Foods and food ingredients treated with ionising radiation. Framework Directive

PURPOSE: to adopt a framework directive on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning foods and food ingredients treated wih ionising radiation. COMMUNITY MEASURE: Directive 1999/2/EC of the European Parliament and the Council on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning foods and food ingredients treated with ionising radiation. CONTENT: the framework directive fixes conditions for the manufacture, marketing, importing and compulsory labelling of ionised foodstuffs. It envisages that the Commission will submit no later than 31/12/2000, a proposal for the adoption of the definitive positive list of foodstuffs which may be treated with ionising radiation to the exclusion of all others, which will complete the initial positive list. Until the adoption of this definitive list, Member States may: a) maintain existing authorisations concerning the treatment of foodstuffs with ionising radiation provided that: - the treatment of the foodstuff concerned has been subjected to a favourable opinion of the Scientific Committee for Food; - the overall average absorbed radiation dose does not exceed the limit values recommended by the Scientific Committee for Food; - ionising radiation and placing on the market are effected in accordance with this directive. b) in compliance with the rules of the Treaty, continue to apply existing national restrictions or bans on ionising radiation of foodstuffs and on trade in irradiated foodstuffs which are not included in the initial positive list established by the implementing directive. The directive also proposes: - full labelling without exemption thresholds for irradiated ingredients used in compound ingredients forming part of the finished product; - obliging Member States to inform the Commission of the resilts of checks carried out in the ionising irradiation facilities and at the product marketing stage; - the use of standardised methods such as reference methods, for the detection of irradiated food. The directive finally stipulates that treatment by irradiation should not be used as a substitute for hygiene or health practices or good manufacturing or agricultural practice. ENTRY INTO FORCE: 20/03/1999 DEADLINE FOR TRANSPOSITION: Member States shall bring into force their laws, regulations and administrative provisions to comply with the directive in such a way as to: - permit the marketing and use of irradiated foodstuffs by 20/09/2000; - prohibit the marketing and use of irradiated foodstuffs not complying with this directive by 20/03/2001.