EN Official Journal of the European Union C 230/28

Report from the Commission on food irradiation for the year 2004

(2006/C 230/08)

SUMMARY

Under 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 have to forward to the Commission every year:

— the results of checks carried out in 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 2004, irradiation facilities had approval in 10 Member States. 7 Member States provided the information requested with respect to food categories treated, quantities or doses. As a consequence, the precise amount of foods irradiated in the EU during 2004 is not known.

16 Member States reported checks on foods placed on the market. In total, 7169 food samples were checked in 2004. About 3,9 % of products on the market were found to be irradiated and not labelled. In particular, products imported from Asia, especially Asian-type noodles and dried prepared noodles, appear to be illegally irradiated.

Differences between Member States regarding the results of controls can partly be explained by the choice of samples and the performance of the analytical methods used.

1. Legal basis and background

Under Article 7(3) of Directive 1999/2/EC, the Member States are required to forward to the Commission every year:

— the results of checks carried out in 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 publishes the results in annual reports in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This report covers the period from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2004.

Information on general aspects of food irradiation is available on the website of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Protection2.

1.1. Irradiation facilities

Under Article 3(2) of Directive 1999/2/EC, food may be irradiated only 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 of 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, 6 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).

Under 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’.

To enforce 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 irradiation facilities

Details of the facilities in the Member states can be found at the Commission website:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/food/biosafety/irradiation/approved_facilities_en.pdf

The Member States submitted the following information:

2.1. Belgium

Inspections by the competent authorities in 2004 confirmed the compliance of the irradiation facility IBA Mediris S.A. with the requirements of Directive 1999/2/EC.

The following table shows the categories and quantities of foods irradiated in this facility in 2004.

Food Amount (t) (6) Shrimps 685,7 Frog's legs 2 688,4 Herbs, spices and vegetable seasonings 496,0 Frozen vegetables 143,4 Cheese 26,6 Eggs 168,9 Poultry/Game 219,8 Meat 966,8 Fish 191,9 Dried fruits 2,8 Starch 112,5 Plasma 46,4 Prepared dishes 167,5 Total 5 776,6

2.2. Czech Republic

Inspections by the competent authorities in 2004 confirmed the compliance of the irradiation facility Artim spol.s.r.o. with the requirements of Directive 1999/2/EC.

The following table shows the categories and quantities of foods irradiated in this facility in 2004.

Food Amount (t) Overall average absorbed radiation dose (KGy) Dried aromatic herbs, spices and vegetable seasonings 460,3 5 Egg white 0,01 3 Total 460,8

2.3. Germany

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

(a) Gamma Service Produktbestrahlung GmbH, Radeberg Inspections by the competent authorities in 2004 confirmed the compliance of the irradiation facility with the requirements of Directive 1999/2/EC. The following table shows the categories and quantities of foods irradiated in this facility in 2004. Food Quantity (t) Average absorbed dose (kGy) Dried vegetables 3,3 <10 Herbs and seasonings 338,4 <10 Other foodstuffs (guarana seed) 0,7 <10 Total 342,4

(b) Beta-Gamma Service GmbH&Co. KG, Wiehl Inspections by the competent authorities in 2004 confirmed the compliance of the irradiation facility with the requirements of Directive 1999/2/EC. The following table shows the categories and quantities of foods irradiated in this facility in 2004. Food Quantity [t] Average absorbed dose [kGy] Granulated slippery jack mushroom 1,20 6,6 Plant raw materials (parsley, dill, cilantro) 2,50 6,3 Powdered spinach 4,32 6,5 Powdered celery/horse radish 3,00 6,6 Parsley 13,00 5,2 Total 24,02

(c) Isotron Deutschland GmbH, Allershausen Inspections by the competent authorities in 2004 confirmed the compliance of the irradiation facility with the requirements of Directive 1999/2/EC. The following table shows the categories and quantities of foods irradiated in this facility in 2004. Food Quantity [t] Average absorbed dose [kGy] Seasonings 53 7-9 Herbs 440 7-9 Total 429,21

(d) Gamma-Service GmbH&Co KG, Bruchsal No food products were irradiated in this facility in 2004.

2.4. Spain

In Spain, there are two facilities approved for the irradiation of foods.

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

2.5. France

In France, there are seven facilities approved for the irradiation of foods.

Inspections by the competent authorities in 2004 confirmed the compliance of the irradiation facility with the requirements of Directive 1999/2/EC.

The following table shows the categories and quantities of foods irradiated in the facilities in 2004.

