, to three onions tr-ic-rs upon request in the vest. Gone- companies Jicvc boon showing interest for the cstabllchricnt of comme-rcicl irradi^tor for food procossing. Fruits raid vegetables exporter association has already participated in the technology transfer proEracnie. The poseibility for conrrierciali«ation of irradiated fruits ar.d seafood depends on the acceptance in importing coutric6, VIET NAM Under an IAEA Technical Assistance Project VIE/8/00i», a gamma irradiation facility is now under construction in the suburbs of Hanoi.The construction of the buildings for housing the irradiation facility is now completed and we are expecting to start th assembly of the equipments at the beginning of February 1990 with the assistance of soviet expertc.The initial loading of the cobalt source will be 110 kCi and the activity of the source will be later on up- graded to 220 kCi.We are planning to put the irradiation facility into operation at the third quarter of 1990. For the preparation of xhe utilization of the irra- diation facility,inthe past three years we have started some experiments on the preservation of foods by irradiation under the conditions of the country.The foodstuffs choosen for experiments were:potatoes,onions and garlic for sprout in- hibition, dried green beans and other grain foods for insect disinfestation,spices and dried fi6hes for insect disinfes- 58 tation and decontamination,etc....The irradiation facilities used for experiments were the Gamma Cell with an activity of 16 kCi installed in 1981 at the Dalat Nuclear Research Institute under a IAEA Technical Assistance Project and the Cobalt Therapy Unit with an activity of 5 kCi installed at the Hanoi Cancer Hospital.Because of the limitation pf the facilities,we could only make the experiments in a small scale. Potatoes are important agricultural products growing mainly in the surroundings of Hanoi and the provinces of the Red River Delta,near to Hanoi.In our country,potatoes are U6ed mainly for domestic human consumption and partly for export.Because of sprouting and spoilage,a great quantity of potatoes was lost every year*If we could prevent potatoes from sprouting and spoilage,we will be able to increase the area for growing potatoes,and therefore the production of potatoes will be significantly increased,both for domestic consumption and for export.The preservation of potatoes by irradiation in Vietnam will have a bright future if the im- porting countries accept imported irradiated potatoes and if neighbouring countries are willing to import irradiated pota- toes from Vietnam. At the request of the Vietnam National Atomic Energy Commission and with the agreement of the Ministry of Agricul-, ture and Food Industry,the Ministry of Health of Vietnam by the Ministerial Decree No 685/BYT/QD on 3 November 1989 has given clearance for seven irradiated foods:potatoes,onion6 and garlic for sprout inhibition,dried green beans,maize,paprika powder and dried fishes for insect disinfestation.At the same time,our country has joint the Codex General Standards for irradiated foods sponsored by FAO and WHO.Our country has been member of the RPFI-Phase I and Phase II and recently we have notified to the UNDP and IAEA our willing to participa- te to the RPFI-Phase III (RAS/89/Oi*Jf).We would like also to take an active part to the works of the International Consultative Group on Food Irradiation (ICGFI). The irradiation facility installed at Hanoi will be used mainly for food irradiation,but we would like to use it also for other purposes like:mould control for the preservation of tobacco,medicinal herbs,leather articles,...,sterilizati- 59 on of medical products,vulcanization of rubber latex,radia- tion processing of materials,etc....By nakiag the irradiation facility a multipurpose one,we will be able to increase its efficiency. Food irradiation is a new food preservation technique and in our country as well as in other countries,many people are not aware of this new technique,Although in the past few years we have made efforts in presenting the advantages and prospects of food irradiation on newspapers 4nd TV pro- grammes, we have to do much more public information for ma- king food irradiation technique to be accepted by consumers in our country. The completion of the construction of the first semi- commercial irradiation facility will be a turning point in the development of food irradiation and irradiation technique in general in our country.We are willing to develop closer and closer cooperation with all the countries of the region in the field of food irradiation technique as well as in the utilization of nuclear technique for peace,happiness and prosperity in this region of the world. 60 COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED PP-7 10/16/89 rof NOHD AMESICALNE ?OLII UA PSOTECTION OCS ?LAMTES NORTH AMERICAN ?'_ANT PROTECTION ORGA-NIZATION NAFFO OKGA>UAC:ON SORTEAMEKCAN* zt ?*OTtcc:os * LAS ?