Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code – Standard 1.5.3 – Irradiation of food (Cth)

Standard 1.5.3 Irradiation of food

Note 1 This instrument is a standard under the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 (Cth). The standards together make up the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. See also section 1.1.1—3.

Note 2 The provisions of the Code that apply in New Zealand are incorporated in, or adopted under, the Food Act 2014 (NZ). See also section 1.1.1—3.

Note 3 Paragraphs 1.1.1—10(5)(d) and (6)(h) provide that a food for sale must not consist of, or have as an ingredient or a component, a food that has been irradiated, unless expressly permitted by this Code. Division 2 of this Standard contains the relevant permissions.

Subsection 1.1.1—14(2) provides that, if this Code sets requirements for record-keeping in relation to food, those requirements must be complied with. Division 3 contains such requirements. Division 1 Preliminary 1.5.3—1 Name This Standard is Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code – Standard 1.5.3 – Irradiation of food. Note Commencement: This Standard commences on 1 March 2016, being the date specified as the commencement date in notices in the Gazette and the New Zealand Gazette under section 92 of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 (Cth). See also section 93 of that Act. 1.5.3—2 Definitions

Note In this Code (see section 1.1.2—2): irradiation, in relation to food, means subjecting the food to ionising radiation, other than ionising radiation imparted to food by measuring or inspection instruments, and irradiate and irradiated have corresponding meanings. Division 2 Irradiation of food 1.5.3—3 Irradiation of fresh fruit and vegetables (1) Fresh fruit and fresh vegetables may be irradiated for the purpose of pest disinfestation for a phytosanitary objective, if the absorbed dose is: (a) no lower than 150 Gy; and (b) no higher than 1 kGy. (2) In this section: fruit includes (but is not limited to) a fruit described in Schedule 22; and vegetables includes (but is not limited to): (a) sweet corns as described in Schedule 22; and (b) a vegetable described in Schedule 22. (3) Despite subsection (2), any of the following is not a fruit or a vegetable for the purposes of this section: dried pulses; legumes; nuts; or seeds. 1.5.3—4 Irradiation of herbs and spices (1) Herbs and spices may be irradiated for the purpose of controlling sprouting and pest disinfestation, including the control of weeds, if the absorbed dose is no higher than 6 kGy. (2) Herbs and spices may be irradiated for the purpose of bacterial decontamination, if the absorbed dose is: (a) no lower than 2 kGy; and (b) no higher than 30 kGy. (3) In this section: