Report from the Commission on food irradiation for the year 2007
Date: 2009-10-09
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU Member State, data collection, exchange of information, food inspection, food technology, foodstuff, irradiation, sampling








C_2009242EN.01000201.xml










9.10.2009   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 242/2





Report from the Commission on food irradiation for the year 2007
2009/C 242/02
1.   LEGAL BASIS AND BACKGROUND

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) requires the Member States to forward to the Commission every year:






—


the results of checks carried out in irradiation facilities, in particular regarding the categories and quantities of food and food ingredients treated and the doses administered,
and










—


the results of checks carried out at the product marketing stage and the methods used to detect treatment with ionising radiation.




Article 7(4) of the same Directive imposes on the Commission to publish in the Official Journal of the European Communities:






—


the details of the approved irradiation facilities in the Member States as well as any changes in their status,










—


a report on the information provided by the national supervisory authorities.




The current report covers the period from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2007. It contains a compilation of the information forwarded to the Commission by 25 Member States.
Information on general aspects of food irradiation is available on the website of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Health and Consumer (2).
1.1.   Irradiation facilities

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






—


Gamma rays from radionuclides 60Co or 137Cs,










—


X-rays generated from machine sources operated at or below a nominal energy (maximum quantum energy) level of 5 MeV,










—


Electrons generated from machine sources operated at or below a nominal energy (maximum quantum energy) level of 10 MeV.




The list of approved irradiation facilities in the Member States has been published by the Commission (3) in the Official Journal of the European Union and can be found at http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/biosafety/irradiation/approved_facilities_en.pdf
1.2.   Irradiated food and food ingredients

The irradiation of dried aromatic herbs, spices and vegetable seasonings is authorised in the EU at Community level (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, seven Member States have notified that they maintain national authorisations for certain food and food ingredients in accordance with Article 4(4) of Directive 1999/2/EC. The list of national authorisations has been published by the Commission (5).
Any irradiated foodstuff and foodstuff or compound food containing one or more irradiated food ingredient must be labelled with the words ‘irradiated’ or ‘treated with ionising radiation’. In the case of products sold in bulk, these words shall appear together with the name of the product on a display or notice above or beside the container in which the products are placed.
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

This section of the report deals with the results of the checks carried out in irradiation facilities, in particular regarding the categories and quantities of products treated and the doses administered.
The Member States submitted the following information on approved facilities and checks carried out in those facilities.
2.1.   Belgium

Inspections by the competent authorities in 2007 confirmed the compliance of the irradiation facility Sterigenics SA with the requirements of Directive 1999/2/EC.
The following table shows the categories and quantities of products irradiated in this facility in 2007.







Category of products


Treated quantity (t)


Average absorbed dose (kGy)




Frog legs


1 521


5




Meat


445


6-8




Poultry


282


5




Fish and shellfish


258


3-5




Herbs and spices


139


6-9




Dehydrated blood


16


6-9




Vegetables


12


6




Starch


11


3




Eggs powder


7


3




Others


108


0-10




Total


2 799


 




2.2.   Bulgaria

No information has been forwarded by Bulgaria.
2.3.   Czech Republic

Inspections by the competent authorities in 2007 confirmed the compliance of the irradiation facility Artim Spol SRO with the requirements of Directive 1999/2/EC.
The following table shows the categories and quantities of products irradiated in this facility in 2007.







Category of products


Treated quantity (t)


Average absorbed dose (kGy)




Dried aromatic herbs, spices and vegetable seasonings


55


1-10




Total


55


 




2.4.   Germany

During the reporting period, there were four approved irradiation facilities in Germany. Inspections by the competent authorities in 2007 confirmed the compliance of the irradiation facilities with the requirements of Directive 1999/2/EC.
The following tables show the categories and quantities of products irradiated in 2007 for each facility. In total 331 tonnes of products were treated in three irradiation facilities in Germany in 2007.
(a)   Gamma Service Produktbestrahlung GmbH, Radeberg








Category of products


Treated quantity (t)


Average absorbed dose (kGy)




Spices and herbs


206


< 10




Dried vegetables


24


< 10




Total


230


 




121 ton of the irradiated products were exported to third countries.
(b)   BGS/Beta-Gamma Service GmbH & Co. KG, Wiehl








Category of products


Treated quantity (t)


Average absorbed dose (kGy)




Spices and herbs


21


10-13




Dried vegetables


18


10-32




Total


39


 




