Seán Ryan
Ceist:53 Mr. Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the steps he proposes to take to implement the ban on the sale and the processing of irradiated food in this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Irradiated Food.
Existing food legislation does not ban the sale or processing of irradiated food.
The European Commission has formally proposed a Directive permitting the irradiation of a limited number of foods and these proposals are currently under consideration by the member states.
At my request the Food Safety Advisory Committee carried out a comprehensive review of all the issues related to food irradiation including the European Commissions proposals for a Council Directive. The committee recommended that the proposals be accepted in principle because the technology presents no hazard to the health of the consumer when applied in accordance with the conditions proposed.
The matter will be referred again to the Food Safety Advisory Committee when final draft proposals are received from the European Commission. Pending the outcome of these detailed discussions at European level, I do not propose to implement a unilateral ban on the sale of irradiated food in Ireland.