-_A>TA3 CA.N»DA — TZD STATES — ME\ 1. NAPPO POSITION PAPER IRRADIATION AS A PHYTOSANITARY CERTIFICATION PROCEDURE Results of scientific investigations in several countries have shown irradiation to be effective as a method for disinfesting various agricultural products. The North American Plant Protection Organization accepts irradiation as a quarantine treatment for those products and pest species for which validated scientific data are available and recommends its adoption for that purpose. This recommendation is made to provide as many options as passible for the use by industry when advantageous to the public good. The criteria to be used to determine quarantine efficacy are (1) a mortality of 99.9968 percent or (2) in the case of adult insects, the inability to fly or move to host material. A 99.9968 percent mortality rate is a generally accepted standard for quarantine security. Irradiation at doses which avoid phytotoxicity in the host material may not immediately kill the insect. The insect may develop to the next life stage (egg to larva, larva to pupa, etc.) but will not develop further and adults emerging from puparia will be incapable of reproduction. The inability to reproduce can be a sufficient criterion for quarantine security. However, in many cases expensive quarantine measures are triggered by the discovery of quarantinable insects in traps at ports of entry or at other locations within a country. At present, there is no practical system to identify those insects which have been irradiated. Therefore, the second criterion of inability to fly or move to host plants is required to permit the use of irradiation as a quarantine treatment. An appropriate protocol will need to be determined beforehand in order for irradiation technology to be applied for phytosanitary purposes. This protocol will need to include measuring and recording dose distribution in the commodity receiving the treatment and adequate information to identify the lot as having been treated. Since irradiation leaves no residue to prevent reinfestation. treated products must be safeguarded in an approved manner from reinfestation after treatment, especially when treatment occurs within an infested area. 61 Irradiation may be carried out using a radioactive isotope source such as Cobalt 60 or Cesiua 237 or by high energy electrons generated by electron beaa accelerators. Host countries have a number of agencies which are involved in Che regulation of irradiation sources, the physical facilities to be used and the actual application of Che technology. The legislative mandates of all entities must be considered when developing phytosanitary certification treatment protocols incorporating irradiation technology. Real Roy Executive Committee Canada Wllllaa F. Helms Executive Committee United States Jorge Gutierrez Saaperio Executive Cornel Ctee Mexico 62 2. Uni vcr-^i d.id Xacional del Sur, 800 Bahia Blanca, Republic Argentina INTRODUCTION The COKKO-Rio Colorado zone, located 100 km from tho city of Uahia Blanca, is .'in agricultural area under irrigation known as the lower valley of the Colorado river. This area comprises 700,000 ha (7,000 km^') , of which at present 90,000 ha (900 km^) are irrigated. In this area 7S.0OO tons/year of onion are produced, that is 28.15% of the national total. The "Valenciana sintetica 14" onion variety is the most widely produced in this region because it is the roost marketable variety. Since the economy of the horticultural sector in this region depends almost entirely on the onion production, it was considered that it would be interesting to carry out economic ovalwalions in order to assess the benelit of applying the rndioinhibition process on onion bulbs. The benefit in terms of both the regional cross economic benefit .ind the farmer';; benefit was evaluated in a first stage (1). This work aims at evaluating the benefit of int rod'.fine this li'timul n>;y in the region in terms of the economic impact on the net income of I hi1 onion sector. Thus, the regional product ioii-marki't ing circuits were studied ,-md t In- level of actual loss during the traditional storage period from March to September was determined. The sale policies were also evaluated. In order to maximize the income of this sector the optimum volume t_o be irradiated was estimated using a simulation model regarding the domestic market. METHODOLOGY Two main problems appeared during the execution of this work: the impossibility of separating strictly both circuits and the r.rtvjt uncertainty of the production patterns and the sale policies. For this reason the model lor analysis consists of a dynamic .system representing all the possible ways to r.o round the production and marketing circuits. l;or an estimation ot the results, given the variability of each, of the data, the simulation of a network for each fact obtained through surveys was selected a.s a methodological solution. From the total of circuits entered corresponding to each survey, a distribution for each parameter is obtained inferring Hie probable values and taking the mean value as representative to simulate the entire model. That is how using these values in each of the nodes, the expected most likely value for each parameter or event is obtained. The original values to feed the model were obtained through u .survey to producers and operators from the area where the necessary probabilities to simulate the network were found. