REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL ON FOOD AND FOOD INGREDIENTS TREATED WITH IONISING RADIATION FOR THE YEAR 2015
Date: 2016-11-25
Institutions: Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, European Commission
Subjects: EU Member State, food inspection, food safety, food standard, foodstuff, health control, ionising radiation, irradiated product, irradiation, labelling

EN 

   EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 25.11.2016  COM(2016) 738 final   REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL ON FOOD AND FOOD INGREDIENTS TREATED WITH IONISING RADIATION FOR THE YEAR 2015  
 
 
REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND 
THE COUNCIL 

ON FOOD AND FOOD INGREDIENTS TREATED WITH IONISING RADIATION 
FOR THE YEAR 2015 

 
 
 
 
 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

1.  SUMMARY ................................................................................................................ 3 

2.  BACKGROUND ......................................................................................................... 4 

3.  APPROVED IRRADIATION FACILITIES .............................................................. 5 

4.  RESULTS OF CHECKS IN IRRADIATION FACILITIES ...................................... 6 

5.  RESULTS OF CHECKS AT PRODUCT MARKETING STAGE ............................ 7 

6.  CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................... 8 

2 

 
 
 
 
 
1. 

SUMMARY 

According to Article 7(3) of Directive 1999/2/EC, the Member States shall forward to the 
Commission every year the results of checks carried out in ionising irradiation facilities, 
including,  in  particular,  the  categories  and  quantities  of  foodstuff  treated  with  ionising 
radiation  and  the  doses  administered,  and  the  results  of  checks  carried  out  at  product 
marketing stage.  

The  checks  performed  by  the  Member  States  in  2015  show  almost  total  compliance  of 
products controlled with the EU legislation. 

Period:  

1/1/2015 – 31/12/2015 

Countries concerned: 

EU Member States and EFTA countries 

Source: 

All 28 Member States and Norway 

Irradiation facilities: 

–  Number of countries equipped: 
–  Number of approved facilities: 
–  Number of new facilities: 
–  Number of closed facilities:   
–  Number of countries irradiating: 

14 Member States & Norway  
26 
One in Croatia and one in Norway  
None 
10 Member States & Norway 

Treatment data: 

–  Quantity of products treated:  
–  Main commodities treated: 

–  Main place of irradiation: 

Checks at marketing stage: 

5,686 tonnes (+9.7% compared to 2014) 
Frog legs (54.8%) and dried aromatic herbs,  
spices and vegetables seasoning (16.1%) 
Belgium 
(11.1%) 

the  Netherlands 

(68.9%)  and 

–  Number of samples analysed: 
–  Number of non compliant samples:  104 (1.7%) 
–  Main commodities analysed:  

5,973 

Herbs and spices (45.6%) 
Cereals,  seed,  vegetables,  fruits  and  their 
products 
(21%) 

3 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      
 
 
 
 
 
 
2. 

BACKGROUND 

Ionising radiation of foods and food ingredients is a physical technique used for several 
purposes,  e.g.  to  reduce  the  incidence  of  food-borne  diseases  by  reducing  pathogenic 
organisms, to reduce loss of food by premature ripening, germination or sprouting and to 
get  food  rid  of  organisms  harmful  to  plant  or  plant  products.  Information  on  general 
aspects  of  food  irradiation  is  available  on  the  website  of  the  European  Commission’s 
Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety1. 

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  radiation2  lays  down  specific  provisions  for  the 
manufacturing,  marketing  and  importation  of  treated  foods  and  food  ingredients.  The 
Directive  introduced  a  stepwise  harmonised  listing  of  food,  authorised  for  irradiation, 
starting from existing national authorisations.  

Directive 1999/3/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 February 1999 
on  the  establishment  of  a  Community  list  of  foods  and  food  ingredients  treated  with 
ionising  treatment3  listed  one  category  of  food  authorised  at  EU  level:  dried  aromatic 
herbs, spices and vegetable seasonings. Other food categories authorised at national level 
prior to 1999 are maintained in seven Member States in accordance with its Article 4(4) 
but can no longer be extended. The list of national authorisations has been published by 
the Commission4. 

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 State. 
Article 7(3) of Directive 1999/2/EC requires Member States to inform the Commission 
on the list of their approved irradiation facilities. The list of approved irradiation facilities 
in Member States is published by the Commission5. 

Any  irradiated  foodstuff  containing  one  or  more  irradiated  food  ingredient  must  be 
labelled with the words “irradiated” or “treated with ionising radiation”. If an irradiated 
product is used as an ingredient in a compound food, the same words shall accompany its 
designation  in  the  list  of  ingredients.  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 
Commission. 

In  accordance  with  Article 7(3)  of  Directive  1999/2/EC,  Member  States  forward  to  the 
Commission every year: 

http://ec.europa.eu/food/safety/biosafety/irradiation/index_en.htm 

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

3   Directive  1999/3/EC  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  22  February  1999  on  the 
establishment of a Community list of foods and food ingredients treated with ionising treatment (OJ L 
66, 13.3.1999, p. 24). 
4  OJ C 283, 24.11.2009, p. 5. 
5  OJ C 51, 13.2.2015, p. 59–63  

4 

 
 
                                                 
–  the results of their checks carried out in the ionising radiation facilities, in particular 
regarding  the  categories  and  quantities  of  food  and  food  ingredients  treated  and  the 
doses administered, 

and 
–  the results of their 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  requires  the  Commission  to  subsequently  publish 
annually in the Official Journal of the European Union: 
–  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  every  year  by  the  national  supervisory 

authorities. 

