Foods and food ingredients treated with ionising radiation. Framework Directive

In accordance with Directive 1999/2/EC, the Commission presents a report on food ingredients treated with ionising radiation covering the period from 1 January to 31 December 2013.

The report contains a compilation of the information forwarded to the Commission by 26 Member States. Malta and Croatia did not submit data for 2013. Croatia joined the EU as of 1 of July 2013.

The report shows tables and figures with the results of checks carried out in the approved irradiation facilities in Member States in 2013, in particular, regarding the categories and quantities of food and food ingredients treated and the doses administered. It also shows the results of the checks carried out at the product marketing stage and the methods used to detect treatment with ionising radiation.

In 2013, 25 approved irradiation facilities were operational in 13 Member States, and one new irradiation facility has been approved in Spain. No approved irradiation facilities have been closed.

Products treated: a total quantity of 6876 tonnes of products were treated with ionising irradiation in EU Member States, 84% of which were irradiated mainly in three Member States: Belgium (49.4%), Netherlands (24.4%) and Spain (12.7%). The two main commodities irradiated are frog legs (46.4%) and dried aromatic herbs and spices (24.4%). There has been a decrease of 14% in the total quantity of products irradiated in the EU compared to the previous year 2012 (7972 tonnes).

Marketing stage: 26 Member States submitted information regarding the checks carried out at the product marketing stage. Four Member States did not perform any analytical checks in official controls and inspections in 2013.

Analysed samples: a total of 5713 samples have been analysed by 22 Member States in 2013. Three Member States accounted for 66% of the samples (Germany 50.5%, Italy 9.7% and the Netherlands 6.3%. In 2012: Germany 52.4%, the Netherlands 7.2% and United Kingdom 6.2%).

Germany remains the leader in terms of controlling food products at marketing stage. 5511 samples (96.5%) were compliant with the provisions of Directive 1999/2/EC, 130 samples (2.3%) were non-compliant, and 73 samples 1.5%) gave inconclusive results. The two main reasons for non-compliance of tested samples were similar to the previous years, namely, incorrect labelling and forbidden irradiation. Non-compliance was also due to irradiation in facilities not approved by the EU. Reasons for non-compliance are given in each table reporting the tests carried out in each Member State.