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Krtim the data obtained and under the ueirrir, panl'lir, .Supposition, the result-; with regard to the economic impact of the irradiation of onion in the COKI-'O zone are shown in Table "I. It ran be noted that the optimum volume of onion to the irradiated is 36.13%. The treatment of this volume generates an increase ol 22.5% on the net income of the regional onion sector. There is one condition for the achievement of this benefit, namely that in the first three month:, post harvest (March, April, May) the unirradiated product should be sold and that in the June-September period the irradiated product should be marketed. The estimation provides an important economic benefit for the onion sector in the region from the point of view of internal marketing. The evaluation of the economic impact resulting from the adoption of this technology from the point of view of international trade for these bulbs appears to be interesting. Consequently, studies in this sense are in progress. 63 Table I . Economic impact of the irradiation of onion in the CORFO-Rio Colorado zone (Average produce : 75,000 tons/year) Optimum volume to be Unirradiated 100 % Irradiated Item ^\ irradiated (56.13 ")* Gross income A 158.952.500 A 15S.952.5OO A 158.952.500 Average loss 14,30 % 5,30 % 6,65 % Production A 34.800.600 A 34.800.600 A 34.800.600 cost Irradiation A 7.947.625 A 4.450.670 cost Net income'""- A 74.552.186 A 78.347.552 A 91.3iA.390 tt 1 % monthly financial cost included. '•'''•' Net income = Net income value in f'arch minus production and marketing costs minus product loss minus irradiation cost (5 % of selling price of prcJuct). REFERENCES 1. Curzlo, 0. A. and Croci, C. A. (1988). Progress Report Research Contract N° 4453/R1/RB. Second FA0/1AEA Resenrch Coordination Meeting on L.itin American Regional Cooperation Programme on Food Irradiation, San Jose, Costa Rica. 3. COMHKRCTAI.TSATION OF IRRADIATED FOOD - STATIIS OF RADTATTON TKCHHOT.OGY TN INDIA K. KRISHNAHORTHY BOARD OF RADIATION & ISOTOPE TECHNOLOGY V.N.P. MARC BOMBAY 400 (194, INDIA INTRODUCTION : The prospects of food irradiation and commercialisation of irradiated food were examined since early sixties at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, BOMBAY. The major research and developments were carried out on various food items of national importance such as onion, potatoa, fish spices etc. at this centre. The Board of Radiation & Isotope Technology which has been recently formed is keenly interested in promoting thie technology as a commercial venture through various schemes including appropriate technology development for the economic application of the process. For this purpose Board of Radiation & Isotope Technology (BRIT) now makes available a variety of research and pilot scale irradiators and also customer design irradiation facility for specific food item. This report briefly gives the status of the technology and the economic prospects of the applications of process in India. 2. TRRATIJATTOH gACTT.TTY : 2.1 LABORATORY FACILITIES : Since 1965 the center supplies a variety of laboratory gamma irradiation facilities such as Gamma Chambers, Panoramic Batch Irradiators for research as well as pilot scale research irradiators for food irradiation. The types of facilities available in India for the large scale irradiation are as follows. a) 100 kCi of Cobalt - 60 facility with conveyer system at Trombay. 65 b) Panoramic Batch Irradiation facility with 80 kCi of Cobalt - 60 at Trombay (PANBIT) c) Panoramic Batch Irradiation facility with 80 kCi of Cobalt - 60 located at Nuclear Research Laboratory, BARC, Srinagar. In addition, a number of Gamme Chamber 4000 and Gamma Chamber 900 unit6 are located in about dozen Universities/ Laboratories dealing with mutation, food irradiation etc. 2.2 LARGE SCALE IRRADIATION FACILTTY : Large Scale Irradiation facilities initially designed for radiation 6terilieation of medical products and which can be used for irradiation of spice6 etc. include the ISOMED facility and Continuous Gamma Sterilisation plants located at Bombay and other parts of this country as follows : 1) ISOMED : The radiation sterilisation plant commissioned in 1974, (capacity 1.2 MCi) - presently loaded with 600 kCis of Cobalt - 60 at Bombay. 2) A Continuous Gamma Sterilisation plant - (CGS - 300) which can accommodate irradiation boxes of 60 cm x 50 cm x 90 cm(270 liters - volume) and having a maximum capacity of 300 kCi of Cobalt - 60 sources (Presently loaded with 100 kCi of Cobalt-60) operating at Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bangalore. 3) A Continuous Radiation Processing Plant of maximum capacity of 300 kCi, but presently loaded with 100 kCi of Cobalt 60 capable of irradiating cartons of size 60 cm x 43 cm x 35 cm (90 liters volume) ie located at the Shrlram Institute for Industrial Research, Hew Delhi. 2.3 SPICES IRRADIATION FACILITY : A proposal for building spice irradiation facility is under active consideration. The design of the plant is being finalised to process about 10,000 tonnes spicee/year with an installed Cobalt- 60 capacity of about 33.3 PBq (900 kCi) Two proposals are under consideration : 1. A batch type irradiator facility with pallet box of about lm3 in volume (lm x lm x lm size) 66 2. A continuous processing plant with total boxes 90 cm (h)x60 cm (1) x 50 cm (w) of 250 liters capacity. The plant is to be built near Cochin in South India where major spice Products are processed and exported. The cost of the proposed facility is estimated at about OS $ 1.5 million. 