On 2 March 2020, the European Commission commenced a consultation process with all stakeholders aimed at reviewing the existing legal framework on food irradiation. The goal of the European Commission is two-fold. On one hand, the European Commission wants to assess whether the free movement of irradiated foodstuff within the internal market still works. On the other hand, the European Commission wants to assess whether the current rules ensure a high degree of protection of human health and the environment.
Currently, EU rules on food irradiation date back to 1991. The legislation focuses above all on defining the process of irradiation. They also specify the limits to the irradiation process while providing the grounds when irradiation may be authorized. In fact, there is an EU list of food and food ingredients for irradiation that includes a wide variety of products. In addition, EU law imposes labeling requirements when food and food ingredients have undergone irradiation. Last, it stipulates that EU countries must have uniform standards to detect irradiated food. The latter created by the European Committee for Standardization.
The start of the consultation signals the beginning of the process to assess whether EU legislation on food irradiation is fit for purpose. All views must be received by May 25, 2020. The process is especially important for food business operators in general and suppliers of services to irradiation facilities and manufacturers of irradiation equipment and materials in particular.