Food Quantity [t] Average absorbed dose [kGy] Herbs, spices and vegetable seasonings 203 10 Frozen herbs 1 10 Dried vegetables and fruits 2 1 Gum arabic 28 3 Casein, caseinates 54 6 Mechanically recovered poultry meat, offal of poultry 635 5 Frozen frog legs 813 5 Shrimps 20 Total 1 802

2.6. Hungary

In Hungary, there is one facility approved for the irradiation of foods.

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

2.7. Italy

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

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

2.8. The Netherlands

In the Netherlands, there are two facilities approved for the irradiation of foods.

During 2004, a general inspection of the Isotron facility in Ede was organised. The facility in Etten-Leur was only inspected for HACCP. No information has been forwarded on the results of the inspections carried out.

The following table shows the categories and quantities of foods irradiated in the facilities in 2004.

Products in 2004 Quantity [t] (7) Spices/Herbs 1 638,4 Dehydrated vegetables 1 088 Poultry meat (frozen) 23,2 Shrimps (frozen) 284,8 Frog parts 64 Egg white (cooled) 1,6 Food (8) 1 647,2 Samples food 21,6 Total 4 768,8

2.9. Poland

In Poland, there are two facilities approved for the irradiation of foods:

The installation of the Institute of Applied Radiation Chemistry Technical University of Lodz was inspected by the State Sanitary Inspection and in compliance with EU Directive 1999/2/CE.

The following tables shows the categories and quantities of foods irradiated in the facilities in 2004.

1. Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and technology, Warsaw Food Quantity [t] Average absorbed dose [kGy] Spices, Herbs, dehydrated vegetables 619,3 7 Dried mushrooms 61,4 5-7 Total 680,7 1

2. Institute of Applied Radiation Chemistry Technical university of Lodz. Food Quantity [t] Average absorbed dose [kGy] Spices 47,8 8 Total 47,8

2.10. The United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, there is one facility approved for the irradiation of foods.

The facility (reference EW/04) was inspected by the Food Standards Agency in December 2004. The facility complied with its licence and with the requirements of Directive 1999/2/EC.

No food was irradiated under licence in the UK in 2004.

2.11. Summary for the EU

10 Member States, including 3 new Member States, have facilities approved in accordance with Article 7(2) of Directive 1999/2/EC.

Only 4 Member States forwarded to the Commission the results of checks carried out in irradiation facilities. Spain, Hungary and Italy did not provide such information.

The exact amount of foodstuffs irradiated in the Union cannot thus be determined.

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

118 samples were checked for ionising radiation treatment. Irradiation was confirmed in one sample of dried fish, taken in connection with an inspection following a notification through the RASFF.

Food analysed Number of analysed samples: 118 CEN method used Result: non-irradiated Result: irradiated, not correctly labelled Basil 2 0 EN 1788 EN 13751 Chilli 2 0 EN 1788 EN 13751 Cloves 1 0 EN 1788 EN 13751 Marjoram 4 0 EN 1788 EN 13751 Oregano 4 0 EN 1788 EN 13751 Paprika 7 0 EN 1788 EN 13751 Pepper 10 0 EN 1788 EN 13751 Peppermint 1 0 EN 1788 EN 13751 Rosemary 4 0 EN 1788 EN 13751 Herbal tea (spiced) 34 0 EN 1788 EN 13751 Thyme 5 0 EN 1788 EN 13751 Chicken 14 0 EN 1786 Turkey 3 0 EN 1786 Duck 15 0 EN 1786 Goose 11 0 EN 1786 Dried fish 1 1 EN 1785 TOTAL 117 1 Total in % of analysed samples 99 1

3.2. Belgium

In total, 225 samples were analysed. None were found to be irradiated.

Food analysed Number of analysed samples: 225 CEN method used Result: non-irradiated Result: irradiated, not correctly labelled (origin) Frozen peeled or decapitated shrimps 40 0 EN 1785 Dried herbs and spices 44 0 EN 1785 Mechanically recovered poultry meat 23 0 EN 1785 Fresh strawberries 27 0 EN 1785 Grated cheese 42 0 EN 1785 Total 225 0 Total in % of analysed samples 100 0

3.3. Cyprus

No analytical checks were performed in 2004.

3.4. Czech Republic

In total, 17 samples were analysed. 1 sample of herbal tea was positive for irradiation and was not correctly labelled.

Food analysed Number of analysed samples: 17 CEN method used Result: non-irradiated Result: irradiated, not correctly labelled Spices 8 0 EN 13751 EN 1788 Herbal tea products 3 1 EN 13751 EN 1788 Food supplements 5 0 EN 13751 EN 1788 Total 16 1 Total in % of analysed samples 94 6

3.5. Germany

4302 food samples were examined. 74 of these, i.e. 1,7 % on average, were non-compliant: 62 samples were incorrectly labelled and 12 were found to have been illegally irradiated.