2.4 ONION IRRADIATION FACILITY: A transportable onion irradiation facility with a capacity to process a maximum of 3 tonnes per hour of onion with a mean dose of 60 Gy is in the advanced stage of completion for demonstration of the technology and its economics to various co-operative sectors of onion growers in India. In addition, a programme to build a fixed irradiation facility to proc^fu at about 10,00(1 T/year of onion as part of the Gujarat. Industrial I)tvelopment Corporation it; under active • consideration in order to promote consumer acceptance and j commercialisation ssr.udiee. ij I ECONOMICS OF FOOD IRRADIATION ; 3-FOOD IRRADIATION PROCESS : Food irradiation process that have economic relevance to tropical and developing countries include • 3.1 Sprout Inhibition in root corps - potatoes/onions, etc. 3.2 a) Extension of Shelf-life of fresh vegetables, fruits (both for domestic & export markets) b) Disinfestation of cereal graine, grain products and raw epicee. 3.3 Pasteurization of sea foods fish, frog legs etc. 3.4 Decontamination of agricultural produces (for export) spices, sea foods, cocoa, tea. 4. UNTT COST OF FOOD IRKADTATION : 4.f The cost, of food irradiation for the above four process in India has been evaluated based on the technical and experimental studies at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. The 67 range of unit of cost of processing for the above four processes along with the cost of investment on capital expenses are given TABLE - 3. TABLE 3 Capital and Servtcft Coftt.fi for Food Irradiation ( 1 O.S $ = Rupees 16.5 One Rupee = 100 Paiee) Purpose Dose: Processing Rate Capital Cost(C) Unit Cost KGy in Tonnes Re. in million (Min.) /Hr /Yr Paiae/Kg. 1. Sprout 0.065 20 40,000 8.55 4.25 inhibition 2. Dieinfesta- 0.330 20 100,000 20.65 6 .20 tlon (Extn. of shelf-life) 3. Pasteurisa- 3,3 2 12,000 20.60 62 .0 T/ion 4. Decontamina- 6.5 i 6,000 20.60 120 .0 tion 4.2 It must be once again, emphasized that food irradiation process is highly capital Intensive and its economic feasibility i6 seen only when there is a fairly large quantity of produce to be processed. In countries like India, where agricultural production is decentralized and transportation systems are inadequate, it is not possible to establish installations of high throughputs to take advantage of the economics of sale of processing. Further radiation facilities rau6t be utilised round the clock and round the year, so as to make full utilisation of expensive power that decays at constant rate whether it is used or not. It may also be necessary, purely from the economic point of view, to find ways and means of utilising radiation facility round the year when facilities are installed for processing seasonal produces such as onion/potato, fruits and vegetables etc. 5. ECONOMIC BENEFIT 5.1 The net economic benefit due to radiation processing may be evaluated for agricultural produces such as onion, taking into account both the additional cost incurred in processing and the reduced IOSBCB of produces as from the following : 68 (1 - Li) (C6 + Cp) Economic Benefit - - 1 x 100 (1 - L6) (CB + Cp + Ci) Where Li and Lc are losses in fraction for a fixed storage period with & without irradiation processing. Cp, C6, Ci are cost of procurement, storage and irradiation per unit weight of produce, and based on the assumption that unit weight of salable product is made available at the end of the storage period. 5.2 For example, in the case of onion irradiation, giving the known values for losses for a six months storage period, and the various cost factors as below. Lc = 0.4 ; Li = 0.2 ; Pc = RB.1000/tonne Cs = Rs.20/Tonne ; Ci = Rs.50/Tonne we have, (1 - 0.2) (1000 + 20) NB = - 1 x 100 (1 - 0.4) (1000 + 20 + 50) MB - 0.27 x 100 = 27% A net saving of 27% is quite attractive to both the industry and farmer. This formula also can be used to arrive at the maximum unit processing cost at which no benefit is seen, by equating net benefit to zero. In this example, the no-benefit-irradiation cost will work out to be Rs.340/T. 6.CONCUTSTON : Food irradiation is seen as a process •with immense economic potential. Judicious use of the process is necessary to realise its advantages in developing countries. Besides the direct economic benefits to farmers, the nation stands to gain much through the intangible benefits that it has to offer such as better price stability, increased availability and improved safety of foods marketed. Presently, neither the economic or technical considerations appear to stand in the way for the acceptance of the process by industry and trade in India. 69 li. PROSPECT OF COMMERCIALIZATION Of rCOD IfcnADIA TION IN INDONESIA x NA/l y Illl MC Centre for the Application of I'.ol ope-; and Radiation, Jakarta ABSTRACT PROSPECT OF COMMERCIALIZATION OF f OOD IRRADIATION IN INDONESIA. Since Dccetnher 1987 lood irradiation has boor approved by the government to be usc INTRODUCTION As a tropical country, Indonesia h.v. hieh ambient temperatures and humidity which make food conducive to spoilage. Although production oi some important food crops from 1986-198B increase every year as shown in Table 1, the level of postharvest losses of the crops are also high i.e. up to 20 /. per annum (1-3). According to FREDERICKS (-1), the postharvest losses in ASEAN countries i.e. Indonesia, Thailand, The Philippine, Singapore, Malaysia and ftrunei barussalam was 30/ for grains, 2O-4OZ for fruits and vegetables and 50/ for tish. Those losses were caused mostly by lack of corresponding technological improvments in preservation, processing and distribution system. Export of Indonesian typical tropical commodities from 1986-1983 that might be considered for International trade after irradiation such as frozen shrimps, fish, spices, manioc, coffee beans and cocoa beans also increased as shown in Table 2 » Presented at RCA Workshop on Commercialization of food Irradiation, Shanghai PRC, 8 12 January 199O 70 Table 1. Total production of Indonesia rropv 198t> 19MB {1O0O ton) Crops 1906 1987 i9»n Rice 27.014 2J.25J Maize 5.92O 5.155 6. HOG Cassava 13.312 11.356 15. 