International Irradiation Initiatives The Past and Future Role of International Organisations in Food Irradiation Development Gary Luckman

Past and Present  FIRST PROPOSAL: use irradiation to avoid the introduction of a pest by Koidsumi. Formosa, 1930  International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures: (ISPM No. 18), IPPC, 2003

Other Proposals  Balock (1956, 1966): to use as a commodity treatment for Fruit flies in Hawaii  Macfalnae (1966 ): to use as a treatment for Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni) in Australia

Opportunities  The ban on Ethylene dibromide by EPA (1982)  Caused cancer  The phase-out of methyl bromide by the MONTREAL PROTOCOL (1992)  Depletion of the ozone layer  Development of an international standard- setting program in the IPPC (1992)

Implementation First proposal First routine international shipments 1970 FAO/IAEA 1980 JECFI ISPM No years

Alternative Treatments  Chemical fumigation (EDB and MBr): health and environmental problems  Hot water treatment: limited applications  Modified atmosphere: damages tropical fruit  Refrigeration: long periods  Irradiation: universal

Costs TreatmentUS$/Ton Hot water250 Steam treatment Refrigeration Controlled atmosphere Irradiation

Historical efforts  Safety of irradiated food  Effectiveness as a phytosanitary treatment  Support of international organizations WHO, FAO, IAEA  Technical capacity building ICGFI  National Regulations  Regional and International standards, Codex Alimentarius, NAPPO, IPPC

Effectiveness  First based on standards for other phytosanitary treatments (e.g., fumigation)  Probit 9 ( % mortality)  Disadvantages Level of security was very high Not always possible to work with the large number of pests

New concept Irradiation provided a phytosanitary treatment with different options for a desired response: Inability to emerge or to fly Sterility Inactivation

Research  Projects sponsored by the FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture.  Research in different countries  US publishes research showing 150 Gy as Dmin for Oriental fruit fly, Mediterranean fruit fly and Melon fly, based on “non- emergence of adults (1966)

FAO/ IAEA Joint Division  International Coordinated Research Programs (CRP)  “Use of Irradiation as a Quarantine Treatment for Fruit Flies and Other Arthropods”  1992–1997 “ Use of Irradiation as a Quarantine Treatment Against Pests such as Mites, Thrips, Weevils and Nematodes  “Development of Generic Irradiation Doses for Quarantine Applications”

ICGFI  International Consultative Group on Food Irradiation  Established under the aegis of FAO, IAEA, and WHO ( )  Constituted of experts in food irradiation designated by the governments of different countries

ICGFI Functions  To evaluate global developments in the field of food irradiation  To provide a focal point of advice on the application of food irradiation to member states and the organizations  To furnish information to the joint FAO/IAEA/WHO Expert committee on the Wholesomeness of Irradiated Food, and to the Codex Alimentarius Commission

ICGFI - Work  Task Force to evaluate treatments  Workshops  Support Economic Feasibility Studies in countries with potential to install irradiation treatment facilities  Collect/create, edit, print and distribute technical documents

ICGFI Task Force  Evaluated efficacy data on fruit flies and other arthropods and on phytotoxicity  Recommended 150 Gy Dmin against fruit flies in the Trephitid family and 300 Gy for other arthropods  evaluated additional data, reaffirmed the generic doses proposed previously  Developed a guideline protocol to use irradiation as as quarantine treatment for commercial fruit and vegetables

Harmonization ARCAL PROJECT: Proposed in Mexico, 1998  , participation of 7 countries from the Latin American Region in elaborating “Harmonized Quarantine Regulations for Irradiated Food”  Objective: to develop a harmonized research and certification system to facilitate trade in irradiated fruit  Guidelines for elaborating research protocols for the use of ionizing radiation as a quarantine treatment for fresh fruit  Certification Protocol for irradiation as a quarantine treatment for fresh horticultural products

Education IAEA Inter-Regional Workshops:  Objective: To inform senior food control and plant quarantine officials of a systematic approach in certifying irradiation as a sanitary and phytosanitary treatment to facilitate trade in food and agricultural commodities  Philippines, Morocco, Mexico, Australia, Brazil from

Harmonization IAEA Documents:  Guidelines on Irradiation as a Quarantine Treatment of Fresh Horticultural Commodities  Guidelines on Certification of Food Irradiated for Other than Phytosanitary Purposes  Guidelines Providing Criteria for the Certification of Irradiated Foods

International Standards  Codex Alimentarius (Codex)  International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)

National regulations  40 countries have general legislation and regulations for the irradiation of food  Only a few countries have regulatory systems for phytosanitary treatments

Why is irradiation different?  Dose is not commodity specific  Based on Dmin for the pest  Dmin is established through dose mapping  Dmin is assured through dosimetry  No immediately observable effect on pest  Options for desired response

Options for desired response  Mortality (not necessary for Q-security)  Sterility or limited fertility  Limited development  Non-emergence  Devitalization (of seed)  Inactivation (of microorganisms)  Sprout inhibition

Reg. design for irradiation treatments Generic doses are possible:  For any pest across all commodities*  For groups of pests Regulations on a pest/commodity basis are therefore artificially limiting Regulations requiring commodity by commodity evaluation for food safety are unjustified *provided commodities tolerate the dose

Non-phytosanitary  Food safety  Nuclear regulatory concerns  Quality (except where phytotoxicity makes a treatment impractical)  Consumer labeling (except to the extent that phytosanitary treatments require such labeling under other authorities)

Trade  Few commercial tests:  Mango and Papaya from Australia to NZ  Guava from Mexico to the USA  ISPM No. 18 established in 2003 as a global reference  United States -- Framework Equivalency Work Plan (FEWP) for imports from India, Thailand, Mexico and other countries

International Trade CountryFruitsDose (Gy) Date IndiaMango ThailandLitchi, Longan, Rambutan Mangosteen VietnamDragon fruit08-08 AustraliaMango, Papaya, Litchi

The Future  Pending research work  Dmin needed for specific pests  Tolerance dose for exotic fruits  Combination treatment studies  Campaigns to educate consumers, producers, investors, and regulators in importing and exporting countries  Business analyses for new facilities