All irradiated products were exported to third countries.
(c)   Isotron Deutschland GmbH, Allershausen








Category of products


Treated quantity (t)


Average absorbed dose (kGy)




Vegetables


61


5-10




Spices and herbs


1


5-10




Total


62


 




All irradiated products were exported to third countries.
(d)   Beta-Gamma-Service Gmbh & Co. KG, Bruchsal

No products were irradiated in this facility in 2007.
2.5.   Spain

In Spain, there are two facilities approved for the irradiation of food and food ingredients. Inspections by the competent authorities in 2007 confirmed the compliance of the irradiation facilities with the requirements of Directive 1999/2/EC.
(a)   Ionmed Esterilización, SA

The following table shows the categories and quantities of products irradiated in this facility in 2007.







Category of products


Treated quantity (t)


Average absorbed dose (kGy)




Dried aromatic herbs, spices and vegetable seasonings


216


< 10




Total


216


 




(b)   Aragogamma, SA

No products were irradiated in this facility in 2007.
2.6.   France

In France, six facilities are approved for the irradiation of foods. Inspections by the competent authorities in 2007 confirmed the compliance of five irradiation facilities with the requirements of Directive 1999/2/EC. One facility was given comments concerning the control of the irradiation doses and the status of the products before and after treatment.
The facility of Ionisos SA, Domaine de Corbeville, 91400 Orsay, (reference 91471 F) did not irradiate food and food ingredients during 2007. This facility has been closed.
The following table shows the categories and quantities of products irradiated in the facilities in 2007.







Category of products


Treated quantity (t)


Average absorbed dose (kGy)




Poultry


1 239


5




Frozen frog legs


687


5




Gum arabic


131


3




Herbs, spices and dried vegetables


60


10




Casein


22


6




Total


2 139


 




2.7.   Hungary

In Hungary, there is one facility approved for the irradiation of foods. According to the official inspection made by the competent authority (Hungarian Agricultural Office) in 2007 the irradiation facility AGROSTER Besugárzó Rt. (Budapest, Jászberényi út 5.) was in compliance with the requirements of Directive 1999/2/EC.
The following table shows the categories and quantities of foods irradiated in this facility in 2007.







Category of products


Treated quantity (t)


Average absorbed dose (kGy)




Spices, spice peppers


5,9


4-6




Dehydrated products


0,5


3-4




Herbs


14,5


3-6




Total


20,9


 




2.8.   Italy

The only approved irradiation facility in Italy, Gammarad Italia Spa, was inspected with favourable outcome. During 2007, no food and food ingredients have been irradiated in this irradiation facility.
2.9.   The Netherlands

The competent authorities confirmed the compliance of the irradiation facilities with the requirements of Directive 1999/2/EC in 2007.
From 1 January 2007 until 31 December 2007, Isotron NL treated a total of 2 323 tonnes of food and food ingredients in their two facilities in the cities of Ede and Etten-Leur. The following tables show the categories and quantities of products irradiated in these two facilities in 2007.
(a)   Isotron NL — irradiation facility in Ede








Category of products


Treated quantity (t)


Average absorbed dose (kGy)




Spices/Herbs


753


NI




Frog legs


197


NI




Poultry meat (frozen)


154


NI




Dehydrated vegetables


88


NI




Egg white


70


NI




Shrimps (frozen)


45


NI




Food Samples


10


NI




Total


1 317


 




(NI: no information forwarded on this point).




(b)   Isotron NL — irradiation facility in Etten-Leur








Category of products


Treated quantity (t)


Average absorbed dose (kGy)




Dried vegetables


791


NI




Frog legs


146


NI




Spices/Herbs


48


NI




Poultry meat (frozen)


21


NI




Total


1 006


 




(NI: no information forwarded on this point).




2.10.   Poland

In Poland, there are two approved irradiation facilities. The following table show the category and quantity of foods irradiated in 2007 in one facility.
(a)   Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, Warsaw








Category of products


Treated quantity (t)


Average absorbed dose (kGy)




Dry spices, dried flavoured herbs, vegetable spices


269


7-10




Total


269


 




(b)   Institute of Applied Radiation Chemistry, Technical University of Lodz

No information has been forwarded regarding this irradiation facility.
2.11.   Portugal

No information has been forwarded by Portugal.
2.12.   Romania

In Romania there is only one approved irradiation facility which is IRASM Center from Horia Hulubei National Institute of Physics and Nuclear Engineering. The source of ionising radiation is Gamma rays 60Co. The facility is authorised by National Commission for Nuclear Activities. The IRASM facility did not irradiate any food/food ingredient during 2007.
2.13.   The United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, there is one facility approved for the irradiation of foods. The facility did not irradiate any food under the terms of its licence in 2007.
2.14.   Summarising table for the EU

The following table summarises the quantities of foodstuffs (in tonnes) treated by ionising radiation in approved irradiation facilities within the European Union.