2 80 Soy beans 1.227 I.ibi 1. 2 5 Source : The National Logistic Agency Table 2. Exports of Indonesia by ctunodiiins 19116 1988 (ton) Commodities 1986 1907 1988 Shrimps 1.960 2.972 2.811 Manioc 204.968 •1.514.338 583.913 Ground nuts 1.455 1.602 1.960 Cocoa beans 33.170 37.228 57.357 Potatoes 21.87? 3-1.289 57.0-15 Coffee beans 296.06B 2 8 3.573 295.880 Source Indonesia Central Bureau of Statistic:: (2), but sometimes, a part of the commodities was detained by the importing countries, since the quality did not meet the requirements in the importing country. According to OLSCN (5) the share of the developing countries in supplying the world market for those typical tropical commodities is high i.e. 5O - 9O /.. Since tha application of fumigant ethylene dibromidc (EDB) has been banned by several countries the development of new technologies, such as radiation technology is needed. Limited volume of spices and herbal tea have been irradiated for commercial purpojlse in Indonesia since 1987. SPICES AMD HERBAL TEA At present there are 15 countries including Indonesia have approved the application of radiation technology on spices and herbal tea to eliminate pathogenic microbes as well as to reduce the number of microbial content (6). Indonesia has approved the food irradiation technology for commercially purposes since December 1987. According to EISS (7), about 20X of total spices and herbs used in Europe in 1985 and about 25 / in 1986 has been irradiated but only about \'/. of spices used in USA has been irradiated. The commercial application of radiation technology on spices and herbal tea or medicinal herb-; for local consumtion was increasing each year in Indonesia i.i'.ahout 20 m in 1988 and 9O m in 1989. The volume could not be increased caused by limited availability of irradiation facility. Spices are one of the biggest Indonesian export coirnodities where radiation technology can be used. Export of Indonesian spices which mostly consisted of white pepper, black pepper, cassia vera, nutmeg, ginger and mace from 1986 to 1988 can be seen in Table 3. Export of Indonesian black pepper, white pepper and nutmeg to countries that have accepted irradiated spices can be seer at Table 4, 5 and 6. It is hoped in the future that all of those imported countries will accept irradiated spices exported from Indonesia. AVAILABILITY OF IRRADIATION FACILITy At present there are two irradiation facilities available at CAIR which can be used to irradiate food i.e.a panoramic batch type irradiator and latex irradiator. The panoramic plant has been modified since 1989 and the modification will be finished by April 1990. The source of the plant will be 72 Table 3. Export of Indonesia Spices (ton) Commodity 1985 1906 1987 1988 White pepper 12.120 16.265 19.599 21.893 Black pepper 14. OBI 13.3OO tO.394 19-715 Cassia vera 17.235 2 1.749 15.153 14.181 Nutmeg 6.12O 4.734 6.560 4.097 Mace 1.373 1.161 1.061 1.054 Ginger 11.176 16 601 27.26O 31.115 Chillies 116 37 26 28 Vanilla 175 298 411 5O7 Cloves 6O 724 76S 2.567 Cordainon 514 727 1.249 2.2OO Bay leaves - - 3 1 6 Turntaric 251 129 389 79 Other 259 210 398 789 Total 63.515 75.943 83.268 98.189 Source Indonesia Central Bureau of Statistics Table 4. Export of Indonesia Black Pepper to Countries Approved Irradiated Spices (ton) Commodity of Destination 1986 1987 1988 U.S.A. »74 5.591 10.938 Peop.Rep.of China - 5 70 Canada to 1O 16O Netherlands 3O 227 235 Belgia & Lux 1O - - Hungary 277 646 744 Trance _ 25 Source Indonesia Central Dureau of Statistics increased up to 100 kfci. About 10 m of materials with density of 0.3 and doses up to 1O KCy can be irradiated each day. The source of latex irradiator will also be increased up to 3OO kCi by 1991. In January 199O contruction of a commercial 73 Table 5. ixport of Indonesia White Pepper to Countries Approved Irradiated Spices (ton) Commodity of Destination 1986 19O7 19B8 U.S.A. 3.70r> ?>191 5.931 Canada 65 611 892 Netherlands 1.2O3 6.19O 5.219 Belfiia & Lux 21O 9O 275 Trance 97 90 60 Hungary ir>?s i?90 H55 Peop. Rep. of China 50 Source : Indonesia Central Bureau of Statistics Table 6. Export of Indonesia Nutmeg to Countries Approved Irradiated Spices (ton) Commodity of Destination 1906 1987 1988 U.S.A. 261 601 701 Netherlands 1.B92 3.131 1.35 1 France 510 111 111 Belfiia & Lux 265 iBd 110 Source : Indonesia Central Bureau of Statistics irradiator located in Jakarta will be started and the contruction will be finished by September 199O. The initial source loading will be 100 kCi and the the source can be increased up to 2 MCi. INFORMATION TRANSFER Efforts to facilitate public acceptance and successful commercialization of food irradiation have (><•<• n done continously by disseminating all informations available or reeded through mass media or seminars. All developments gained in this field 74 are presented in regular seminar f. cmnmt or£ani7cd by the National Atonic Energy Agency at the Centre for the Application of Isotopes and Radiation (CAIR) Jakarta in December 1988 almost every