Lok Sabha Question No. 1478 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-19
Subject: Impact of Radiation on Food Products
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: DHARAMBIR BHALERAM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1478

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.12.2018

## IMPACT OF RADIATION ON FOOD PRODUCTS

1478.  SHRI  DHARAMBIR:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to use radiation technology for processing and storage of agricultural produce and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether any primary report has been prepared by the Government regarding impact of radiation on food products; and
- (c) if so, the details and the outcome thereof?

## ANSWER

THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  FOR  PERSONNEL,  PUBLIC  GRIEVANCES  & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (Dr. JITENDRA SINGH):

- (a) Yes, Sir. Extensive research work has been carried out by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) on the use of radiation processing for extending shelf life  of  agricultural  produce/  food  products  over  the  last  50  years.  Radiation processing and proper storage thereafter has achieved substantial increase in shelf  life  of  many  agricultural  produces  including  tubers,  fruits,  vegetables, cereals,  pulses,  spices,  sea  foods  and  meat  products  due  to  effective elimination of harmful and spoilage microorganism, viruses and insects/pests from foods.

Based  on this technology, two Government  irradiation facilities were established  by  Bhabha  Atomic  Research  Centre  (BARC)  at  Lasalgaon, Nashik, and Vashi, Navi Mumbai. Govt. of Maharashtra and Govt. of Gujarat also  established  two  facilities  for  the  welfare  of  the  farmers  at  Vashi,  Navi Mumbai and Bavala respectively. In addition, 11 private facilities have been established  at  different  parts  of  the  country.  The  details  of  the  radiation processing plants are given at Annexure-1 .

- (b) Yes,  Sir. Harmonization  of  food  irradiation  rules  with  the  international regulation through adaptation of class wise clearance of irradiated food items by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has taken place through  Food  Safety  and  Standards  (Food  Products  Standards  and  Food Additives) Sixth Amendment  Regulations,  2016.  This has categorized different food items and the purpose of radiation.
- (c) FSSAI notified  'Food  Safety  and  Standards  (Food  Product  Standards  and Food Additives) Sixth Amendment, 2016 and the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging  and  Labelling)  Fourth  Amendment,  2016'  related  to  standards and  labelling  requirements  for  irradiated  foods.  The  implementation  of  the amendment starts from the date of its final publication in the Official Gazette, i.e. August 23, 2016. The full text of the final amendment as published in the Gazette  is also available on the website of FSSAI (http://www.fssai.gov.in/). Radiation  processing  dose  limits  for  different  food  products  grouped  in different classes and allied products are given in Annexure-2 and Annexure-3 respectively.

*******

## RADIATION PROCESSING PLANTS IN INDIA

|   S. No. | Name of the Plant                                                      | Purpose                                                          | Status/ Remarks       |
|----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------|
|        1 | Radiation Processing Plant, BRIT, Vashi, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra      | Spices, Herbs and allied products                                | Commissioned in 2000  |
|        2 | KRUSHAK Irradiator, Lasalgaon, Nashik, Maharashtra                     | Mango, Potato, Onion, Vegetables, Fruits and Grains              | Commissioned in 2002  |
|        3 | M/s. A.V. Processors Pvt. Ltd., Ambernath (E), Thane, Maharashtra      | Food &Medical Products                                           | Commissioned in 2005  |
|        4 | Maharashtra State Agricultural Mktg. Board, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra   | Mango, Vegetables, Fruits, Grains and Packaged food              | Commissioned in 2015  |
|        5 | M/s. Agrosurg Irradiators, Vasai, Thane, Maharashtra                   | Spices, Herbs and allied products, Packaging& Medical Products   | Commissioned in 2008. |
|        6 | M/s. Hindustan Agro Co-Operative Ltd., Rahuri, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra | Onion &Other Agricultural Produces                               | Commissioned in 2012  |
|        7 | M/s. Organic Green Foods Ltd., Dankuni, Kolkata, West Bengal           | Food, Packaging& Medical Products                                | Commissioned in 2004  |
|        8 | M/s. Universal Medicap Ltd., Vadodara, Gujarat                         | Food &Medical Products                                           | Commissioned in 2005. |
|        9 | M/s. Gujarat Agro Industries Corpn. Ltd, Bavla, Ahmedabad, Gujarat     | Spices, Herbs and allied products, Food Products                 | Commissioned in 2014  |
|       10 | M/s. Microtrol, Bangalore, Karnataka                                   | Spices, Herbs and allied products, Food& Medical Products        | Commissioned in 2006  |
|       11 | M/s. Innova Agri Bio Park Ltd., Malur, Dist. Kolar, Karnataka          | Mango, Food& Medical Products                                    | Commissioned in 2011  |
|       12 | M/s. Jhunsons Chemicals Pvt Ltd., Bhiwadi, Rajasthan                   | Spices, Herbs and allied products, , Medical& Packaging Products | Commissioned in 2010  |
|       13 | M/s. Gamma Agro Medical Processing, Hyderabad, Telangana               | Spices, Food &Medical Products                                   | Commissioned in 2008. |
|       14 | M/s. Impartial Agro Tech (P) Ltd., Unnao, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh       | Spices, Food& Medical Products                                   | Commissioned in 2014  |
|       15 | M/s. Aligned Industries, Dharuhera, Rewari, Haryana                    | Spices, Food Products                                            | Commissioned in 2015  |