Category of products


BE


CZ


DE


ES


FR


HU


NL


PL


Total



%





Casein


0


0


0


0


22


0


0


0


22



0,27





Dehydrated blood


16


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


16



0,20





Egg powder


7


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


7



0,09





Egg white


0


0


0


0


0


0


70


0


70



0,86





Fish & Shellfish


258


0


0


0


0


0


45


0


303



3,72





Food Samples


0


0


0


0


0


0


10


0


10



0,12





Frog legs/parts


1 521


0


0


0


687


0


343


0


2 551



31,29





Gum arabic


0


0


0


0


131


0


0


0


131



1,61





Herbs, Spices


139


55


228


216


60


21


801


269


1 789



21,94





Meat


445


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


445



5,46





Poultry


282


0


0


0


1 239


0


175


0


1 696



20,80





Starch


11


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


11



0,13





Vegetables


12


0


103


0


0


0


879


0


994



12,19





Other


108


0


0


0


0


1


0


0


109



1,34





Total


2 799


55


331


216


2 139


22


2 323


269


8 154


 





% of total




34,33




0,67




4,06




2,65




26,23




0,27




28,49




3,30




100,00



 




3.   RESULTS OF CHECKS CARRIED OUT AT THE PRODUCT MARKETING STAGE AND THE METHODS USED TO DETECT TREATMENT WITH IONISING RADIATION

Regarding the results of the checks carried out at the product marketing stage and the methods used to detect treatment with ionising radiation, the Member States submitted the following information.
3.1.   Austria

In total, 115 samples were analysed. In none of these samples treatment with ionising radiation could be demonstrated.









Food analysed


Number of samples: 115


CEN method used




Compliant


Inconclusive


Non-compliant




Herbs & Spices


39


0


0


EN 1788, EN 13751




Herbal teas


38


0


0


EN 1788, EN 13751




Poultry


38


0


0


EN 1786




Total


115


0


0


 




Total in % of analysed samples


100,00 %


00,00 %


00,00 %


 




3.2.   Belgium

In total, 89 samples were analysed. One sample was found to be irradiated.









Food analysed


Number of samples: 89


CEN method used




Compliant


Inconclusive


Non-compliant




Instant noodles


21


0


1


EN 1788 (6)





Crustaceans and molluscs


15


0


0




Frozen herbs


15


0


0




Shrimps


15


0


0




Dried vegetables


11


0


0




Fruit


11


0


0




Total


88


0


1


 




Total in % of analysed samples


98,88 %


00,00 %


1,12 %


 




3.3.   Bulgaria

No information on checks regarding food irradiation has been forwarded by Bulgaria for 2007.
3.4.   Cyprus

No analytical checks regarding food irradiation were performed in 2007.
3.5.   Czech Republic

In total, 60 samples were analysed. Two samples were found to be non-compliant (positive for irradiation and incorrectly labelled).









Food analysed


Number of samples: 60


CEN method used




Compliant


Inconclusive


Non-compliant




Fresh fruits


15


0


0


EN 1788/EN 1785




Spices


12


0


0


EN 1788




Food supplements


8


0


1


EN 1788




Fish and shellfish


7


0


0


EN 1785




Herbal tea products


5


0


0


EN 1788




Instant noodles


3


0


1


EN 1788/EN 1785




Poultry


6


0


0


EN 1785




Shrimps


2


0


0


EN 1785




Total


58


0


2


 




Total in % of analysed samples


96,67 %


00,00 %


3,33 %


 




3.6.   Germany

In total 3 744 food samples were examined of which 77 were irradiated. Two samples were irradiated and compliant with the EU Directives: one sample belonging to the category ‘Spices and herbs’ and one sample belonging to the category ‘Soups, sauces, instant noodles’. The remaining 75 irradiated samples were non-compliant:






—


twenty-one samples belong to categories for which irradiation is authorised but showed non-compliant labelling,










—


thirty-four samples belong to categories for which irradiation is not authorised,










—


twenty samples (mostly noodles and dried soups) were irradiated, however it could not be determined which of the ingredients in these compound foods were irradiated in order to find out if the irradiation is authorised.