year. Such a Seminar- or Symposium was held again in December 1989. In February 1989, an cxibition of food preservation was held at The National Coordination Meeting on Research and Technology in Jakarta. The meeting was attended mostly by private companies as well as government institution. The aim of the meeting is to transfer the technology from government institution to private company. Another information and very successful seminar was held in Jakarta on 29-30 May 19H9, organized by the Indonesia Packaging federation and Indonesia Packaging Institute in collaboration with National Atomic Energy Agency, and supported by the Departments of Industry, Trade, and Health. Topic of the Seminar was : " The Role of Packaging in Radiation Technology Application for supporting Non-Oil Export", in which food irradiation application was also discussed. The seminar was attented by about 15O participants mostly from private companies, and from research institutions, and government agencies concerned. The government of Indonesia is very grateful to the IAEA for its support in this seminar by providing two expert speakers, i.e. Dr. C.G. Ciddings from l-vomedix Inc. USA, and Dr. J.C. Leemhorst from Ganmaster B.V. The Netherlands. Their excellent presentations, as will as discussions concerning their practical experiences in operating commercial irradiator for giving services, including services in food irradiation are very valuable for promoting irradiation Technology Applications in Indonesia, 75 To facilitate continuous natural communication concerning various aspects of radiation technology which has been started during the seminar, it was recommended to set up a "Communication Forum for Radiation Technology Application" in Indonesia. The establishment of this forum is now in process. This forum is x£ intended for dialog and communication forum discussing all problems related either technical or new- technical aspects of radiation technology by all parties as well as international level. The secretariat at the Forum will be at the office of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce arid Industry, Jakarta (8). BARRIERS AND CONSTRAINTS Labelling, consumer acceptance and provocation against irradiated food by Indonesian Consumer Association are the main ; threat on application of food irradiation technology in trade. I The sane problems were also mentioned by LEEMHORST (9). In 1989 there were 1? articles in daily papers that against \ food irradiation compared to 9 article.*.- that accepted it. Anothers important barrier and contraints on application of •; food irradiation technology in trade are the economical -. problems, and irradiation assurance. t | CONCLUSION , Future prospect of commercialization of food irradiation ; depends on consumer acceptance, irradiation assurance and economical feasibility. 76 LIST OF REFERENCES 1. HILMy.N., MUMSIAH MAHA., and RAHAYU CHOSDU., Reseach on Food Irradiation in Indonesia, Proc. of The 17 Japan Conference on Radiation and Radioisotopes, Tokyo (1986). a. ANONYMOUS, Monthly Statistical Bulletin, Bureau of Statistics Center, Jakarta (1989) 3. ANCNyMOVS, Food Price Stabilization in Indonesia, The National Logistic Agency, Jakarta, October (1089). 4. FREDERICKS.L.J., Problems of Food Handling and Trade in ASEAN, Trade Promotion of Irradiated Food, IAEA-TECDOC-391, Vienna (1986) 81 5. OLSEN.B.E., Promotion of Export of Foods, Beverages and Tobacco from Developing Countries, Trade Promotion of Irradiated Food, IAEA-TECDOC-391, Vienna (1986) 31 B. ANONyMCUS, Food Irradiation, A Technique for Preservine and Improving the safety of Food, WHO, Geneve (1988) 7. EISS.M.I., Current Problems and Future Outlook for Trade in Irradiated Spices, Trade Promotion of Irradiated Food, IAEA TECDOC-391, Vienna (1986) 109. 8.MUNSIAH MAHA, Status of Food Irradiation in Indonesia, BATAN, Jakarta (1989) 9. 1 EEMHORST.J.C. Barriers and Constraints in Trade of Food Irradiation. Trade Promotion of Irradiated Food, IAEA- TECDOC-391, Vienna (1986) 91. 77 5. SECOND INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON DOSIMETRY FOR RADIATION PROCESSING University of Maryland Conference Center College Park, Maryland October 6-11, 1991 FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT INTRODUCTION. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) is organizing the Second International Workshop on Dosimetry for Radiation Processing to be held at the University of Maryland Conference Center, College Park, Maryland, October 6-11, 1991. Topics will include, but not be limited to, dosimetry for processing of medical products, pharmaceutical^, foods, polymers, and other consumer products. The workshop is being organized by ASTM Subcommittee E10.1 "Dosimetry for Radiation Processing." In addition, the workshop will be preceded (October 4-5, 1991) by a 2-day short course on basic dosimetry, theory, instrumentation and techniques. WHO SHOULD ATTEND?. This symposium is designed to be of benefit to everyone involved in radiation processing dosimetry: scientists; manufacturers and users of dosimeters; regulators of irradiated foods, Pharmaceuticals, medical products, etc.; and representatives of these industries. The workshop format and topics will provide opportunities for participants to interact with people in other disciplines and from other countries to learn about recent unpublished advances, to share experiences, and to hear about major areas of concern to users and regulators in the industries involved. Workshop participants will also gain insight into how dosimetry is now being performed, obtain tips on new and innovative techniques, and learn what the future requirements of dosimetry may be in the industries represented. By participating in this workshop, attendees will acquire a better understanding of the requirements for good dosimetry. 