The  present  report,  produced  accordingly,  covers  the  period  from  1st  January  to 
31st December  2015  and 
the  European 
to 
Commission by the 28 Member States and one EFTA country (Norway).  

information  forwarded 

includes 

the 

3. 

APPROVED IRRADIATION FACILITIES 

26  irradiation  facilities  are  approved  in  the  European  Union  and  are  located  in  14 
Member  States:  five  in  France,  four  in  Germany,  three  in  Spain,  two  in  Bulgaria,  the 
Netherlands  and  Poland,  one  in  Belgium,  Czech  Republic,  Estonia,  Croatia  (a  new 
facility), Italy, Hungary, Romania and United Kingdom. There are no approved facilities 
in the other Member States. No approved irradiation facilities have been closed.  

Of the 14 Member States equipped with irradiation facilities, ten, as well as one EFTA 
in  Figure  1. 
country  (Norway), 

irradiated  foodstuffs 

in  2015,  as 

illustrated 

Figure  1  –  Percentage  of 
irradiated 
foodstuffs 
within each Member  State 
and Norway in 2015  

Green: 
approved 
facilities 
irradiation;  

countries  with 
irradiation 
food 

and 

Yellow:  countries  with 
irradiation 
approved 
facilities  and  no 
food 
irradiation;  

Grey:  countries  without 
approved 
irradiation 
facilities) 

5 

 
 
 
 
 
4. 

RESULTS OF CHECKS IN IRRADIATION FACILITIES 

Official  Controls  carried  out  by  the  competent  authorities  confirmed  the  compliance  of 
the  approved  irradiation  facilities  with  the  requirements  of  Directive 1999/2/EC  which 
are  based  on  the  Joint  FAO/WHO  Codex  Alimentarius  Commission  Recommended 
International  Code  of  Practice  for  the  operation  of  irradiation  facilities  used  for  the 
treatment of foods6.  

The range of the average absorbed dose reported for the irradiated food in the EU in 2015 
is  1-10  kGy,  the  categories  of  products  irradiated  and  the  doses  administered  for  each 
Member State are listed in Annex. 

A  total  quantity  of  5,685.9  tonnes  of  products  were  treated  with  ionising  irradiation  in 
EU  Member  States,  80%  of  which  were  irradiated  mainly  in  two  Member  States: 
Belgium (68.9%) and the Netherlands (11.1%).  

Figure 2 summarises the categories of foodstuffs submitted to irradiation. The two main 
commodities irradiated in the EU are frog legs (54.75%) and dried aromatic herbs, spices 
and vegetables seasoning (16.10%).  

Figure 2 – Distribution by category of irradiated foodstuffs in the EU in 2015 

54,75% 

0,02% 

0,95% 

4,19% 

8,53% 

Frozen frog legs

Aromatic herbs, spices and vegetable seasoning (dried)

16,10% 

Poultry

Dried vegetables and fruits

Dehydrated blood, plasma, coagulates

Frozen peeled or decapitated shrimps

15,46% 

Egg white

Since  Directives  1999/2/EC  and  1999/3/EC  have  become  applicable  in  the  Member 
States,  the quantities of food irradiated have decreased, though a slight increase of 9.7% 
is noted in 2015 compared to 2014.  

Figure 3 shows the distribution  of irradiated foodstuffs (in tonnes) by Member State in 
2015.  

6 Reference FAO/WHO/CAC, vol. XV edition 1. 

6 

 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
Figure  3  –  Quantity  and  category  of  foodstuffs  irradiated  in  approved  facilities  within 
each Member State in 2015. 

0,00

500,00

1000,00

1500,00

2000,00

2500,00

3000,00

3500,00

4000,00

Frozen frog legs
Poultry
Dehydrated blood, plasma, coagulates
Egg white

Quantity (Tonnes) 

Aromatic herbs, spices and vegetable seasoning (dried)
Dried vegetables and fruits
Frozen peeled or decapitated shrimps

5. 

RESULTS OF CHECKS AT PRODUCT MARKETING STAGE 

5,973 samples were analysed by 24 Member States in 2015, i.e. overall 3.4% more  than 
in 2014. 

Four  Member  States  accounted  for  75.6%  of  the  samples  (Germany  56%,  Italy  9%, 
Poland 5.3% and Romania 5.3%), as illustred in Figure 4. Five countries (four Member 
States and Norway) did not perform any analytical checks at product marketing stage in 
2015 for different reasons: budgetary restrictions in Denmark, lack of laboratory capacity 
for such analyses in Estonia, Croatia, Cyprus and Norway.  

Figure 4  – Percentage of checks  and total  samples  analysed at product marketing stage 
within each Member States in 2015. 

7 

 
 
 
 
Among  the  products  analysed  in  the  European Union  in  2015,  the  two main  categories 
are “herbs and spices” (45.54%) and “cereals, seed, vegetables, fruit and their products” 
(21.01%). Details are given in the tables reporting the tests carried out for each Member 
State  (Annex).  The  category  “other”  includes  mainly  food  supplements  (45.92%)  and 
soup and sauces (30.89%). 

Figure 5 –Foodstuffs category analysed at product marketing stage within the European 
Union in 2015 

45,57% 

20,98% 

Herbs and spices

Cereals, seed, vegetables, fruit and their products

Other

Fish, crustaceans, shellfish and their products

14,36% 

Meat and meat products

Milk and milk products

1,14% 

7,07% 

10,88% 

For  2015,  5,802  samples  (97.1%)  were  compliant  with  EU  requirements,  104  (1.7%) 
non-compliant, and 67 samples (1.1%) gave inconclusive results. The two main reasons 
for  non-compliance  of  tested  samples  were  similar  to  the  previous  years,  namely, 
incorrect labelling and forbidden irradiation, irradiation in facilities not approved by the 
EU. Details by Member State are available in annex. 