The categories with the highest percentages of non-compliant samples were food supplements, (16 %) and soups and sauces (11 %).









Food analysed


Number of samples: 3744


CEN method used




Compliant


Inconclusive


Non-compliant




Spices and herbs


1 022


0


2


EN 1787, EN 1788, EN 13751




Teas, tea-like products


328


3


0


EN 1787, EN 1788, EN 13751




Seasoning


288


0


2


EN 1787, EN 1788, EN 13751




Soups, sauces, instant noodles


239


12


17


EN 1787, EN 1788, EN 13751




Crustaceans, shellfish, other aquatic animals including their products


180


1


2


EN 1786, EN 1788, EN 13751 (7)





Fresh fruits


174


0


2


EN 1784, EN 1787, EN 1788, EN 13751




Pulses, nuts & oil seeds


162


0


0


EN 1784, EN 1787, EN 1788, EN 13751




Mushrooms, dried or mushroom products


149


0


5


EN 1787, EN 1788, EN 13751




Food supplements


147


4


23


EN 1786, EN 1787, EN 1788, EN 13751




Dried fruits or fruit products


134


0


0


EN 1788, EN 13708 (7)





Fish & fisheries products


130


0


0


EN 1786, EN 1788




Cereals and cereal products


93


0


0


EN 1787, EN 1788, EN 13751




Dried vegetables, vegetable products


88


0


0


EN 1787, EN 1788, EN 13751 (7)





Poultry


75


0


0


EN 1784, EN 1786, EN 1788




Ready-to-serve meals


72


0


1


EN 1786, EN 1788, EN 13751




Sausages


67


0


0


EN 1784, EN 1786, EN 1787, EN 1788




Fresh vegetables


52


0


0


EN 1787, EN 1788, EN 13751




Mushrooms, fresh


47


0


0


EN 1787, EN 1788, EN 13751




Cheese with herbs


46


0


0


EN 1787, EN 1788




Potatoes, parts of plants with high content of starch


42


0


0


EN 1787, EN 1788, EN 13751




Meat products (ex. sausages)


41


0


0


EN 1784, EN 1786




Meat (except poultry, game)


15


0


1


EN 1786




Cheese without herbs


12


0


0



 (7)





Butter with herbs


10


0


0


EN 1787, EN 1788




Cacao


10


0


0


EN 1787




Eggs & egg products


9


0


0


EN 1784, EN 1785




Milk/milk products


8


0


0


EN 1787




Coffee


1


0


0


EN 13751




Other


28


0


0


EN 1787, EN 1788




Total


3 669


20


55


 




Total in % of analysed samples


98,00%


0,53 %


1,47 %


 




3.7.   Denmark

In 2007 no analytical controls were carried out regarding food irradiation at the marketing stage.
Danish undertakings are, however, obliged to carry out own-checks to ensure that the rules are complied with. The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration have verified these self-monitoring activities through documentary checks.
3.8.   Estonia

No analytical checks regarding food irradiation were performed in 2007.
In 2007 no analytical controls were carried out regarding food irradiation at the marketing stage in Estonia.
3.9.   Greece

In total, 92 samples were analysed, none of which tested positive for irradiation.









Food analysed


Number of samples: 92


CEN method used




Compliant


Inconclusive


Non-compliant




Herbs and spices


81


0


0


EN 13751 (PPSL)




Cacao


8


0


0


EN 13751 (PPSL)




Cereals


2


0


0


EN 13751 (PPSL)




Dried soup


1


0


0


EN 13751 (PPSL)




Total


92


0


0


 




Total in % of analysed samples


100,00 %


00,00 %


00,00 %


 




3.10.   Spain

In total, 130 samples were analysed, tree of which tested positive for irradiation. All non-compliant samples were frog legs.









Food analysed


Number of samples: 130


CEN method used




Compliant


Inconclusive


Non-compliant




Herbs and spices


88


0


0


EN 1787, EN 1788




Dried fruits


25


0


0


EN 1786, EN 13708




Fish, crustaceans and other aquatic animals


9


0


3


EN 1786




Vegetables


5


0


0


EN 1787, EN 1788




Total


127


0


3


 




Total in % of analysed samples


97,70 %


00,00 %


2,30 %


 




3.11.   Finland

Altogether 94 samples were analysed. Five samples tested positive and were not labelled.
None positive samples were adequately labelled and the irradiation facilities had no EU approval.