The infringements are distributed very unevenly over product categories. In the group ‘Asian noodle snacks, party snacks, pizza, TV snacks’, 5 of 14 samples (36 %) had been irradiated and were not correctly labelled. The same was true for 18 % of dried prepared meals.

It should be noted that products from Asia accounted for most of the non-compliant samples.

Food analysed Number of analysed samples: 4302 CEN method used Result: non-irradiated Result: irradiated, not correctly labelled (9) (origin) Milk/milk products 52 0 EN 1788 EN 1787 EN 1784 EN 1785 Cheese with herbs 57 0 EN 1788 EN 1784 EN 1787 Butter with herbs 28 0 EN 1787 EN 1788 Eggs, egg products 6 0 EN 1784 mod. Meat (including frozen meat, except poultry, game) 11 0 EN 1784 mod. EN 1786 Meat products (except sausages) 31 1 (9) (Vietnam) EN 1786 EN 1788 Sausages 69 0 EN 1784 mod. EN 1786 EN 1788 EN 1787 Poultry 124 0 EN 1784 EN 1786 Game 12 0 EN 1786 EN 1784 Fish and fisheries products 76 4 (9) (Thailand) EN 1784 EN 1786 EN 1788 Crustaceans, shellfish, mussels and other aquatic animals including their products 227 2 (9) EN 1786 EN 1788 L 12.01-1 Pulses 40 0 EN 1787 EN 1788 EN 13751 (Screening) Soups, sauces 69 3 EN 1787 EN 1788 EN 13751 Cereals and cereal products 68 EN 1787 EN 1788 EN 13751 Oil seeds 83 0 EN 1784 EN 1787 EN 1788 EN 13751 Nuts 307 0 EN 1784 mod. EN 1786 EN 1787 EN 1788 EN 13751 Potatoes, parts of plants with high content of starch 37 0 EN 1787 EN 13751 EN 1788 Fresh vegetables, salad 86 0 EN 1787 EN 1788 EN 13751 Dried vegetables, vegetable products 112 2 (9) (China, powdered spinach) EN 1787 EN 1788 EN 13751 (Screening) Mushrooms, fresh 79 0 EN 1788 EN 13751 Mushrooms, dried or mushroom products 281 3 + 2 (9) (Asia, Italy, Germany) EN 1787 EN 1788 EN 13751 (Screening) Fresh fruits 192 1 (9) EN 1784 mod. EN 1784 EN 1787 EN 1788 EN 13751 Dried fruits or fruit products 213 0 EN 1787 EN 1788 EN 13708 EN 13751 L 30.00-3 Coffee, raw 15 0 EN 1788 Teas, tea-like products 291 0 EN 1788 EN 1787 EN 13751 EN 13751 (Screening) Ready-to-serve meals 8 0 EN 1786 EN 1787 EN 1788 Spices, including preparations and seasoning salt 1 268 34 EN 1786 EN 1787 EN 1788 EN 13751 EN 13751 (Screening) EN 13788 Herbs 171 2 EN 1787 EN 1788 EN 13751 EN 13788 Dry prepared meals 73 13 (Vietnam, Taiwan, Turkey, Germany) EN 1787 EN 1788 EN 13751 Asian noodle snacks, party snacks, pizza, TV snacks 9 5 EN 1787 EN 1788 Food supplements 90 2 EN 1784 mod. EN 1787 EN 1788 EN 13751 EN 13751 (Screening) Other 43 EN 1787 EN 1788 Total 4 228 74 Total in % of analysed samples 98 2

3.6. Denmark

The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DVFA) examined 53 samples herbal food supplements and herbal raw materials for food supplements. 3 samples had been irradiated or contained irradiated ingredients. Non of them were correctly labelled in relation to irradiation.

Food analysed Number of samples analysed: 53 CEN methods used Result: not irradiated Result: irradiated, not properly labelled Herbal food supplements and herbal raw materials for food supplements 50 3 EN 13783 (screening) and EN 1788 (verification) Total 50 3 Total in % of analysed samples 94 6

3.7. Estonia

No analytical checks were performed in 2004.

3.8. Greece

In total, 76 samples were analysed. The 5 positive samples were food supplements. No information was given about the labelling of these samples.