97% 

Figure 6 – Percentage of compliant, non-
compliant  and  inconclusive  results  of 
checks  carried  out  at  product  marketing 
stage within the European Union for the 
year 2015  

1% 

2% 

Non compliant

Inconclusive

Compliant

6. 

CONCLUSION 

The data submitted by the 28 EU Member States for 2015 show a 9.7% increase of the 
quantity  of  foodstuffs  submitted  to  irradiation  in  the  EU,  compared  to  2014  and  a 
concomittant  3.4%  increase  of  the  checks  performed  at  product  marketing  stage  by 
competent authorities. The checks showed almost full respect of EU legislation, with less 
than 2% of products found to be non-compliant. 

8 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In Europe, the main commodity irradiated is frog legs, followed, though in much lower 
quantities, by dried aromatic herbs, spices and vegetables seasoning. Around 70% of the 
commodities  are  irradiated  in  Belgium,  which  remains  the  leading  irradiating  country 
within the EU.  

In terms of control at marketing stage, the main commodity checked in the EU remains 
herbs  and  spices  (45.6%)  followed  by  cereals,  seed,  vegetables  and  fruits  (21%),  with 
Germany leading in the number of controls carried out representing alone more than all 
other Member States together. 

Finally,  the  use  of  this  decontamination  technique  stays  marginal  in  Europe  when 
compared to other regions of the world, where the use of irradiation for decontamination 
purposes is steadily increasing mainly in American and Asian countries.  

9 

 
 
 
 
Annex – Food irradiation data collection 2015 

Quantities of foodstuffs (in tonnes) treated by ionising radiation 
 in approved irradiation facilities (EU and EFTA) 

Country 

Belgium 
Bulgaria 
Croatia 
Czech Republic 
Estonia 
France 
Germany 
Hungary 
Italy 
The Netherlands 
Poland 
Romania 
Spain 
United Kingdom 

Total EU 

Norway 

Total EU-EFTA 

Number of approved facilities 
1 
2 
1 
1 
1 
5 
4 
1 
1 
2 
2 
1 
3 
1 
26 
1 
27 

Treated quantity (tonnes) 
3,916.9 
No food irradiated 
12.0 
28.3 
36.9 
376.6 
211.1 
103.0 
No food irradiated 
629.2 
45.9 
No food irradiated 
326.0 
No food irradiated 
5,685.9 
4.2 
5,690.1 

Categories of products irradiated and respective doses administered, by country. 

Country 

Foodstuffs 

Belgium 

Croatia 
Czech Republic 
Estonia 

France 

Germany 
Hungary 

The Netherlands 

Poland 
Spain 
Norway 

Dehydrated blood, plasma, coagulates 
Egg white 
Frozen frog legs 
Frozen peeled or decapitated shrimps 
Poultry 
Aromatic herbs, spices and vegetable seasoning (dried) 
Aromatic herbs, spices and vegetable seasoning (dried) 
Aromatic herbs, spices and vegetable seasoning (dried) 
Aromatic herbs, spices and vegetable seasoning (dried) 
Dried vegetables and fruits 
Frozen frog legs 
Aromatic herbs, spices and vegetable seasoning (dried) 
Aromatic herbs, spices and vegetable seasoning (dried) 
Aromatic herbs, spices and vegetable seasoning (dried) 
Dried vegetables and fruits 
Aromatic herbs, spices and vegetable seasoning (dried) 
Aromatic herbs, spices and vegetable seasoning (dried) 
Aromatic herbs, spices and vegetable seasoning (dried) 

Absorbed dose (kGy) 
5.0 - 6.7 
4.3 - 5.0 
4.4 - 5.7 
4.0 - 4.3 
3.7 - 4.3 
10 
6.3 
10 
5 - 10 
1 - 10 
1 - 10 
10 
2 - 10 
6 
6 
5 
8.6 – 9.5 
10 

10 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Samples analysed and results obtained for the European Union: 

Country 

Compliant 

Inconclusive  Non-compliant  Total samples 

% of total 
EU samples 

Austria 
Belgium 
Bulgaria 
Croatia 
Cyprus 
Czech Republic 
Denmark 
Estonia 
France 
Finland 
Germany 
Greece 
Hungary 
Ireland 
Italy 
Latvia 
Lithuania 
Luxembourg 
Malta 
Netherlands 
Poland 
Portugal 
Romania 
Slovakia 
Slovenia 
Spain 
Sweden 
United Kingdom 

Total EU 

Norway 

83 
110 
3 
NCP 
NCP 
25 
NCP 
NCP 
160 
213 
3,281 
10 
75 
86 
532 
11 
75 
18 
69 
54 
315 
9 
297 
26 
17 
235 
5 
93 

5,802 

97.1% 

NCP 

NCP: no check performed 

0 
8 
0 
NCP 
NCP 
4 
NCP 
NCP 
3 
9 
24 
0 
0 
1 
0 
0 
0 
1 
3 
0 
0 
0 
7 
0 
0 
2 
0 
5 

67 

1.1% 

NCP 

85 
121 
3 
NCP 
NCP 
30 
NCP 
NCP 
174 
230 
3344 
10 
76 
87 
539 
12 
75 
19 
77 
54 
317 
9 
314 
26 
17 
237 
5 
112 

5,973 

100.0% 

NCP 

1.4% 
2.0% 
0.1% 
NCP 
NCP 
0.5% 
NCP 
NCP 
2.9% 
3.9% 
56.0% 
0.2% 
1.3% 
1.5% 
9.0% 
0.2% 
1.3% 
0.3% 
1.3% 
0.9% 
5.3% 
0.2% 
5.3% 
0.4% 
0.3% 
4.0% 
0.1% 
1.9% 

100% 

NCP 

2 
3 
0 
NCP 
NCP 
1 
NCP 
NCP 
11 
8 
39 
0 
1 
0 
7 
1 
0 
0 
5 
0 
2 
0 
10 
0 
0 
0 
0 
14 

104 

1.8% 

NCP 

11 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Results of checks at product marketing stage in Europe  
and methods used to detect ionising treatment. 