Food analysed


Number of samples: 94


CEN method used




Compliant


Inconclusive


Non-compliant




Dried spices and herbs


73


0


1


EN 1788, EN 13751




Food supplements


17


0


4


EN 1788, EN 13751




Berries


4


0


0


EN 1788




Total


89


0


5


 




Total in % of analysed samples


94,68 %


00,00 %


5,32 %


 




3.12.   France

In total, 117 samples of food were analysed and six samples tested positive for irradiation and were not correctly labelled.









Food analysed


Number of samples: 117


CEN method used




Compliant


Inconclusive


Non-compliant




Dried fruits


19


0


0


EN 1788




Potatoes


12


0


0


EN 1788




Dehydrated soups and sauces


11


0


0


EN 1788




Vegetables


10


0


0


EN 1788




Instant noodles


9


0


3


EN 1788




Nuts


9


0


0


EN 1788




Shellfish


7


0


1


EN 1788




Chestnuts


6


0


0


EN 1788




Mechanically recovered poultry meat


6


0


0


EN 1788




Frozen frog legs


5


0


2


EN 1788




Tea


5


0


0


EN 1788




Cereal flakes for dairy products


4


0


0


EN 1788




Ginger


4


0


0


EN 1788




Dried fish


2


0


0


EN 1788




Spices


2


0


0


EN 1788




Total


111


0


6


 




Total in % of analysed samples


94,87 %


00,00 %


5,13 %


 




3.13.   Hungary

In total, 139 samples were analysed and one sample tested positive for irradiation.









Food analysed


Number of samples: 139


CEN method used




Compliant


Inconclusive


Non-compliant




Spices


49


10


0


EN 1788




Tea


43


2


1 (8)





Food supplements


26


8


0




Total


118


20


1


 




Total in % of analysed samples


84,89 %


14,39 %


0,72 %


 




3.14.   Ireland

Analysis of 580 food samples in 2007 identified 21 foods that had been irradiated but were not carrying the required labelling.









Food analysed


Number of samples: 580


CEN method used




Compliant


Inconclusive


Non-compliant




Herbs & spices


217


0


5


EN 13751 (screening), EN 1788 (confirmation)




Coffees & teas


115


0


0




Noodles


66


0


4




Fruit & vegetables


42


0


2




Sauces & soups


25


0


0




Seasonings & Stocks


22


0


2




Goji berry products


14


0


4




Seeds


13


0


0




Food supplements


12


0


1




Cereals & bakery products


7


0


1




Miscellaneous


26


0


2




Total


559


0


21


 




Total in % of analysed samples


96,38 %


00,00 %


3,62 %


 




3.15.   Italy

105 samples were analysed. None of these samples were found to be irradiated. The results were inconclusive in 11 cases.









Food analysed


Number of samples: 105


CEN method used




Compliant


Inconclusive


Non-compliant




Spices, aromatic herbs & vegetable extracts


79


11


0


EN 13783, EN 1788




Bulb vegetables


7


0


0


EN 13783




Dried fruits


2


0


0


EN 13783




Miscellaneous fruits


2


0


0


EN 13783




Mixtures of herbs


2


0


0


EN 13783




Nuts


2


0


0


EN 13783




Total


94


11


0


 




Total in % of analysed samples


89,52 %


10,48 %


0,00 %


 




3.16.   Latvia

Two samples have been taken; both samples were found compliant with EU legislation.









Food analysed


Number of samples: 2


CEN method used




Compliant


Inconclusive


Non-compliant




Dry soup for fast preparation


1


0


0


EN 1788




Herbal tea


1


0


0




Total


2


0


0


 




Total in % of analysed samples


100,00 %


0,00 %


0,00 %


 




3.17.   Lithuania

89 samples were tested, all samples were compliant.









Food analysed


Number of samples: 89


CEN method used




Compliant


Inconclusive


Non-compliant




Dry aromatic herbs, samples of tea, samples of spices


89


0


0


EN 13783:2004




Total


89


0


0


 




Total in % of analysed samples


100,00 %


00,00 %


00,00 %


 




3.18.   Luxembourg

In total, 20 samples of food supplements were analysed. Six samples were found to be irradiated. The results were inconclusive in six cases.