78 SECOND INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON DOSIMETRY FOR RADIATION PROCESSING University of Maryland Conference Center, College Park, Maryland October 6-11,1991 QUESTIONNAIRE Q I definitely plan to attend this symposium, please send future announcements. I ) I may attend this symposium, please send the next announcement. Name: Date: Job Title: Affiliation: Address: City, State/Province, Country, Mail Code: Telephone: ( ) Fax: For the "hands-on" dosimetry demonstrations and exarcises, I would like emphasis on: I | Techniques relevant to gamma Irradiators. I| Techniques relevant to electron beam accelerators. |I Both. (This option may result in missing a workshop session). I would like to see the following additional dosimetry topics discussed: | | I plan to attend the 2-day dosimetry course offered by the University of Maryland and ASTN on the Friday and Saturday before the workshop, October 4-5, 1991. Please return this questionnaire as soon as possible to: Or. Harry Farrar IV, Chairman ASTM Subcommittee E10.01 Rockwell International Rocketdyne Division - NA02 6633 Canoga Avenue Canoga Park, California 91303 USA Tel: (215)299-5400, Fax: 215-977-9679 79 RECENT CLEARANCES AND DEVELOPMENT OF REGULATIONS 1. France Food item Purpose of Dose Date of Clearance (kGy) Approval Frozen or microbial up to 5 2 October 1990 refrigerated decontamination peeled, deheaded and hygiene shrimp enhancement 81 2. Mexico FOOD ITEM/GROUPS SPICES AND CONDIMENTS PURPOSE TYPE OF PACKAGING SORT OF CLEARANCE DOSE PERMITED DATE OF APROVAL MATERIALS. Onion powder Disinfesta'tion Sacs of kraft paper Unconditional Up to 10 Jan 1988 Onion pastry Disinfestation Sacs of kraft paper Unconditional Up to 10 Jan 1986 Garlic powder Disinfestation Sacs of kraft paper Unconditional Up to 10 Jan 1988 Pepper powder Disinfestation Sacs of kraft paper Unconditional Up to 10 Jan 1988 Chili powder Disinfestation Sacs of polyethylene Unconditional Up to 10 Jan 1988 Coriander single Decontamination Sacs of polyethylene Unconditional Up to 10 Jan 1988 seed. Oregano dehidrated Decontamination Sacs of polyethylene Unconditional Up to 10 Jan 1988 OTHER COMPLEX Ingredients Egg powder Reducing microbial population sacs of kraft paper Unconditional Up to 10 Jan 1988 Cocoa powder Decontamination Sacs of kraft paper Unconditional Up to 7 Jan 1988 Cereal products Decontamination Sacs of polyethylene Unconditional Up to 7 Jan 19 88 Prepared soup Decontamination Boxes of carton Unconditional Up to 7 Jan 1988 Milk powder Reducing microbial population Barrels of polypropilene I' conditional Up to 7 Jan 1988 cont d...2. Mexico (contd..) SPICES AND CONDIMENTS PURPOSE TYPE OF PACKAGING SORT OF CLEARANCE DOSE PERMITED DATE OF APROVAL MATERIALS. Dehidrated fruit Reducing microbial population Boxes of polyethylene Unconditional Up to 7 Jan 1988 Fish flour Reducing microbial population Sacs of polyethylene Unconditional Up to 7 Jan 1988 Soybeam powder Decontamination Sacs of kraft paper Unconditional Up to 10 Jan 1988 Cinnamon powder Decontamination Sacs of kraft paper Unconditional Up to 10 Jan 1988 Dehidrated shrimp Reducing microbial population Sacs of polyethylene Unconditional Up to 7 Jan 1988 Dehidrated nopal Decontamination Sacs of polyethylene Unconditional Up to 1C Jan 193S Coloring substances Decontamination Sacs of kraft paper Unconditional Up to 10 Jan 19E8 Dehidrated mushroom Reducing microbial population Sacs of polyethylene Unconditional Up to 7 Jan 19(38 Nut powder Reducing microbial population Sacs of polyethylene Unconditional Up to 7 Jan 1988 Texturizing Agents and Protein Preparations Maize starch Disinfestation Sacs of polyethylene Unconditional Up to 10 Jan 1988 Gelatin paste Decontamination Sacs of polyethylene Unconditional Up to 7 Jan 1988 Industrial enzyme Reducing enzy Polypropilene Unconditional Up to 10 Jan 1968 Preparations Matic activity barrel. i. Phi 1ippinps Report on Food Irradiation Technology National Committee on Food i r radi .it i on Department, of Science and Technology, THE PHILIPPINES EXECUTIVE SUMMARY There is a growing worldwide interest in food irradiation aa an alternative method of preserving food. Food irradiation ia a physical process in which food is exposed to ionizing radiation. This technology ie supported by scientific studies conducted worldwide over a period of 40 years. In the Philippinea, research and development work on food irradiation has been undertaken for the past 25 years. To ensure that the utilization of the new technology will redound to the benefit of the country and the Filipinos an interagency committee, was created by the Department of Science and Technology. The National Committee on Food Irradiation was tasked to review results of studies on food irradiation and to formulate policy recommendations. In order to carry out this task, the Committee conducted meetings, consultations, and literature review to address the following issues: a) Saff-tv QJ: 1 rrpiciiate.ci £QQ-d Studies conducted over forty years have