EN Official Journal of the European Union C 230/12

Report from the Commission on food irradiation for the year 2003

(2006/C 230/07)

SUMMARY

According to Article 7 (3) of Directive 1999/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 February 1999 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning foods and food ingredients treated with ionising radiation, the Member States shall forward to the Commission every year

— the results of checks carried out in the irradiation facilities, in particular regarding the categories and quantities of products treated and the dose administered and

— the results of checks carried out at the product marketing stage and the methods used to detect irradiated foods.

In 2003, irradiation facilities had approval in eight Member States. All Member States except two provided the information requested with respect to food categories treated, quantities or doses.

In 2003, eleven Member States performed checks on foods placed on the market, whereas 4 did not perform analytical checks during the period covered. In total, about 5600 food samples have been checked in 2003. About 2,1 % of products (without dietary supplements) on the market were found to be irradiated and not labelled. These products are herbs and spices or compound foods containing herbs and spices, frog legs, aquatic animal products, mushrooms, fresh fruits, tea, coffee, sauces and similar products. In 2003, special attention was brought to dietary supplements. It showed that this category of products should be particularly monitored — as 16 % of the products checked had been found irradiated.

On the basis of the available information, the Commission concludes that overall the situation has not changed much compared to 2002 even if the number of Member States carrying out controls has increased.

1. LEGAL BASIS AND BACKGROUND

According to Article 7 (3) of Directive 1999/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 February 1999 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning foods and food ingredients treated with ionising radiation (1), the Member States shall forward to the Commission every year:

the results of checks carried out in the irradiation facilities, in particular regarding the categories and quantities of products treated and the dose administered

and

the results of checks carried out at the product marketing stage and the methods used to detect irradiated foods.

The Commission has to publish the results in annual reports in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This report covers the period from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2003.

Information on general aspects of food irradiation is available on the website of the Directorate-General Health and Consumer Protection of the European Commission (2).

1.1. Irradiation facilities

According to Article 3 (2) of Directive 1999/2/EC food may only be irradiated in approved irradiation facilities. For facilities in the EU, approval is given by the competent authorities of the Member States (2). The Member States have to inform the Commission about their approved irradiation facilities (Article 7 (1)).

The list of authorised facilities in the Member States has been published by the Commission (3).

1.2. Irradiated foods

The irradiation of dried aromatic herbs, spices and vegetable seasonings is authorised in the EU (Directive 1999/3/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 February 1999 on the establishment of a Community list of food and food ingredients treated with ionising radiation (4)). In addition, five Member States have notified that they maintain national authorisations for certain foods in accordance with Article 4 (4) of Directive 1999/2/EC. The list of national authorisations has been published by the Commission (5).

According to Article 6 of Directive 1999/2/EC, any irradiated food or any irradiated food ingredient of a compound food must be labelled with the words ‘irradiated’ or ‘treated with ionising radiation’.

For the enforcement of the correct labelling or to detect non-authorised products, several analytical methods have been standardised by the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN), following a mandate given by the European Commission.

2. RESULTS OF CHECKS CARRIED OUT IN THE IRRADIATION FACILITIES

The Member States submitted the following information:

2.1. Belgium

An inspection by the competent authority in 2003 confirmed compliance of the irradiation facility IBA Mediris S.A. with the requirements of Directive 1999/2/EC.

The following table provides the categories and quantities of foods irradiated in the company IBA Mediris in 2003.

Food Amount (t) Shrimps 624,5 Frog's legs 2 501,5 Herbs, spices and vegetable seasonings 468,5 Frozen vegetables 144,1 Cheese 58 Eggs 419 Poultry/Game 915,5 Meat 159,4 Fish 289,5 Dried fruits 13,6 ‘Pâtes de fruits’ 73,4 Starch 56,3 Proteins 37,1 Prepared dishes 167,5 Total 5 928

2.2. Germany

During the reporting period there were four approved irradiation facilities in Germany:

(a) Gamma Service Produktbestrahlung GmbH, Radeberg

The facility was inspected in 2002.