Austria 

Foodstuff category 
Cereals, 
seed, 
vegetables,  fruit  and 
their products 
Fish, 
Shellfish  and 
products 

crustaceans. 
their 

Herbs and spices 

Foodstuffs  

Compliant 

Inconclusive  Non-Compliant  CEN method 

Berries 

Crustaceans, shellfish, mussels 
and other aquatic animals 
(including their products) 
Aromatic herbs, spices and 
vegetable seasoning (dried) 

29 

25 

29 

Total (85) 
Total % of analysed samples 

83 
97.6% 

0 

0 

0 

0 
0% 

0 

0 

2* 

2 
2.4% 

EN 1787 

EN 1786 

EN 1788 

*erroneously labelled 

Belgium 

Foodstuff category 
seed, 
Cereals, 
vegetables,  fruit  and 
their products 
Fish, 
Shellfish  and 
products 

crustaceans. 
their 

Herbs and spices 

Meat / meat products 
Other 

Foodstuffs  
Cereals, seed, vegetables and 
fruit 
Fruit (dried) 
Crustaceans, shellfish, mussels 
and other aquatic animals 
(including their products) 
Herbs and spices (frozen) 
Tea 
Frog legs 
Food supplements 

Total (121) 
Total % of analysed samples 

*erroneously labelled 

Compliant 

Inconclusive  Non-Compliant  CEN method 

8 

10 

33 

13 
22 
7 
17 
110 
90.9% 

0 

0 

2 

2 
0 
2 
2 
8 
6.6% 

0 

0 

1* 

0 
0 
2* 
0 
3 
2.5% 

EN 1788 

EN 1788 

EN 1788 

EN 1788 
EN 1788 
EN 1788 
EN 1788 

Bulgaria 

Foodstuff category 

Herbs and spices 

Foodstuffs  
Aromatic herbs, spices and 
vegetable seasoning (dried) 
Tea 

Total (3) 
Total % of analysed samples 

Compliant 

Inconclusive  Non-Compliant  CEN method 

2 

1 
3 
100% 

0 

0 
0 
0% 

0 

0 
0 
0% 

EN 13751 

EN 13751 

Croatia  
Due to lack of laboratories carrying out analyses for ionising radiation, no checks were 
performed at product marketing stage in Croatia during the year 2015. 

Cyprus 
Due to lack of laboratories carrying out analyses for ionising radiation, no checks were 
performed at product marketing stage in Cyprus during the year 2015. 

12 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Czech Republic 

Foodstuff category 

Cereals, 
seed, 
vegetables,  fruit  and 
their products 

Herbs and spices 

Other 

Foodstuffs  
Mushrooms or mushrooms 
products (dried) 
Vegetables and vegetable 
products (dried) 
Aromatic herbs, spices and 
vegetable seasoning (dried) 
Herbal teas / Infusions 
Food supplements 
Soup 

Total (30) 
Total % of analysed samples 

*irradiation not allowed 

Compliant 

Inconclusive  Non-Compliant  CEN method 

2 

1 

7 

1 
5 
9 
25 
83.4% 

0 

0 

0 

0 
2 
2 
4 
13.3% 

0 

0 

0 

0 
1* 
0 
1 
3.3% 

EN 1788 

EN 1788 

EN 1788 

EN 1788 
EN 1788 
EN 1788 

Denmark  
Due  to  budgetary  restrictions,  no  checks  were  performed  at  product  marketing  stage  in 
Denmark during the year 2015. 

Estonia  
Due to lack of laboratories carrying out analyses for ionising radiation, no checks were 
performed at product marketing stage in Estonia during the year 2015.  

France 

Foodstuff category 
Cereals, 
seed, 
vegetables,  fruit  and 
their products 
Fish, 
shellfish  and 
products 

crustaceans, 
their 

Herbs and spices 

Meat 
products 

and  meat 

Foodstuffs  
Cereals, seed, vegetables and 
fruit 
Food supplements 

Crustaceans or molluscs 
(frozen) 

Aromatic herbs, spices and 
vegetable seasoning (dried) 
Frog legs 
Meat and meat products 

Total (174) 
Total % of analysed samples 

Compliant 

Inconclusive  Non-Compliant  CEN method 

59 

7 

21 

36 

11 
26 
160 
92.0% 

0 

1 

0 

0 

0 
2 
3 
1.7% 

1* 

0 

3** 

5* 

1* 
1* 
11 
6.3% 

EN 1787 

EN 1788 

EN 1786 

EN 1788 

EN 1786 
EN 1784 

*erroneously labelled  
**erroneously labelled and/or irradiation not allowed 

Finland 

Foodstuff category 

Foodstuffs  

Compliant 

Inconclusive  Non-Compliant  CEN method 

Cereals, 
seed, 
vegetables,  fruit  and 
their products 

Berries  

Cereal products 
Mushrooms or mushrooms 
products (dried) 
Onions 

Seaweeds (dried) 