Food analysed


Number of samples: 20


CEN method used




Compliant


Inconclusive


Non-compliant




Food supplements


8


6


6


EN 1788




Total


8


6


6


 




Total in % of analysed samples


40,00 %


30,00 %


30,00 %


 




3.19.   Malta

In total, 25 samples of herbs and spices were analysed. Twenty-one samples were found to be irradiated but were not labelled as such.









Food analysed


Number of samples: 25


CEN method used




Compliant


Inconclusive


Non-compliant




Herbs & Spices


4


0


21


EN 13751




Total


4


0


21


 




Total in % of analysed samples


16,00 %


0,00 %


84,00 %


 




3.20.   The Netherlands

In 2007, 416 samples were taken and analysed. 33 samples proved to be irradiated. Three of the irradiated samples, all dietary supplements, were correctly labelled as such.









Food analysed


Number of samples: 416


CEN method used




Compliant


Inconclusive


Non-compliant




Food supplements


201


0


29


EN 1788, EN 13751




Herbs and spices


185


0


1


EN 1788, EN 13751




Total


386


0


30


 




Total in % of analysed samples


92,79 %


00,00 %


7,21 %


 




3.21.   Poland

In total, 150 samples were analysed and one of these tested positive for irradiation and was not correctly labelled.









Food analysed


Number of samples: 150


CEN method used




Compliant


Inconclusive


Non-compliant




Dried herbs, spices and vegetable seasonings


66


0


0


EN 1786, EN 1787, EN 1788, EN 13751




Nuts including peanuts


25


0


0


EN 1786, EN 1787, EN 1788




Vegetables


20


0


1


EN 1786, EN 1787, EN 1788




Fruits


19


0


0


EN 1786, EN 1787, EN 1788




Fish and shellfish


13


0


0


EN 1786, EN 1787, EN 1788




Poultry and poultry products, egg and egg products


7


0


0


EN 1786, EN 1787, EN 1788




Total


149


0


1


 




Total in % of analysed samples


99,33 %


00,00 %


0,67 %


 




3.22.   Portugal

No information has been forwarded by Portugal.
3.23.   Romania

In 2007 documentary checks (including labelling) of foodstuffs (dried aromatic herbs, spices and vegetable seasonings) were performed in 2014 retail shops. All controlled foodstuffs were not labelled as irradiated. No analytical checks regarding food irradiation were performed in 2007.
3.24.   Sweden

During the year 2007, a total six samples were analysed: meat from bison, ptarmigan, frog, crocodile, and two different kind of cheese. The method used to analyse irradiated food is according to EN 1784. None of the samples were irradiated.









Food analysed


Number of samples: 6


CEN method used




Compliant


Inconclusive


Non-compliant




Meat


4


0


0


EN 1784




Cheese


2


0


0


EN 1784




Total


6


0


0


 




Total in % of analysed samples


100,00 %


00,00 %


00,00 %


 




3.25.   Slovak Republic

In total, 41 samples were analysed during 2007 in the Slovak republic, none of which tested positive for irradiation.









Food analysed


Number of samples: 41


CEN method used




Compliant


Inconclusive


Non-compliant




Peanuts & other nuts


25


0


0


EN 1784




Cheese


12


0


0


EN 1784




Meat (chicken, duck)


3


0


0


EN 1784




Poppy seed


1


0


0


EN 1784




Total


41


0


0


 




Total in % of analysed samples


100,00 %


00,00 %


00,00 %


 




3.26.   Slovenia

Twenty samples were checked for ionising radiation treatment. None of the samples were irradiated.









Food analysed


Number of samples: 20


CEN method used




Compliant


Inconclusive


Non-compliant




Spices


10


0


0


EN 13751




Food supplements


10


0


0


EN 1788, EN 13751




Total


20


0


0


 




Total in % of analysed samples


100,00 %


00,00 %


00,00 %


 




3.27.   The United Kingdom

In 2007, 407 products were sampled. A number of these products were analysed as separate components (e.g. noodles and their accompanying seasoning sachet) and each part treated as an individual sample. Therefore, a total of 429 samples were analysed, of which 48 were found to be irradiated. The samples reported as ‘inconclusive’ were identified as intermediate using CEN method EN 13751:2002 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 products sampled: 407
Number of analysed samples: 429