The following table provides the categories and quantities of foods that were irradiated at Gamma Service Produktbestrahlung GmbH in 2003, with the average absorbed doses.

Food Quantity (t) Average absorbed dose (kGy) Oil seeds 1,5 <10 Dried vegetables 67 <10 Spices including blended spices 12,8 <10 Spices including blended spices and spice preparations 195,6 <10 Herbs 3,5 <10 Herbs 29 <10 Tea-like products 106 <10 Other (chitosan, powdered seaweed, bladderwrack, barberries) 1,5 4,5-12,1 Total EU 16,3 Total Third countries 400,6 Total 416,9

(b) Beta-Gamma Service GmbH&Co. KG, Wiehl

The facility was approved on 15 August 2003. There were no further checks in 2003. The next inspection was to be carried out in calendar week 13/2004.

The following table provides the categories and quantities of foods that were irradiated at Gamma Service GmbH&Co. KG in 2003, with the average absorbed doses.

Food Quantity [t] Average absorbed dose [kGy] Vegetables Powdered horseradish 2,5 8,6 Celery, powdered horseradish 1,77 6,2 Fresh mushrooms Field mushrooms 1,89 6,4 Field mushrooms 0,936 6,2 Field mushrooms 2,736 6,3 Boletus luteus 1,005 10,0 Mushroom products Granulated boletus luteus 1,2 6,6 Fresh vegetables Green peppers 8,283 10,8 Mixed vegetables 1,0 10,8 Celery 0,3 6,1 Spices Blended spices 2,55 10,0 Total 24,17

(c) Isotron Deutschland GmbH, Allershausen

The facility was inspected in 2002.

The following table provides the categories and quantities of foods that were irradiated at Isotron Deutschland GmbH in 2003, with the average absorbed doses.

Food Quantity [t] Average absorbed dose [kGy] Dairy products 0,135 6 Tea, tea-like products 266,49 ≤ 10 Spices including blended spices and spice preparations 109,41 ≤ 10 3,49 ≤ 10 Herbs 49,68 ≤ 10 Total EU 3,49 Total Third countries 425,72 Total 429,21

(d) Gamma-Service GmbH&Co KG, Bruchsal

No food products were irradiated in the facility in 2003.

2.3. Denmark

The facility LR Plast has ceased irarrdiation activities 31 October 2003 and therefore it has been removed from the List of approved facilities for the treatment of foods and food ingredients with ionising radiation.

No inspections were carried in 2003.

2.4. Spain

The facility IONMED S.A. was approved for irradiation of foods in 2002.

No control has been carried out, the authorities have only foreseen a supervision of the self-inspection system.

The following table provides the category and the quantity of foods irradiated in the facility in 2003, with the overall average absorbed doses.

Food Amount (t) Overall average absorbed radiation dose (kGy) Herbs, spices and vegetable seasonings 393,8 3-8

2.5. France

All the authorised facilities have been inspected in 2003.

The following table provides the categories and quantities of foods irradiated in France in 2003.

Food Amount (t) Overall average absorbed radiation dose (kGy) Spices, vegetable seasonings and dehydrated vegetables 894 10 Frozen aromatic herbs 4 10 Dried fruits and vegetables 21 1 Cereal flakes for milk products 2 10 Arabic gum 141 3 Caseins, caseinates 15 6 Mechanically recovered meat, meat and offal of chicken 2 290 5 Frozen frog legs 1 006 5 Total 4 383

2.6. Italy

In Italy there is one facility approved for irradiation of foods.

No information has been forwarded by the Member State of the results of checks carried out in the facility.

2.7. The Netherlands

In the year 2003 the following inspections have been carried out in the Netherlands:

(a) Isotron facility in Ede:

— Inspection of HACCP system on 4 February;

— General inspection on 14 May.

(b) Isotron facility in Etten Leur:

— Inspection of the HACCP system on 17 June.

