New Zealand Introduces New Rules on Irradiated Food Labeling

Recently, the Food Safety Authority (FSA) of the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) issued irradiated food labeling requirements to food enterprises. Relevant Chinese export enterprises should strictly comply with the new provisions and formulate corresponding measures to avoid unnecessary trade disputes.

To sell irradiated food, or food containing irradiated ingredients or components, in New Zealand, the following requirements must be met:

(1) Standard 1.5.3 'Irradiation of Food' in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code must permit the food to be irradiated.

(2) The food must comply with the labeling requirements of the Code (in particular the requirements in Standard 1.5.3 'Irradiation of Food').

(3) For imported fresh agricultural products permitted to be irradiated, there must be a corresponding biosecurity import health standard. MPI is responsible for formulating biosecurity import health standards.

1. Irradiated food labeling requirements

All irradiated food, or food containing irradiated ingredients or components, must bear the statement 'this food, ingredient or component has been treated with ionizing radiation'. This labeling requirement applies to packaged food at all points in the supply chain from import into New Zealand to the sale of the food to consumers.

If food is not required to be formally labeled, then at all points of sale the mandatory label statement must be displayed on or immediately adjacent to the food. Although there is no safety reason requiring labeling, the irradiated food labeling requirement enables consumers to choose.

1. Wording requirements

No wording is prescribed, for example: 'treated with ionizing radiation' or 'irradiated (food name)'. In addition to the mandatory label, the following irradiation symbol may be used:

1. If an irradiated product supplied by a supplier is not marked as irradiated - if you suspect that a product received has been irradiated but is not marked:

(1) require the supplier to confirm the presence/absence of irradiated food, or food containing irradiated ingredients or components;

(2) require the supplier to correctly mark future irradiated food, or food containing irradiated ingredients or components;

(3) look for an alternative supplier.

1. False or misleading statements

Fair trading laws prohibit the use of any false, misleading or deceptive statements. In addition, the '1981 Food Act' prohibits the sale of food bearing false or misleading statements, wording, trademarks, pictures, labels or marks. Irradiated and non-irradiated bulk agricultural products (such as tomatoes) mixed together in a self-service area, with only a sign 16 stating 'some tomatoes have been irradiated', do not fully comply with the requirements of the Food Standards Code. Retailers must take steps to ensure that customers can identify irradiated and non-irradiated products.

1. Products that should bear the statement 'this food, ingredient or component has been treated with ionizing radiation'

(1) Imported irradiated food, or food containing irradiated ingredients or components.

(2) Packaged irradiated fresh tomatoes or peppers.

(3) Irradiated herbs and spices sold in small packages.

(4) Processed food containing irradiated ingredients.

1. Products that do not need formal labeling but require an accompanying mandatory irradiation statement

(1) Whole irradiated fruits or vegetables sold loose in supermarkets, greengrocers and markets, such as mangoes and tomatoes.

(2) Irradiated food sold in catering establishments.

(3) Takeaway pizza containing irradiated herb ingredients.

(4) Irradiated tomatoes contained in sandwiches in the display cabinet of a cafe.

(5) Irradiated lychees in fruit salad in a cafeteria.

(6) Irradiated food contained in dishes ordered from a menu.

—This article is reprinted from China Packaging Network (pack.cn); original link: http://news.pack.cn/show-361894.html