IFST has recently responded to the European’s Commission consultation on the evaluation of the EU legal framework on food irradiation.
IFST is of the opinion that food irradiation is a safe and useful technique that can be used to enhance food safety. Its current use in the EU is limited, and whereas consumer acceptance is likely to be a factor in the limited uptake of the technology, current legislation may also be playing a part.
The Institute is therefore welcoming of the intention to evaluate and "fitness check" current legislation on food irradiation to examine the issues laid out in Section C. The Commission would also do well to examine evidence of the uptake of the technique in third countries and gather evidence from their experiences with food irradiation.