In 1999, the joint food standard setting body for Australia and New Zealand, the Australian New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA) lifted a ten-year moratorium on food irradiation, allowing it on a case-by case basis. While companies have begun to submit petitions to irradiate food, a fierce battle has been underway to build Australia’s third irradiation facility in the tropical state of Queensland. A strong coalition of activists and non-governmental organizations are fighting the construction of this facility and the spread of food irradiation every step of the way. Check out Food Irradiation Watch to learn of the latest battles to keep irradiated food out of the land Down Under.

Oceania

Australia and New Zealand

These foods are approved for irradiation in Australia and New Zealand: herbs, spices, herbal infusions, and tropical fruits – mangoes, papayas, lychees, rambutans, custard apples, longans, carambolas, mangosteens and breadfruit. Also approved but not classified as “food” items are “therapeutic” herbal teas/infusions, other therapeutic goods, pet food and grain fed to animals.

Despite a very strong push from the government, irradiation remains widely unpopular among consumers in Australia and New Zealand, so no new irradiation applications have been made. Labeling in Australia and New Zealand is still inadequate, as is monitoring by the government. Free trade agreements with the United States and China, and discrepancy in regulatory systems around the world, mean that while more irradiation is expected, monitoring of irradiation will remain difficult.

In April 2006, the consumer advocacy coalition Food Irradiation Watch released an Irradiation-Free Food Guide for consumers in Australia and New Zealand. As of November 2006, Food Irradiation Watch had distributed 18,000 copies through various outlets including health food stores, restaurants and organic delivery services. In response to the guide, three companies, including 2 large corporations, recently adopted irradiation-free policies.

On March 10, 2006, unlabeled irradiated mangoes were discovered on sale at three stores in New Zealand. There were no signs in the store or labels on the mangoes, which were sold under the Australian Gold brand. Despite letters and phone calls from food safety advocates regarding this breach of regulations, no enforcement was carried out. As mango season starts again, campaigners will keep an eye out for irradiated mangoes on the market.

Community members in Narangba, Queensland, Australia, the site of a Steritech cobalt-60 irradiator, are filing a classaction lawsuit against the State government for placement of hazardous, noxious and offensive industries, including the irradiator, in their neighborhood.

– Excerpt from Food Irradiation Around the World