The following table provides the categories and quantities of foods irradiated in the two production facilities of Ede and Etten-Leur.

Food Amount (t) Spices/Herbs 1 756,8 Dehydrated vegetables 2 191,2 Poultry meat (frozen) 95,2 Shrimps (frozen) 196,8 Frog parts 184 Egg white (cooled) 359,2 Food (6) 781,6 Samples food 24,8 TOTAL 5 589,6

2.8. The United Kingdom

There is only one food irradiation facility in the UK, the Isotron plc facility at Swindon, which is licensed to irradiate certain herbs and spices. No food has been irradiated in 2003.

The facility was not inspected during 2003.

2.9. Summary for the EU

The notified amount of foods irradiated in the EU during the period covered is 17.164 tonnes. Part of this amount has been irradiated for export.

3. RESULTS OF CHECKS CARRIED OUT AT THE PRODUCT MARKETING STAGE AND THE METHODS USED TO DETECT IRRADIATED FOODS

The Member States submitted the following information:

3.1. Austria

100 samples were checked for ionising radiation treatment. Irradiation could be demonstrated in two samples of spiced herbal tea taken in connection with an inspection following a notification through the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed. The products tested and numbers of samples are shown below:

Food analysed Number of analysed samples CEN method used Result: non-irradiated Result: irradiated, not correctly labelled (origin) Spices and herbs 45 0 EN 1788 Herbal tea (spiced) 13 2 (unknown origin) EN 1788 Chicken 13 0 EN 1786 Turkey 2 0 EN 1786 Duck 12 0 EN 1786 Goose 7 0 EN 1786 TOTAL 92 2 Total in % of analysed samples 97,8 2,2

3.2. Belgium

In 2003, 12 samples of frog's legs were analysed, 9 of them were found to be irradiated and not labelled. Also 25 samples of cheese were analysed, 5 of them were found to be irradiated and not labelled.

Food analysed Number of analysed samples CEN method used Result: non-irradiated Result: irradiated, not correctly labelled (origin) Frog's legs 12 9 EN 1785 Cheese 25 5 EN 1785 Total 37 14 Total in % of analysed samples 62,8 37,8

3.3. Germany

3634 food samples were examined of which 69 were found to be irradiated but not labelled. A high percentage of teas, tea like products and food supplements was found to be irradiated.