CEN method used




Compliant


Inconclusive


Non-compliant




Dried herbs, spices and vegetable seasonings


163


18


6


EN 13751, EN 1778




Food supplements


83


7


31


EN 13751, EN 1778




Noodles and dehydrated Asian meals


30


2


4


EN 13751, EN 1778




Fresh and preserved (other than dried) herbs and spices


27


0


0


EN 13751, EN 1778




Fruit (including fresh and dried)


23


0


1


EN 13751, EN 1778




Teas


14


0


3


EN 13751, EN 1778




Mushrooms


7


0


0


EN 13751




Fish/seafood (dried shrimps)


2


0


0


EN 13751




Sauces (liquid/frozen)


2


0


0


EN 13751




Dried meat


1


0


0


EN 13751




Honey and other bee products


1


0


3


EN 13751, EN 1778




Vegetables (dried onions)


1


0


0


EN 13751




Total


354


27


48


 




Total in % of analysed samples


82,52 %


6,29 %


11,19 %


 




3.28.   Summary for the EU

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










Member State


Compliant samples


Inconclusive


Non-compliant samples


Total samples


% versus EU total samples




AT


115


0


0


115


1,78




BE


88


0


1


89


1,38




BG


NI


NI


NI


NI


NI




CY


NAC


NAC


NAC


NAC


NAC




CZ


58


0


2


60


0,93




DE


3 669


20


55


3 744


57,93




DK


NAC


NAC


NAC


NAC


NAC




EE


NAC


NAC


NAC


NAC


NAC




EL


92


0


0


92


1,42




ES


127


0


3


130


2,01




FI


89


0


5


94


1,45




FR


111


0


6


117


1,81




HU


118


20


1


139


2,15




IE


559


0


21


580


8,97




IT


94


11


0


105


1,62




LV


2


0


0


2


0,03




LT


89


0


0


89


1,38




LU


8


6


6


20


0,31




MT


4


0


21


25


0,39




NL


383


0


33


416


6,44




PL


149


0


1


150


2,32




PT


NI


NI


NI


NI


NI




RO


NAC


NAC


NAC


NAC


NAC




SE


6


0


0


6


0,09




SK


41


0


0


41


0,63




SI


20


0


0


20


0,31




UK


354


27


48


429


6,64




TOTAL EU


6 176


84


203


6 463


 




IN %


95,56


1,30


3,14


 


 




NI: No information has been forwarded by the Member State.
NAC: No analytical checks were performed in 2007.




4.   SUMMARY

The current report covers the period from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2007. It contains a compilation of the information forwarded to the Commission by 25 Member States.
Based on the information received, 22 approved irradiation facilities were operational in 11 Member States in accordance with Article 7(2) of Directive 1999/2/EC. One approved irradiation facility has been closed. No new irradiation facilities were approved during 2007, but one irradiation facility was added to the list due to the accession of Romania and Bulgaria. Six irradiation facilities did not irradiate any food or food ingredients during 2007; information on one irradiation facility was not forwarded.
During 2007, a total quantity of 8 154 tonnes of products was treated with ionising irradiation in 16 approved irradiation facilities in eight Member States. 89,29 % were irradiated in three Member States: Belgium (34,33 %), the Netherlands (28,49 %) and France (26,23 %). The three biggest fractions within the irradiated categories were frog legs (31,29 %), herbs & spices (21,94 %) and poultry (20,80 %).
Regarding the checks carried out at the product marketing stage, 25 out of 27 Member States submitted information. Four Member States performed no analytical checks in official control and inspection. One of these Member States signalled that under its national legislation food business operator should carry out own checks to ensure that rules on food irradiation are complied with.
A total of 6 463 samples were taken by 21 Member States. 6 176 samples (95,56 %) were compliant with the provisions of the Directives. 203 samples (3,14 %) were non-compliant. Reasons for non-compliance most often related to incorrect labelling and irradiation of categories for which this is not authorised. Eighty-four samples (1,30 %) gave inconclusive results. This mainly occurred in mixtures of ingredients where it sometimes impossible to determine which of the ingredients were irradiated in order to find out if the irradiation was authorised.


(1)  OJ L 66, 13.3.1999, p. 16.

(2)  http://ec.europa.eu/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 112, 12.5.2006, p. 6.

(6)  Thermoluminescence derived from EN 1788 is used to detect irradiation.

(7)  Other methods (e.g. electron paramagnetic resonance) are also used to detect irradiation.

(8)  The sample of tea positive for irradiation was labelled as such, however irradiation of tea is not authorised in Hungary.