## Annexure 1

Annexure 2 Classes of food products and dose limits (kilo Gray) for radiation processing

| Class   | Food                                                                                                                  | Purpose of Treatment                                                                     | Min             | Max             |
|---------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|-----------------|
| Class I | Bulbs, stem and root tubers                                                                                           | Inhibit sprouting                                                                        | 0.02            | 0.2             |
| Class 2 | Fresh fruits and vegetables (other than Class 1)                                                                      | Delay ripening Insect disinfestation Shelf-life extension Quarantine application         | 0.2 0.2 1.0 0.1 | 1.0 1.0 2.5 1.0 |
| Class 3 | Cereals and their milled products, pulses and their milled products, nuts, oil seeds, dried fruits and their products | Insect disinfestation Reduction of microbial load                                        | 0.25 1.5        | 1.0 5.0         |
| Class 4 | Fish, aquaculture, seafood and their products (fresh or frozen)                                                       | Elimination of pathogenic microorganisms Shelf-life extension Control of human parasites | 1.0 1.0 0.1     | 7.0 3.0 2.0     |
| Class 5 | Meat and meat products including poultry (fresh and frozen) and eggs                                                  | Elimination of pathogenic microorganisms Shelf-life extension Control of human parasites | 1.0 1.0 0.3     | 7.0 3.0 2.0     |
| Class 6 | Dry vegetables, spices, condiments, dry herbs, tea, coffee, cocoa and plant products                                  | Elimination of pathogenic microorganisms Insect disinfestation                           | 6.0 0.3         | 14.0 1.0        |
| Class 7 | Dried food of animal origin                                                                                           | Insect disinfestation Control of moulds Elimination of pathogenic microorganisms         | 0.3 1.0 2.0     | 1.0 3.0 7.0     |
| Class 8 | Ethnic foods, military rations, space foods, RTC/RTE, minimally processed foods                                       | Quarantine application Reduction of microorganisms Sterilization                         | 0.25 2 5        | 1.0 10 25       |

## Annexure 3

## Dose Limits for Radiation Processing of Allied Products

| S. No.   | Allied product                                       | Purpose                   | Dose limits (kilo Gray)   | Dose limits (kilo Gray)   |
|----------|------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|
| S. No.   | Allied product                                       | Purpose                   | Min                       | Max                       |
| 1        | Animal food and feed                                 | Insect disinfestation     | 0.25                      | 1.0                       |
| 1        | Animal food and feed                                 | Microbial decontamination | 5.0                       | 10.0                      |
| 2        | Ayurvedic herbs and their products, and medicines    | Insect disinfestations    | 0.25                      | 1.0                       |
| 2        | Ayurvedic herbs and their products, and medicines    | Microbial decontamination | 5.0                       | 10.0                      |
| 2        | Ayurvedic herbs and their products, and medicines    | Sterilization             | 10                        | 25                        |
| 3        | Packaging materials for food/allied products         | Microbial decontamination | 5.0                       | 10.0                      |
| 3        | Packaging materials for food/allied products         | Sterilization             | 10                        | 25                        |
| 4        | Food additives                                       | Insect disinfestations    | 0.25                      | 1.0                       |
| 4        | Food additives                                       | Microbial decontamination | 5.0                       | 10.0                      |
| 4        | Food additives                                       | Sterilization             | 10                        | 25                        |
| 5        | Health foods, dietary supplements and nutraceuticals | Insect disinfestation     | 0.25                      | 1.0                       |
| 5        | Health foods, dietary supplements and nutraceuticals | Microbial decontamination | 5.0                       | 10.0                      |
| 5        | Health foods, dietary supplements and nutraceuticals | Sterilization             | 10                        | 25                        |
| 6        | Body care and cleansing products                     | Microbial decontamination | 5.0                       | 10.0                      |
| 6        | Body care and cleansing products                     | Sterilization             | 10                        | 25                        |
| 7        | Cut flowers                                          | Quarantine application    | 0.25                      | 1.0                       |
| 7        | Cut flowers                                          | Shelf-life extension      | 0.25                      | 1.0                       |