Pasta products 

Rice (flour) 

Seeds 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

3 

3 

4 

3 

3 

2 

1 

4 

13 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

EN 1788; 
EN 13751 
EN 13751 

EN 13751 

EN 13751 

EN 13751 

EN 13751 

EN 13751 

EN 13751 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Herbs and spices 

Other  

Vegetables and vegetable 
products (dried) 
Aromatic herbs, spices and 
vegetable seasoning (dried) 

Herbal teas / Infusions 

Tea 

Cocoa 

Coffee  

Food supplements 

Meals and dishes (prepared) 

Other 

Sauces and soups (dehydrated) 

25 

99 

6 

13 

1 

1 

28 

3 

1 

13 

2 

4 

2 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

Total (230) 
Total % of analysed samples 

213 
92.6% 

9 
3.9% 

*erroneously labelled and/or irradiation in facilities not approved by the EU 
**irradiation not allowed 

EN 1788;  
EN 13751 
EN 1788;   
EN 13751 
EN 1788; 
EN 13751 
EN 13751 

EN 13751 

EN 13751 
EN 1788;  
EN 13751 
EN 13751 

EN 13751 
EN 1788;  
EN 13751 

0 

4* 

0 

0 

0 

0 

3** 

0 

0 

1** 

8 
3.5% 

Germany 
Foodstuff category 

Foodstuffs  

Compliant 

Inconclusive  Non-Compliant  CEN method 

Cereals, seed, 
vegetables, fruit and 
their products 

Cereal products 

Fruit (dried) 

Fruits (fresh) 

Mushrooms (fresh) 

Mushrooms or mushrooms 
products (dried) 

Potatoes 

Pulses 

Vegetables and vegetable 
products (dried) 

Vegetables (fresh) 

Fish, 
shellfish  and 
products 

crustaceans, 
their 

Crustaceans, shellfish, mussels 
and other aquatic animals 
(including their products) 

Fish and fish products 

Herbs and spices  

Aromatic herbs, spices and 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

10 

3 

133 

81 

2 

140 

9 

110 

44 

21 

273 

58 

1,254 

14 

0 

9*** 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

5** 

8*** 

2* 

EN 1788;  
EN 1787 
EN 13708;  
EN 1788;  
EN 1787;  
EN 13751 
EN 13708;  
EN 1788;  
EN 1787;  
EN 13751 
EN 1788;  
EN 1788;  
EN 1787;  
EN 13751 
EN 1788 
EN 1784;  
EN 1788;  
EN 1787;  
EN 13751 
EN 1788;  
EN 1786;  
EN 1787;  
EN 13751 
EN 1787;  
EN 1788;  
EN 13751 
EN13708; 
EN 1786;  
EN 1788;  
EN 1787;  
EN 13751 
EN 1786;  
EN 1788 
EN 1788;  

 
 
 
 
vegetable seasoning (dried) 

Seasoning 

Tea 

Meat (except poultry and 
game) 

Meat (from different birds, 
kangaroo, hare) 

Meat products (except 
sausages) 

Poultry meat 

Sausage products 

Meat 
products 

and  meat 

Milk 
products 

and  milk 

Cheese (containing 
spices/herbs) 

Food supplements 

Meals and dishes (prepared) 

Eggs and eggs products 

Other 

Various food 

303 

195 

14 

2 

32 

142 

27 

33 

168 

29 

14 

35 

2 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

2 

0 

0 

Sauces and soups (dehydrated) 

159 

10 

Total (3,344) 
Total % of analysed samples 

3,281 
98.1% 

24 
0.7% 

*erroneously labelled  
**erroneously labelled and/or irradiation not allowed  
***irradiation not allowed 

EN 1787;  
EN 13751 
EN 13708;  
EN 1788;  
EN 1785;  
EN 1787;  
EN 13751 
EN 13708;  
EN 1788;  
EN 1785;  
EN 1787;  
EN 13751 
EN 1784; 
EN 1786 

EN 1786 

EN 1784;  
EN 1786 
EN 1784;  
EN 1786 
EN 1786 
EN 1784;  
EN 1788;  
EN 1787;  
EN 13751 
EN 1788;  
EN 13751 
EN 1788;  
EN 1786 
EN 1784 
EN 13708;  
EN 1788;  
EN 13751 
EN 1784; EN 
1788; EN 
1785; EN 
13751 

0 

1*** 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

3*** 

0 

0 

0 

11** 

39 
1.2% 

Greece 

Foodstuff category 

Herbs and spices 

Hungary 
Foodstuff category 

Herbs and spices 

Foodstuffs  
Aromatic herbs, spices and 
vegetable seasoning (dried) 

Total (10) 
Total % of analysed samples 

Foodstuffs  
Aromatic herbs, spices and 
vegetable seasoning (dried) 

Total (76) 
Total % of analysed samples 

*erroneously labelled  

Compliant 

Inconclusive  Non-Compliant  CEN method 

10 

10 
100% 

0 

0 
0% 

0 

0 
0% 

EN 13751 

Compliant 

Inconclusive  Non-Compliant  CEN method 

0 

0 
0% 

1* 

1 
1.3% 

EN 1788 

75 

75 
98.7% 

15 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ireland 

Foodstuff category 
Cereals, 
seed, 
vegetables,  fruit  and 
their products 

Foodstuffs  
Berries 

Peanut bars 

Herbal teas / Infusions 

Herbs and spices (fresh) 

