1 Irradiation – a Postharvest Alternative for Domestic/Export Market Access Glenn Robertson Steritech General Manager – Queensland October 2012

Steritech services Steritech is the leading sterilisation company in the Asia-Pacific region and has provided services to businesses and government for more than 30 years. Steritech helps a variety of industries make their products safer, manage pests and meet regulatory requirements, including: – Medical equipment – Pharmaceutical goods and cosmetics – Agricultural products (e.g. animal feed and grain) – Packaging (e.g. milk powder bags, wine casks, corks, etc.) – Beehives (eliminates larvae that cause AFB & EFB). – Archives (elimination of mould) – Quarantine (e.g. goods seized by customs) – Herbs, spices and herbal teas – Food Irradiation for Phytosanitary/Market Access requirements.

What is food irradiation? Exposure of food items to a source of ionising energy – i.e. gamma rays or X-rays These gamma or X-rays eliminate bacteria, pests and other pathogens. Food irradiation approved for use in more than 60 countries – estimated one million tonnes of food irradiated annually. Recognised by international agencies (e.g. Codex, International Plant Protection Commission, World Health Organisation, etc). Codex Alimentarius Standard for Irradiated Food: “Any food irradiated up to an overall average dose of 10 kGy is safe and wholesome.”

A safe and chemical free process Irradiation is broad-spectrum, rapid, post harvest treatment that at low levels kills or sterilises insects (e.g. Queensland fruit fly) without the use of chemicals. Scientific consensus after more than 50 years of research is irradiation produces food that is safe to eat – irradiating fruit and vegetables does not and cannot make them radioactive. Irradiation does not apply hot or cold temperatures, humidity or pressure to the fruit and vegetables and can be applied to product in its final packaging. Consumer response is varied – there is minimal understanding and many misconceptions are propagated by activists but ultimately consumers have consistently proven they will purchase irradiated food when given the opportunity and balanced information.

Is Irradiated Food Safe to Eat? YES There is overwhelmingly evidence that irradiated food is toxicologically safe, and presents no significant nutritional or microbiological issues. Approximately 63 countries have approved at least one use of food irradiation. Codex Alimentarius issued a General Standard for Irradiated Food (1983, revised 2003). – Any food irradiated up to an overall average dose of 10 kGy is safe and wholesome. Note phytosanitary use has a maximum dose of 1 kGy

International Approvals - Health 23 countries have approved irradiation up to 1 kGy for all fruit and vegetables 12 countries have approved irradiation up to 1 kGy for specified fruits and vegetables 28 countries have approved irradiation as a disinfestation treatment – 7 other approvals are for delay of ripening or maturation control

An Agreed Protocol for Irradiation as a Phytosanitary Treatment? The effectiveness of irradiation as a phytosanitary treatment is well established There are international guidelines and standards on the treatment These standards are based on a minimum dose to the insect that guarantees that any insect that does not die within a short time after treatment will be sterile or unable to develop into an adult capable of reproducing.

Irradiated Imports into US (tons) CountryFruit IndiaMango Thailand Longan (mainly) VietnamDragonfruit MexicoGuava Grapefruit Mango00239 Sweet Lime Manzano Pepper Total ,163

A ready made solution for the horticultural industry Irradiation one ‘tool in the toolbox’ for managing pests and managing biosecurity/market access requirements. Regulatory status: – 9 tropical fruits approved for irradiation by FSANZ – New Zealand market access secured – ICA-55 is currently in place – Industry research underway for other select fruits and vegetables

Current and Future FSANZ Approved Commodities for Irradiation FSANZ Approved CommoditiesCurrent Qld Govt and Industry ProjectsFuture Qld Govt and Industry Projects MangoTomatoBerries (rasp, blue & black) LycheeCapsicumMushrooms Papaya (Paw paw)CherriesEggplant Bread FruitZucchiniPassionfruit RambutanNectarine Custard AppleRock Melon MangosteenHoneydew LonganTable Grapes Peach Plum CarambolaApricot Persimmon (still pending Approval) Strawberry

New Zealand Market Access Growing volumes of irradiated tropical fruit being sold in New Zealand – mangoes and lychee (first shipment 2004). Market previously closed due to New Zealand biosecurity fruit fly restrictions. In the 2009 – 2010 season, more than 1,000 tonnes of mangoes – 25% of total Australian mango exports. Irradiated mangoes sold in mainstream retail channels – supermarkets (e.g. progressive/ Woolworths), specialist stores, etc. New Zealand operates under the same food safety and labelling system as Australia.