Food analysed Number of analysed samples CEN method used Result: non-irradiated Result: irradiated, not correctly labelled (origin) (7) Milk/dairy products 2 EN 1788 Herbal cheese and cheese 124 1 (France) EN 1788, mod. EN 1784 EN 1787 EN 1788 Herbal butter 22 EN 1787 EN 1788 Eggs and egg products 4 EN 1784 mod. Meat (including frozen meat) but excluding poultry and game) 5 EN 1784 mod. EN 1786 Meat products (excluding sausages) 65 EN 1784 mod. EN 1786 EN 1788 Sausages 102 EN 1784 mod. EN 1786 EN 1788 Poultry 233 EN 1784 mod. EN 1786 EN 1788 Game 6 EN 1786 Fish and fisheries products 144 In all 8, of which: 3 dried squid (Netherlands; Indian Ocean) 1 dried sardines (Netherlands; Indian Ocean) 4 (Thailand, imported via Netherlands) EN 1784 mod. EN 1786 EN 1788 Crustaceans, shellfish, mussels and other aquatic animals including their products 248 3 (Indonesia) EN 1784 mod. EN 1786 EN 1788 EN13751 L 12.01-1 Pulses 12 EN 1786 EN 1787 EN 1788 EN 13751 (Screening) Soups, sauces 62 2 EN 1787 EN 1788 Cereals and cereal products 71 EN 1786 EN 1788 Oil seeds 10 EN 1787 EN 1788 EN 13751 Nuts 214 EN 1784 mod. EN 1786 EN 1788 EN 1787 EN 13751 Potatoes, parts of starch-rich plants 115 EN 1788 EN 13751 L 53.00-2 Fresh vegetables, salad 36 EN 1787 EN 1788 EN 13751 Dried vegetables, vegetable products 67 EN 1787 EN 1788 EN 13751 (Screening) Mushrooms, fresh 49 EN 1788 Mushrooms, dried or mushroom products 163 2 (Germany) EN 1787 EN 1788 EN 13751 (Screening) Fresh fruits 148 EN 1784 mod. EN 1786 EN 1787 EN 1788 EN 13751 Dried fruits or fruit products 83 EN 1786 EN 1787 EN 1788 EN 13708 EN 13751 (Screening) L 30.00-3 Cocoa powder 10 EN 1788 Coffee, raw 19 EN 1788 Teas, tea-like products 209 In all 18, of which: 16 (Netherlands) EN 1786 EN 1787 EN 13751 (Screening) Ready-to-serve meals 37 3 (1 Taiwan, 1 Thailand, 1 Vietnam) EN 1784 EN 1787 EN 1788 EN 13751 (Screening) Spices, including preparations and seasoning salt 901 In all 23, of which: 1 pepper (Madagascar) 2 mixed herbs/paprika (Israel) 2 (Germany) Remainder: of unknown origin EN 1784 EN 1786 EN 1787 EN 1788 EN 13751 (Screening) L 12.01-1 L 53.00-3 Herbs 357 1 EN 1784 EN 1786 EN 1787 EN 1788 EN 13751 (Screening) Asian noodle snacks, party snacks, pizza, TV snacks 5 EN 1787 EN 1788 Food supplements 78 8 EN 1786 EN 1788 EN 13751 (Screening) Other 33 EN 1784 EN 1786 EN 1787 EN 1788 Total 3 634 69 Total in % of analysed samples 98,1 1,9

3.4. Denmark

In 2003 the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DFVA) examined herbal food supplements and herbal raw materials for food supplements. A total of 106 samples were taken from manufacturers and importers in Denmark. The results of analysis showed that 11 of them had been irradiated or contained irradiated ingredients. Another four showed signs of a minor ingredient that had been irradiated. None of the products examined bore a label mentioning irradiation.

In addition, Danish undertakings are themselves obliged to carry out checks to ensure that the rules are complied with. Their self-monitoring activities are verified by the DVFA through documentary checks.

In 2003, as in previous years, regular microbiological tests were also carried out on foodstuffs marketed in Denmark. However, the results gave no reason to suspect irradiation, and for this reason no samples were collected for analysis.

Food analysed Number of samples analysed CEN methods used Result: not irradiated Result: strong probability that a minor ingredient contained in the product had been irradiated Result: irradiated, not properly labelled Food supplements containing drugs, and raw materials used to produce them 91 4 11 EN 13783 (screening) and EN 1788 (verification) Total 91 4 11 Total in % of analysed samples 85,8 3,8 10,4

3.5. Spain

No analytical checks were performed in 2003.

3.6. Finland

There are two food authorities carrying out checks on the irradiation of foods:

— The National Food Agency in Finland included checks on the irradiation of foods at the product marketing stage in its programme for the official control of foodstuffs for the year 2003. The checks focused on seafood products. Altogether 30 samples of seafood products were analysed. No samples were found to contain irradiated material.

— The checks carried out by the Customs authorities focused on dried spices and herbs. A total of 141 samples of dried spices and herbs were analysed. Three spice samples were found to contain irradiated material. None of the three positive samples were adequately labelled.

Food analysed Number of analysed samples CEN method used Result: non-irradiated Result: irradiated, not correctly labelled Shrimps 9 0 EN13751 for screening purposes, confirmation by EN1788 Other crayfish 6 0 Mussels 8 0 Molluscs and shrimp mixes 2 0 Snails 4 0 Frog legs 1 0 Dried spices and herbs 141 3 Total 171 3 Total in % of analysed samples 98,3 1,7

3.7. France

As part of the control of units, a request was systematically made for an investigation to be carried out at the customers that used treated foodstuffs, in order to check compliance with the provisions on the labelling of ionised foodstuffs.