Other: Basil (3), Bay leaves 
(1), Oregano (1), Spice mixture 
for pickling cucumber (1), 
Smoked paprika (1), Garam 
Masala (1), Organic hot 
paprika (1), Ground cinnamon 
(1), Ground mace (1), Herbs 
and spices (1) 

Food for particular nutritional 
uses 

Food supplements 

Soy sauces 

Total (87) 
Total % of analysed samples 

Herbs and spices 

Other 

Italy 

Compliant 
4 

1 

1 

1 

12 

35 

31 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1 

1 
86 
98.9% 

0 
1 
1.1% 

Inconclusive  Non-Compliant  CEN method 
0 

EN 13751 

0 

EN 13751 

EN 13751 

EN 13751 

EN 13751 

EN 13751 

EN 13751 

EN 13751 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 
0 
0% 

Foodstuff category 

Foodstuffs  

Compliant 

Inconclusive  Non-Compliant  CEN method 

Aromatic herbs, spices and 
vegetable seasoning (dried) 

Herbs and spices  

Herbal teas / Infusions 

Tea 

Frog legs 
Meat (except poultry and 
game) 

Poultry meat 

Meat 
products 

and  meat 

Fish, 
shellfish  and 
products 

crustaceans, 
their 

Crustaceans or molluscs 
(frozen) 

Fish and fish products 

Cereals, 
seed, 
vegetables,  fruit  and 
their products 

Cereals  

Fruit (dried) 

Fruits (fresh) 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

82 

5 

8 

21 

16 

37 

109 

44 

18 

18 

11 

16 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1* 

0 

0 

0 

EN 1788;  
EN 13784;  
EN 1787;  
EN 13751 
EN 1787;  
EN 13751 
EN 1788;  
EN 1787;  
EN 13751 
EN 1786 
EN 1786; 
EN 13784 
EN 13784; 
EN 1786; 
EN 1785 
EN 1788;  
EN 1786; 
EN 13751 
EN 13784; 
EN 1786; 
EN 1785 
EN 1788; 
EN 13751 
EN 13708; 
EN 1788; 
EN 1787 
EN 13708;  
EN 1788; 
EN13784; 
EN 1787 

 
 
 
 
 
Garlic 

Mushrooms or mushrooms 
products (dried) 

Nuts 

Oil seeds 

Onions 

Tomatoes and carrots  

Potatoes 

Pulses 

Food supplements 

Raw material of plant origin, 
intended for use as an 
ingredient in plant food 
supplements 

14 

22 

32 

3 

16 

2 

18 

14 

2 

34 

sauces and soups (dehydrated) 

6 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

Total (539) 
Total % of analysed samples 

532 
98.7% 

0 
0.7% 

*erroneously labelled  
**erroneously labelled and/or irradiation not allowed  

Other 

EN 13784; 
EN 1788; 
EN 13751 
EN 1788; 
EN 1787; 
EN 13751 
EN 13784; 
EN 1788; 
EN 1787 
EN 13751 
EN 13784; 
EN 1788; 
EN 13751 
EN 13751 
EN 1788; 
EN 13751 
EN 13784;  
EN 1788; 
EN 13751 
EN 1788;  
EN 1787 

EN 1788;  
EN 1787;  
EN 13751 

EN 1787;  
EN 13751 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1** 

5** 

0 

7 
1.3% 

Latvia 

Foodstuff category 

Herbs and spices 

Other 

Foodstuffs  
Aromatic herbs, spices and 
vegetable seasoning (dried) 
Food supplements 

Total (12) 
Total % of analysed samples 

Compliant 

Inconclusive  Non-Compliant  CEN method 

4 

7 
11 
91.7% 

0 

0 
0 
0% 

0 

1* 
1 
8.3% 

EN 1788 

EN 1788 

*irradiation not allowed  

Lithuania 
Foodstuff category 

Herbs and spices 

Other 

Foodstuffs  
Aromatic herbs, spices and 
vegetable seasoning (dried) 

Herbal teas / Infusions 
Food supplements 
Vegetables, vegetable products 
and mushrooms, dried seaweed 
(raw material for food 
production) 

6 

5 
62 

2 

Total (75) 
Total % of analysed samples 

75 
100% 

17 

Compliant 

Inconclusive  Non-Compliant  CEN method 

0 

0 
0 

0 

0 
0% 

0 

0 
0 

0 

0 
0% 

EN 13783 

EN 13783 
EN 13783 

EN 13783 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Luxembourg 

Foodstuff category 

Foodstuffs  

Compliant 

Inconclusive  Non-Compliant  CEN method 

Fish, 
shellfish  and 
products 

crustaceans, 
their 

Other 

Crustaceans or molluscs 
(frozen) 
Crustaceans, shellfish, mussels 
and other aquatic animals 
(including their products) 
Sauces and soups (dehydrated) 
Total (19) 
Total % of analysed samples 

3 

6 

9 
18 
94.7% 

0 

0 

1 
1 
5.3% 

0 

0 

0 
0 
0% 

EN 1788 

EN 1788 

EN 1788 

Malta 

Foodstuff category 

Foodstuffs  

Compliant 

Inconclusive  Non-Compliant  CEN method 

seed, 
Cereals, 
vegetables,  fruit  and 
their products 

Fish, crustaceans, 
shellfish and their 
products 

Herbs and spices 

Cereals, seed, vegetables and 
fruit 
Fruit (dried) 
Instant noodles 
Mushrooms or mushrooms 
products (dried) 
Onions 
Dried seaweed 

Fish and seafood (dried) 