generated a body of scientific data sufficient to evaluate the safety of irradiated food. Based on a review of local and worldwide studies on food irradiation and taking into consideration the 1980 recommendation of the Joint FAO/IAEA/WHO Expert Committee on Food Irradiation (JECFI), the Committee adopts the view that food irradiation ia a safe method when the process is properly applied and monitored. b) Tanhnningirial benefits Q£ food irradiation A review of the literature showed that food irradiation is a viable method for the reduction of food losses, elimination of insect pests and pathogens, control of ripening and senescence of food and extension of their shelf-life. The Committee noted the successful application of food irradiation for sprout inhibition in tubers, disinfestation, microbial decontamination, and shelf-life extension of agricultural products. The Committee recognizes the need for a detailed economic feasibility study. c) Twenty-eight countries have given unconditional clearance for the irradiation of more than 40 different kinds of food. Seven other countries. 84 including the Philippines, have given provisional clearance for irradiated food. d) The Committee notes the need for a well- designed and balanced information program to introduce the potential of food irradiation to consumers, food processors, distributors, handlers and decision makers. Based on its review of the atate of food irradiation abroad and in the Philippines, the Committee submits the following recommendations: 1. Food irradiation should be treated as a "process" and not as an "additive". The BFAD is requested to prepare the rules and regulations, and an amendment to the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, if necessary, to effect this change. 2. There should be legislation on the following: ?.l licensing and control of the irradiation process 2.2 food items that may be irradiated with the corresponding dose limits 2.3 mandatory labelling of irradiated food 3. The BFAD should have the responsibility for the regulatory aspect of food irradiation relating to good manufacturing practice. The PNRI should have the responsibility for the licensing of irradiation facilities and the operators for these facilities. 4. The following food items should be given clearance for irradiation and commercial sale: Food 1 tema Piirpnm* Done a) onions, garlic sprout inhi- up to 0.15 kGy and ginger bition b) mango and quarantine up to 0.35 kGy papaya treatment : c) corn, rice, pest disin- up to 0.75 kGy 1 copra, mungbean, feetation coffee bean and dried fish d) spices microbial up to 30.0 kGy control : 5. The BFAD, in consultation with the DOST, should i create a subcommittee on food irradiation under ite ^ Advisory Council's Committee on Food Safety. The subcommittee would ensure a continuous assessment and evaluation of the safety of irradiated foods as new data are generated. 85 6. The DOST should create technical working groups to undertake the following: a) Economic feasibility of food irradiation A technical working group should evaluate the commercial feasibility of irradiation .of food items with economic potential. The working group should be composed of the PNRI, the Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI), the private sector, and such other groups as may be necessary. b) Information dissemination A technical working group should prepare an integrated information program on food irradiation to inform and educate consumers, food processors, handlers, importers/exporters, and policy and decision makers. The working group should consist of the Science and Technology Information Institute (STII), PNRI, TAPI, consumer groups and the private sector. 7. The DOST should constitute an ad-hoc Interagency Advisory Committee to advise the DOST on national issues relating to the development and application of food irradiation technology in the country. 86 COMING EVENTS 1. ICGFI Task Force Meeting on Irradiation as a Quarantine Treatment of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, Washington, D.C., 7-11 January 1991. 2. Co-ordination Meeting on Technical Co-operation Projects in Developing Countries in Europe and the Middle East, Ankara, Turkey 14-15 February, 1991. 3. Second FAO/IAEA Research Co-ordination Meeting on Food Irradiation Programme for Middle East and European Countries, Ankara, Turkey, 18-22 February, 1991. 4. ICGFI Workshop on Techno-Economic Feasibility of Food Irradiation for Asian Countries, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 25 February - 7 March 1991. 5. First FAO/IAEA Research Co-ordination Meeting on Irradiation in Combination with Other Processes for Improving Food Quality, Strasbourg, France, 4-8 March 1991. 6. Second FAO/IAEA Research Co-ordination Meeting on the Application of Irradiation Technique for Food Processing in Africa, Accra, Ghana, 1-5 April, 1991. 7. FAO/IAEA/UNDP Workshop on Public Information of Food Irradiation, Bangkok, Thailand, 27-31 May, 1991. 8. Fourth Seminar on Gamma Processing Technology, Ottawa, Canada, 26-31 May, 1991. 9. ICGFI/IAEA Workshop on use of Electron Accelerators for Food Processing, Warsaw, Poland, 10-21 June, 1991. 87 102 I 46274 IE MS E. GWO2D2 NESI A-24 21 IAEA Food Irradiation Newsletter Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture International Atomic Energy Agency P.O. Box 100, A-1400, Vienna, Austria Printed in the IAEA in Austria December 1990