A confectioner using ionised nuts and two enterprises using ionised mechanically recovered meat without mentioning this on the label were given formal notice to change their labelling.

No sampling of foodstuffs was carried out for 2003 at the product marketing stage in order to look for treatment with ionising radiation.

3.8. Greece

17 samples were taken and checked at the border. One sample of cocoa was found to be irradiated.

Food analysed Number of analysed samples CEN method used Result: non-irradiated Result: irradiated, not correctly labelled Tea — sage 1 0 EN13751 Herb — lime 1 0 Tea 2 0 Pepper 1 0 Chamomile 1 0 Basil 1 0 Mint 1 0 Dried onions 1 0 Herb-ash 1 0 Lavender 1 0 Rosemary 1 0 Cocoa 1 1 Herb — dog rose 1 0 Herb — couch grass 1 0 Aniseed 1 0 Total 16 1 Total in % of analysed samples 94,1 5,9

3.9. Italy

No analytical checks were performed in 2003.

3.10. Ireland

Checks on compliance with Directive 1999/2/EC are carried out by the Environmental Health Services and Public Analysts' Laboratories of the Health Boards, under Service Contract to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. In 2003, a total of 357 samples were analysed: dried spices and herbs, food supplements, fresh strawberries and other products. A total of 12 samples (9 food supplements and 3 spices) were found to contain wholly or partially irradiated material. None of the 12 positive samples was labelled as irradiated.

Food analysed Number of analysed samples CEN method used Result: non-irradiated Result: irradiated, not correctly labelled Dried spices and herbs 228 3 (five-spice mix, 2 others) EN13751 for screening purposes, confirmation by EN1788 Food supplements 77 9 (3 ginseng, 3 aloe vera, ginger root, garlic, agnacast) Fresh strawberries 18 0 Coffee, tea 9 0 Other 13 0 Total 345 12 Total in % of analysed samples 96,6 3,4

3.11. Luxembourg

No analytical checks were performed in 2003.

3.12. The Netherlands

Samples were taken in retail shops on the market. All analysis were carried out in the laboratory of the Inspectorate of Health Protection in Zutphen. In 2003, according to a planned programme 700 samples were taken and analysed according to the methods mentioned in the table. From these 700 samples, 37 samples proved to be irradiated. None of the irradiated samples were labelled as such. As a result, the producers received an official report for the offences. The results of all the analyses of the different products and the methods used are shown in table.

Food analysed Number of analysed samples CEN method used Result: non-irradiated Result: irradiated, not correctly labelled Strawberries 33 0 EN 1788 Mushrooms 62 3 EN 13751 EN 1788 Dietary supplements 162 25 EN 13751, EN 1788 Herbs and spices (prepacked) 461 4 EN 13751 EN 1788 Fish (dried) 5 5 EN 1788 Total 723 37 Total in % of analysed samples 95,1 4,9

3.13. Portugal

In 2003, eight samples of herbs, spices and seasonings were taken, and analysed by the method EN1787. None of them were found to be irradiated.

Food analysed Number of analysed samples CEN method used Result: non-irradiated Result: irradiated, not correctly labelled Herbs, spices and seasonings 8 0 EN 1787 Total 8 0 Total in % of analysed samples 100 0

3.14. Sweden

To uphold the knowledge of the method for analysis the National Food Administration Sweden has performed a control on irradiated food. During the year 2003 seven samples were taken. Five samples were taken in shops selling meat, mainly meat from birds, and two samples of cheese. The method used to analyse irradiated food is the method in European standard EN 1784.

The seven samples analysed were not irradiated.