Aromatic herbs, spices and 
vegetable seasoning (dried) 

Herbal teas / Infusions 

Other 

Tea 

Soup 

4 

12 
8 

1 

1 
3 

1 

11 

17 

3 

8 

0 

0 
2 

0 

0 
0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1 

Total (77) 
Total % of analysed samples 

69 
89.6% 

3 
3.9% 

*irradiation not allowed  
**erroneously labelled 

Netherlands 

EN 13751 

EN 13751 
EN 13751 

EN 13751 

EN 13751 
EN 13751 

EN 1788;  
EN 13751 

EN 13751 

EN 1788;  
EN 13751 
EN 13751 
EN 1788;  
EN 13751 

0 

0 
0 

0 

0 
0 

3* 

0 

1** 

0 

1** 

5 
6.5% 

Foodstuff category 

Foodstuffs  

Compliant 

Inconclusive  Non-Compliant  CEN method 

Cereals products 

Cereals, seed, vegetables and 
fruit 
Mushrooms or mushrooms 
products (dried) 

Nuts 

Vegetables and vegetable 
products (dried) 

Shrimps 

Aromatic herbs, spices and 
vegetable seasoning (dried) 

Poultry meat 

Cereals, 
seed, 
vegetables,  fruit  and 
their products 

Fish, crustaceans, 
shellfish and their 
products 

Herbs and spices 

Meat and meat 
products 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

6 

4 

2 

6 

4 

5 

8 

6 

18 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

EN 1788; 
EN 13751 
EN 1788; 
EN 13751 
EN 1788; 
EN 13751 
EN 1788;  
EN 13751 
EN 1788; 
EN 13751 

EN 1788; 
EN 13751 

EN 1788; 
EN 13751 
EN 1788;  
EN 13751 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other 

Chips 

Soup 

6 

7 

Total (54) 
Total % of analysed samples 

54 
100% 

0 

0 

0 
0% 

0 

0 

0 
0% 

EN 1788; 
EN 13751 
EN 1788; 
EN 13751 

Inconclusive  Non-Compliant  CEN method 
0 

0 

Poland 

Foodstuff category 

Foodstuffs  

Fruit (dried) 

Fruits (fresh) 

Fruit (tropical) 

Garlic 

Instant noodles 

Mushrooms (fresh) 

Mushrooms or mushrooms 
products (dried) 
Nuts 
Onions 
Pasta with spinach 
Pasta products 
Potatoes 
Pulses 
Vegetables and vegetable 
products (dried) 
Vegetables (fresh) 
Crustaceans or molluscs 
(frozen) 
Crustaceans, shellfish, mussels 
and other aquatic animals 
(including their products) 
Fish and fish products 
Shrimp broth 

Shrimps 

Aromatic herbs, spices and 
vegetable seasoning (dried) 

Tea 

Cheese (containing 
spices/herbs) 
Cheese (cottage) 
Cheese (ripened) 
Chicken broth 
Frog legs 
Meat 
Meat and meat products 
Meat (except poultry and 
game) 
Meat (from different birds, 
kangaroo, hare) 

Cereals, seed, 
vegetables, fruit and 
their products 

Fish, crustaceans, 
shellfish and their 
products 

Herbs and spices  

Milk and milk 
products 

Meat and meat 
products 

Compliant 
8 

7 

1 

6 

6 

4 

12 

10 
1 
1 
9 
1 
1 

6 

1 

1 

6 

14 
0 

3 

48 

12 

27 

5 
2 
3 
2 
20 
2 

3 

12 

19 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 
0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 
1* 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

0 

0 

EN 13708 
EN 1788; 
EN 1787 
EN 1788 
EN 1788; 
EN 13708 
EN 13751 
EN 1788;  
EN 13751 

EN 1788 

EN 1787 
EN 1788 
EN 13751 
EN 13751 
EN 1788 
EN 1788 
EN 1788;  
EN 13751 
EN 1788 

EN 1786 

EN 1786;  
EN 1788 

EN 1786 
EN 1788 
EN 1788;  
EN 13751 
EN 1788;  
EN 13751 
EN 1788;  
EN 13751 
EN 1788;  
EN 13751 
EN 1788 
EN 1788 
EN 1788 
EN 1786 
EN 1786 
EN 1786 
EN 1784;  
EN 1786 
EN 1784;  
EN 1786 

 
 
 
 
 
Other 

Meat, offal, meat products 

Poultry meat 

Cocoa 
Coffee 
Food for particular nutritional 
uses 

Food supplements 

Other: Barbecue sauce (1), 
vegetable broth (1), paste of 
coriander (1), seasoning for 
chicken soup (1), instant for 
noodle dish (1), vegetable 
stock cube (1), fix oriental dish 
with chicken (1), instant soup 
flavour chicken curry with 
noodle (1) 

3 

14 

1 
3 

16 

16 

8 

0 

0 

0 
0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 
0 

1* 

0 

0 

Sauces and soups (dehydrated) 

20 

Total (317) 
Total % of analysed samples 

315 
99.4% 

0 

0 
0% 

0 

2 
0.6% 

*erroneously labelled 

EN 1784;  
EN 1786 
EN 1784;  
EN 1786 
EN 1788 
EN 1788 
EN 1788;  
EN 13751 
EN 1788;  
EN 13751 

EN 1788;  
EN 13751 

EN 1788;  
EN 13751 

Portugal 
Foodstuff category 

Herbs and spices 

Other 

Foodstuffs  

Compliant 

Inconclusive  Non-Compliant  CEN method 

Aromatic herbs, spices and 
vegetable seasoning (dried) 
Plant parts (senna pod, 
chamomile flower and 
moringa) 
Enzymes 
Food supplements 
Ginseng extract 