Export Market Access (New Zealand): Irradiation and the supply chain Growing and Harvesting Packing and Cooling Treated at Steritech Narangba QLD Treated at Steritech Narangba QLD Exported to New Zealand via Sea or Air Freight Exported to New Zealand via Sea or Air Freight NZ MAF Plant Health Inspection Steritech has accredited Export Delegates and is authorised to perform onsite Plant Health Inspections Export Delegate & AQIS Plant Health Inspections NZ Wholesale NZ Retail 2 hours treatment time 1 hour required for inspections

Irradiated Imports into NZ (tonnes) Season * Mango , Papaya Lychee TOTAL * Season was adversely affected by severe weather conditions which dramatically reduced crop volumes

DOMESTIC APPROVAL: ICA-55 Interstate Certification Assurance National Protocol (ICA-55) – A protocol for the use of irradiation as a phytosanitary treatment for fresh fruits and vegetables within Australia ICA-55 applies to any fresh produce approved for irradiation by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ)

DOMESTIC APPROVAL: ICA-55 ICA-55 sets minimum doses that guarantee the sterility of insect species for quarantine purposes irrespective of the host produce. – 150 Gy for fruit flies of the family Tephriditae. – 300 Gy for mango seed weevil. – 400 Gy for all other pests of the class Insecta, except pupae and adults of the order Lepidoptera 1 Gy = 1 Gray = 1 Joule of energy absorbed per kg food. 1 kGy = 1000 Gy

Domestic Market Access (ICA-55): Irradiation and the supply chain Growing and Harvesting Packing and Cooling Treated at Steritech Narangba QLD Treated at Steritech Narangba QLD Wholesale Transport to Vic, SA, WA or Tas Retail 2 hours treatment time Irradiation can fit in with the horticulture supply chain and maintain integrity of the ‘cool chain’.

Inter-state Trade in Australia ICA-55 provides a protocol for irradiation to be used to meet quarantine requirements for fresh produce crossing state and territory boundaries Preliminary trials have been carried out in late 2011 sending irradiated Queensland mangoes to Melbourne and Tasmania. The irradiated fruit was sold successfully at 5 retail outlets in Melbourne and several shops in Hobart, including Salamanca markets.

Irradiation Advantages It is rapid (approximately 1 hour treatment, total turnaround about 2 hours). Treated produce can be released into trade immediately. It is simple, depending only on conveyer speed and source power to set the dose. It is insensitive to temperature, humidity, pressure, etc. It is cost competitive with other alternatives to insecticide treatments.

Irradiation Advantages It is a broad spectrum treatment (all insects, all host produce). It is free of toxic chemical residues. It is a cold treatment (no heating means fruit can be more mature at harvest and often results in better fruit quality and shelf-life). It is penetrating (treatment in the final package; sterilizes insects throughout the fruit; fruit size and shape are unimportant).

Labeling Requirements FSANZ Standard requires that irradiated foods be labeled in order to ensure consumers retain their right-to-choose Foods that are chemically treated do not have to be labeled – However, labeling of irradiated foods has disarmed much of the criticism of the process.

Point of Sale

Conclusions Irradiation is a practical, efficient and effective phytosanitary treatment of fresh fruit and vegetables. Presently large volumes of irradiated fruits are imported annually into New Zealand and the USA. Experience has shown that consumer resistance is overestimated. Irradiated fruit has sold well at retail for several years. Labelling requirements, consumer concerns about chemical residues, and the likely use of accelerator-sources of radiation have all reduced the controversy previously associated with irradiation, and increased its consumer acceptance.

Conclusions Trade in irradiated fresh produce has grown steadily and appears set to continue to expand. 28 countries have approved irradiation of fresh fruits and vegetables for disinfestation purposes and at least 8 countries are involved in trade. Irradiation offers the prospect of decreasing reliance on toxic insecticide and fumigation treatments.

Next steps Steritech would like to work with growers, industry and HAL, to raise awareness about irradiation as a long-term alternative to post harvest chemical treatments and address any supply chain issues. Steritech has Council approval to expand the Narangba site – We have approval to build more cold storage. – We are progressing with plans to install an X-ray machine (would improve capacity from 72,000 tonnes of fruit and veg per annum to >200,000 tonnes). Working with Qld Government and industry participants on expanding list of approved commodities: – Tomatoes and capsicums application has been lodged with FSANZ and expected approval date is March/April – Further research is underway for 12 other commodities (including Berries).

THANK YOU Contact Details: Glenn Robertson General Manager – Queensland Bill Hatton Horticulture Business Development