Food analysed Number of analysed samples: 76 CEN method used Result: non-irradiated Result: irradiated Dried spices and herbs 34 0 EN 13751 Food supplements 30 5 EN 13751 Cocoa 11 0 EN 13751 Fish 1 0 EN 13751 Total 71 5 Total in % of analysed samples 93 7

3.9. Spain

No information has been forwarded by this Member State on the results of checks carried out at the marketplace.

3.10. Finland

Altogether, 309 samples were analysed. Of the 297 samples of dried spices and herbs analysed, 84 samples were found to contain irradiated material. Most of these were spice mixtures in instant noodle packages imported from China and other Asian countries.

A total of 12 food supplements were analysed and 8 were found to contain irradiated material.

Food analysed Number of analysed samples: 309 CEN method used Result: non-irradiated Result: irradiated, not correctly labelled Dried spices and herbs 213 84 EN 13751 EN 1788 Food supplements 4 8 EN 13751 EN 1788 Total 217 92 Total in % of analysed samples 70 30

3.11. France

In total, 60 samples, most of them spices were analysed. None were found to be irradiated.

3.12. Hungary

In total, 134 samples were analysed. 2 samples of herbs were positive for irradiation, one of which was not correctly labelled.

Food analysed Number of analysed samples: 134 CEN method used Result: non-irradiated Result: irradiated (10) Herbs 117 2 EN 1788 Tea 15 0 EN 1788 Total 132 2 Total in % of analysed samples 99 1

3.13. Ireland

In total, 586 samples were analysed of which 9 were confirmed to be irradiated.

Food analysed Number of analysed samples: 586 CEN method used Result: non-irradiated Result: irradiated, not correctly labelled Chicken sausages 1 0 EN 13751 EN 1788 Prawns 10 0 Soups, broths and sauces 43 2 Cereal and bakery products 7 1 Fruit and vegetables 79 0 Herbs, spices and seasonings 342 3 Coffee and tea 23 2 Seeds 62 1 Foods intended for special nutritional uses 1 0 Food supplements 7 0 Total 577 9 Total in % of analysed samples 98 2

3.14. Italy

No information has been forwarded by this Member State on the results of checks carried out at the marketplace.

3.15. Latvia

No analytical checks were performed in 2004.

3.16. Lithuania

2 samples were tested: 1 sample of laurel leaves and 1 sample of green tea. Both were negative.

Documentary checks of dried aromatic herbs, spices and vegetable seasonings in 300 food stores were performed, but no information about the possible treatment of these dried aromatic herbs, spices and vegetable seasonings with ionising radiation was obtained.

3.17. Luxembourg

In total, 50 samples were analysed, none of which tested positive for irradiation

Food analysed Number of analysed samples: 50 CEN method used Result: non-irradiated Result: irradiated Spices 10 0 EN 1788 Potatoes 10 0 EN 1788 Tea 10 0 EN 1788 Crustaceans: Prawn 10 0 EN 1788 Onion 10 0 EN 1788 Total 50 0 Total in % of analysed samples 100 0

3.18. Malta

No analytical checks were performed in 2004.

3.19. The Netherlands

In total, 430 samples were taken in the marketplace and analysed for irradiation. Of these 430 samples, 45 proved to be irradiated. Only 2 of the irradiated samples were correctly labelled as such. No indication of the origin of the positive samples was given.

Food analysed Number of analysed samples: 430 CEN method used Result: non-irradiated Result: irradiated (11) Dietary supplements 165 38 EN 13751 EN 1788 Spices and herbs 220 7 EN 13751 EN 1788 Total 385 45 Total in % of analysed samples 90 10

3.20. Poland

In total, 121 samples were analysed. 7 samples tested positive for irradiation, none of which were correctly labelled.

Food analysed Number of analysed samples: 121 CEN method used Result: non-irradiated Result: irradiated, not correctly labelled Dried herbs, spices and vegetable seasonings 60 6 (Singapore, India) EN 1788 Potatoes 2 0 EN 1788 Onion and garlic 13 0 EN 1788 Poultry 7 0 EN 1788 Unshelled nuts 24 1 EN 1788 Prawns, fish 8 0 EN 1788 Total 114 7 Total in % of analysed samples 94 6

3.21. Portugal

No information has been forwarded by this Member State on the results of checks carried out at the marketplace.

3.22. Sweden

No analytical checks were performed in 2004.

3.23. Slovakia

In total, 10 samples comprising sunflower seed, hazelnuts, peanuts and almonds were tested with the GC method EN 1784. The results indicate that none of the samples were irradiated.

3.24. Slovenia

No analytical checks were performed in 2004.

