Foods and food ingredients treated with ionising radiation. Framework Directive

The Commission proposal was divided into two parts, giving rise to two common positions intended to be adopted simultaneously: - a framework Directive laying down general provisions, - an implementing Directive establishing, without prejudice to the final positive list, an initial positive list of foods and food ingredients that may be treated with ionizing radiation. The texts adopted take account of most of the 35 amendments tabled at first reading. The common position on the framework Directive stipulates that the Commission will, by 31 December 2000 at the latest, submit a proposal for the adoption of the final positive list, which will supplement the initial positive list. Pending adoption of the final positive list, Member States may: - if certain conditions are met, maintain or authorize the treatment of foods and food ingredients with ionizing radiation; - in compliance with the Treaty, maintain national bans both on irradiation in their territory and on the marketing of foods or food ingredients treated with ionizing radiation, provided that such foods or food ingredients are not contained in the initial positive list. The common position also makes provision for: - detailed labelling, with no exemption threshold for ionized ingredients used in compound ingredients included in finished products; - an obligation on the Member States to inform the Commission of checks carried out in irradiation facilities and at the product marketing stage; - the use of standardized reference methods to detect treatment with ionizing radiation. �