3.15. The United Kingdom

The Food Standards Agency is aware of 415 products that were sampled by local enforcement authorities in 2003 and analysed using standardised detection tests for irradiated food. Of these 415 samples, 44 were found to be irradiated. It should be noted that 25 samples are reported as ‘inconclusive’ because they were identified as intermediate using CEN method EN13751:2002 and are inconclusive because they were not analysed further.

Irradiated dietary supplements were found on sale in the UK. Thirteen of the twenty-nine irradiated dietary supplements contained an irradiated component. In three of these thirteen, the irradiated component was minor and the irradiated ingredient was estimated at less than a few percent of the total product.

Food analysed Number of analysed samples CEN method used Result: non-irradiated Result: Inconclusive Result: irradiated, Dried herbs and spices and vegetable seasonings 240 21 11 EN 13751:2002 EN 1788:2001 Chicken soup mix 1 0 0 EN 13751:2002 Strawberries 10 0 0 EN 13751:2002 Mushrooms and edible fungi 3 0 0 EN 13751:2002 Frog legs 1 0 0 EN 1786:1996 Herbal teas 6 3 0 EN 13751:2002 Seafood i.e. shellfish, prawns, shrimps and fish 51 0 4 EN 13751:2002 EN 1788:2001 Dietary supplements 34 1 29 (8) EN 13751:2002 EN 1788:2001 Total 346 25 44 Total in % of analysed samples 83,4 6 10,6

3.16. Summary for the EU

The following table summarises the samples analysed and the results obtained for the whole EU:

Member State Number of analysed samples Result: non-irradiated Result: irradiated, not correctly labelled A 92 2 B 37 14 D 3 634 69 DK 91 11 E — — FIN 171 3 F — — EL 16 1 I — — IRL 345 12 L — — NL 723 37 P 8 0 S 7 0 UK 346 44 Total 5 470 193 Total in % of analysed samples 96,5 3,5

4. CONCLUSIONS

4.1. Results of checks carried out in the irradiation facilities

Directive 1999/2/EC requires the Member States to inform the Commission about results of checks in irradiation facilities, about the categories and quantities of foods irradiated and about the average doses applied.

In 2003, irradiation facilities had approval in eight Member States. All Member States except Italy and Denmark, were the facility has ceased irradiation activities during 2003, provided the information requested with respect to food categories treated, quantities or doses.

The notified amount of foods irradiated in the EU during 2003 is 17 164 tonnes.

4.2. Results of checks carried out at the product marketing stage

In 2003, 11 Member States performed analytical checks and submitted the requested data. Four Member States did not perform analytical checks during the period covered by the present report. Spain, Italy and Luxembourg have no analytical capability and France decided to perform no analytical check in 2003.

The situation in 2003 is similar to 2002. Few products on the market were found to be irradiated and not labelled (3,5 %). As regards dietary supplements, some Member States (DE, DK, IRL, NL et UK) decided to check this sector in particular, because of the high percentage of products found irradiated and not labelled in 2002 (29,5 %). In 2003, 524 samples have been controlled, 82 have been found irradiated (16 %).

In total, about 5 000 food samples have been checked of which about 2,1 % (excluding the irradiated dietary supplements in the United Kingdom, Denmark, Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands) were irradiated but not labelled. This is an increase of 0,7 % in comparison to 2002. This may be accounted for by a more targeted nature of the sampling and the fact that more Member States do now perform analytical checks.

4.3. Deadline for the submission of results of checks for the report 2004

The deadline for the submission of results of checks to the Commission performed in 2004, according to Article 7 (3) of Directive 1999/2/EC, is 30 April 2005.

(1) OJ L 66, 13.3.1999, p. 16.

(2) http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/food/biosafety/irradiation/index_en.htm

(3) OJ C 187, 7.8.2003, p. 13.

(4) OJ L 66, 13.3.1999, p. 6.

(5) OJ C 56, 11.3.2003, p. 5.

(6) Products intended for exports to third countries.

(7) Foods labelled as having been irradiated are not checked.

(8) Of the 29 irradiated dietary supplements, 13 contained an irradiated component.