3.25. The United Kingdom

In total, 676 products were sampled by UK local enforcement authorities and analysed using standardised detection tests for irradiated food. Of these 676 samples, 40 (6 %) were found to be irradiated. The 33 samples reported as ‘inconclusive’ were identified as intermediate using CEN method EN13751:2002, and were not analysed further, or were samples of 'low sensitivity' such that the mineral grain fraction of the samples was insufficient to carry out accurate analysis.

Food analysed Number of analysed samples: 676 CEN method used Result: non-irradiated Result: irradiated Dried herbs, spices and vegetable seasonings 333 10 EN13751:2002; EN 1778:2001 Dried ready meals 30 14 EN13751:2002; EN 1778:2001 Couscous and dried seasonings 0 1 EN13751:2002; EN 1778:2001 Dried soup mixes 5 0 EN13751:2002 Noodles and dried seasoningsA 18 12 EN13751:2002; EN 1778:2001 Tortillas and dried seasonings 2 0 EN13751:2002 Rice and dried seasonings 2 0 EN13751:2002 Pasta and dried seasonings 2 1 EN13751:2002; EN 1778:2001 Mushrooms and edible fungi (dried and fresh) 4 1 EN13751:2002; EN 1778:2001 Dried fruit 47 0 EN13751:2002 Fresh fruit 17 0 EN13751:2002 Vegetables including onions 10 0 EN13751:2002 Herbal teas 21 0 EN13751:2002; EN 1778:2001 Seafood, i.e. shellfish, prawns, shrimps and fish 40 0 EN13751:2002; EN 1778:2001 Dried food ingredientsB 4 0 EN13751:2002 Nuts 1 0 EN13751:2002 Food supplements 96 15 EN13751:2002; EN 1778:2001 Total 636 40 Total in % of analysed samples 94 6 —

3.26. Summary for the EU

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

Member State Number of samples non-irradiated Number of samples irradiated % of samples irradiated, not correctly labelled AT 117 1 1 BE 225 0 0 CY NAC NAC NAC CZ 16 1 6 DE 4228 74 2 DK 50 3 6 EE NAC NAC NAC EL 71 5 7 ES NI NI NI FI 217 92 30 FR 60 0 0 HU 132 2 (12) 1 IE 577 9 0 IT NI NI NI LV NAC NAC NAC LT 2 0 0 LU 50 0 0 MT NAC NAC NAC NL 385 45 (12) 10 PL 114 7 6 PT NI NI NI SE NAC NAC NAC SK 10 0 0 SI NAC NAC NAC UK 636 40 6 Total 6 890 279 3,9 NI : No information has been forwarded by the Member State NAC : No analytical checks were performed in 2004.

4. Conclusions

4.1. Results of checks carried out in irradiation facilities

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

In 2004, irradiation facilities had approval in 10 Member States. Compared to 2003, facilities in 3 new Member States were added to the list of approved facilities in the Member States.

Only 7 of the 10 Member States provided the information requested with respect to the food categories treated.

Due this incomplete reporting, the precise amount of foods irradiated in the EU during 2004 is not known.

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

In 2004, 16 Member States performed analytical checks and submitted the requested data. 6 Member States informed the Commission that they did not perform analytical checks during the period covered by the present report.

The information submitted shows that during 2004, 3,9 % of samples were irradiated and not correctly labelled.

The infringements are unevenly distributed over product categories. Products imported from Asia, especially Asian-type noodles and dried prepared noodles, are particularly concerned. In addition, it should be noted that in 2004, there were no facilities in Asia approved by the European Community.

The Commission expects that the numbers of checks on these products will be increased in all Member States and that Member States will take the appropriate measures.

Differences between Member States regarding the results of controls could partly be explained by the choice of the samples and the performance of the analytical methods used.

4.3. Deadline for the submission of the results of checks for the 2005 report

The deadline for submitting to the Commission the results of checks performed in 2005, as required under Article 7(3) of Directive 1999/2/EC, is 30 April 2006.

(1) OJ L 66, 13.3.1999, p. 16. Amended by Regulation (EC) No 1882/2003 (OJ L 284, 31.10.2003, p. 1).

(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. 24.

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

(6) Amounts reported in kg.

(7) The amounts have been reported as ‘boards’ with an average weight per board of 800 kg.

(8) Products intended for exports to third countries.

(9) Labelled as irradiated, though irradiation not permitted.

(10) One sample was not correctly labelled.

(11) Two of the samples were correctly labelled.

(12) Hungary and the Netherlands, respectively, found 1 and 2 samples that were irradiated and correctly labelled.