Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016C00156:body:0:p62
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016C00156
Segment Type: other
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Character Range: 167667–170780

insufficient information on Australian and New Zealand consumer responses (or potential responses), as specified in section F, FSANZ may request an applicant to conduct empirical research to address these points. FSANZ can provide guidance here.

     3.5.3 Irradiated foods

An application to vary the Code is required to approve the irradiation of food. Permissions for irradiation of foods are specified in Standard 1.5.3 – Irradiation of food.

In support of an application for irradiation of a particular food and to demonstrate that there is a technological need to irradiate a food, the following information must be provided.

Note:

FSANZ is required by paragraph 18(2)(e) of the FSANZ Act to have regard to any written policy guidelines formulated by the Forum.

For the labelling of irradiated foods, the relevant Policy Guideline is the Labelling of Foods produced or processed using New Technologies.

FSANZ will have regard to these policy principles during the assessment of applications involving foods produced or processed using new technologies. The Guideline is available at http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/code/fofr/fofrpolicy/Pages/default.aspx.

The information requirements outlined below take this Policy Guideline into consideration.

     A Technical information on the irradiated food

The application must contain the following information:

     A.1 Information on the nature of the food or food ingredient to be irradiated

This includes a description of the primary foods, food ingredients or mixed foods to be irradiated.

     A.2 Information on the technological need to use irradiation compared to other available technologies

This includes the following data or information to support that irradiation if used appropriately and at the correct doses can reduce bacterial contamination or increase shelf-life or reduce/eliminate pest infestation:

    (a) data on the reduction in microbiological load. to demonstrate the effectiveness  of the irradiation procedure in each of the foods on which it is proposed to be used
    (b) data on the expected increase in shelf-life of a food post-irradiation, compared to its pre-irradiated shelf-life
    (c) data or support from an appropriate quarantine agency (e.g. the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources or the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries) that the use of irradiation is justified at the dose range requested (including a minimum and maximum value) to achieve the technological function of pest disinfestation.

     A.3 The food products likely to contain the irradiated food or food ingredient

This includes information on use of the irradiated food or food ingredient in food products.

     B Information on the safety of irradiation

The application must include studies that demonstrate the toxicological safety of the food that is the subject of the application or of closely related foods. Any studies performed to demonstrate the toxicological safety of the food following irradiation must be submitted. In particular, this should include the identity of any