Total (9) 
Total % of analysed samples 

1 

3 

1 
3 
1 
9 
100% 

0 

0 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0% 

EN 13751 

EN 13751 

EN 13751 
EN 13751 
EN 13751 

0 

0 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0% 

Romania 
Foodstuff category 

Cereals, seed, 
vegetables, fruit and 
their products 

Herbs and spices 

Other 

Foodstuffs  

Fruit (dried) 
Mushrooms or mushrooms 
products (dried) 
Vegetables and vegetable 
products (dried) 
Aromatic herbs, spices and 
vegetable seasoning (dried) 
Herbal teas / Infusions 
Tea 
Food supplements 

Total (314) 
Total % of analysed samples 

*irradiation in facilities not approved by the EU 

Slovakia 

Compliant 
2 

3 

86 

143 

32 
9 
22 
297 
94.6% 

20 

Inconclusive  Non-Compliant  CEN method 
0 

EN 13751 

0 

0 

0 

1 

0 
0 
6 
7 
2.2% 

0 

2* 

8* 

0 
0 
0 
10 
3.2% 

EN 13751 

EN 13751 

EN 13751 

EN 13751 
EN 13751 
EN 13751  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1 

5 

2 

1 

5 

4 

4 

2 

Foodstuffs  

Compliant 
17 

Inconclusive  Non-Compliant  CEN method 
0 

EN 1784 

0 

Foodstuff category 
Cereals, seed, 
vegetables, fruit and 
their products 

Herbs and spices 

Meat and meat 
products 
Milk and milk 
products 

Nuts 

Oil seeds 

Aromatic herbs, spices and 
vegetable seasoning (dried) 

Salmon fillets 

Cheese (ripened) 

Total (314) 
Total % of analysed samples 

26 
100% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 
0% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 
0% 

EN 1784 

EN 1788 

EN 1784 

EN 1784 

Foodstuffs  

Compliant 

Inconclusive  Non-Compliant  CEN method 

Slovenia 
Foodstuff category 
Cereals, seed, 
vegetables, fruit and 
their products 

Garlic 

Herbs and spices 

Meat and meat 
products 

Aromatic herbs, spices and 
vegetable seasoning (dried) 

Tea 
Poultry meat 

2 

Other 

Sauces and soups (dehydrated) 

Total (17) 
Total % of analysed samples 

17 
100% 

Spain 

Foodstuff category 

Foodstuffs  

Fruit (dried) 

Mushrooms or mushrooms 
products (dried) 

Cereals, 
seed, 
vegetables,  fruit  and 
their products 

Nuts 

Oil seeds 

Vegetables and vegetable 
products (dried) 

Aromatic herbs, spices and 
vegetable seasoning (dried) 

Herbal teas / Infusions 

Crustaceans, shellfish, mussels 
and other aquatic animals 
(including their products) 

Fish and fish products 

Poultry meat 

Herbs and spices 

Fish, crustaceans, 
shellfish and their 
products 

Meat and meat 
products 

Compliant 
16 

8 

16 

14 

32 

91 

32 

16 

5 

5 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 
0% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 
0% 

EN 1788;  
EN 13751 

EN 13751 

EN 13751 

EN 1786 

EN 1788; EN 
13751 

Inconclusive  Non-Compliant  CEN method 
0 

EN 13708 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

2 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

EN 13751 

EN 1787 
EN 1788; 
EN 13751 
EN 1788; 
EN 1787; 
EN 13751 
EN 1787;  
EN 13751 

EN 13751 

EN 1786 

EN 1786 

EN 1786 

Total (237) 
Total % of analysed samples 

235 
99.2% 

2 
0.8% 

0 
0% 

21 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sweden 
Foodstuff category 
Meat and meat 
products 

Meat 

Foodstuffs  

Compliant 

Inconclusive  Non-Compliant  CEN method 

Total (5) 
Total % of analysed samples 

5 

5 
100% 

0 

0 
0% 

0 

0 
0% 

EN 1784 

United Kingdom 

Foodstuff category 

Foodstuffs  

Compliant 

Inconclusive  Non-Compliant  CEN method 

Cereals, seed, 
vegetables, fruit and 
their products 

Fruit (tropical) 

Instant noodles 

Fish, crustaceans, 
shellfish and their 
products 

Crustaceans or molluscs 
(frozen) 

Fish and fish products 

Herbs and spices 

Aromatic herbs, spices and 
vegetable seasoning (dried) 

Tea 

Food supplements 

Other 

Sauces and soups (dehydrated) 

Soup 

1 

20 

1 

1 

56 

0 

11 

1 

2 

0 

3 

0 

0 

1 

0 

1 

0 

0 

0 

6* 

0 

1** 

4* 

1** 

1** 

0 

1** 

EN 1788; 
EN 13751 
EN 1788; 
EN 13751 
EN 1788;  
EN 13751 
EN 1788;  
EN 13751 
EN 1788; 
EN 13751 
EN 1788; 
EN 13751 
EN 1788; EN 
13751 
EN 1788; EN 
13751 
EN 1788; EN 
13751 

Total (112) 
Total % of analysed samples 

93 
83.0% 

5 
4.5% 

14 
12.5% 

*erroneously labelled and/or irradiation in facilities not approved by the EU 
**irradiation not allowed 

Norway  
Due to lack of laboratories carrying out analyses for ionising radiation, no checks were 
performed at product marketing stage in Norway during the year 2015.  

22