{"id":"F2015L00406","name":"Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code – Standard 1.5.3 – Irradiation of food","slug":"f2015l00406","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":315748,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2015L00406-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-08","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code – Standard 1.5.3 – Irradiation of food","content":"Standard 1.5.3 Irradiation of food\n\nNote 1 This instrument is a standard under the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 (Cth). The standards together make up the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. See also section 1.1.1—3.\n\nNote 2 The provisions of the Code that apply in New Zealand are incorporated in, or adopted under, the Food Act 2014 (NZ). See also section 1.1.1—3.\n\nNote 3 Paragraphs 1.1.1—10(5)(d) and (6)(h) provide that a food for sale must not consist of, or have as an ingredient or a component, a food that has been irradiated, unless expressly permitted by this Code. Division 2 of this Standard contains the relevant permissions.\n\nSubsection 1.1.1—14(2) provides that, if this Code sets requirements for record-keeping in relation to food, those requirements must be complied with. Division 3 contains such requirements.\n\nDivision 1 Preliminary\n\n1.5.3—1 Name\n\nThis Standard is Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code – Standard 1.5.3 – Irradiation of food.\n\nNote Commencement:  \nThis Standard commences on 1 March 2016, being the date specified as the commencement date in notices in the Gazette and the New Zealand Gazette under section 92 of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 (Cth). See also section 93 of that Act.\n\n1.5.3—2 Definitions\n\nNote In this Code (see section 1.1.2—2):\n\nirradiation, in relation to food, means subjecting the food to ionising radiation, other than ionising radiation imparted to food by measuring or inspection instruments, and irradiate and irradiated have corresponding meanings.\n\nDivision 2 Irradiation of food\n\n1.5.3—3 Irradiation of fresh fruit and vegetables\n\n(1) Fresh fruit and fresh vegetables may be irradiated for the purpose of pest disinfestation for a phytosanitary objective, if the absorbed dose is:\n\n(a) no lower than 150 Gy; and\n\n(b) no higher than 1 kGy.\n\n(2) In this section:\n\nfruit includes (but is not limited to) a fruit described in Schedule 22; and\n\nvegetables includes (but is not limited to):\n\n(a) sweet corns as described in Schedule 22; and\n\n(b) a vegetable described in Schedule 22.\n\n(3) Despite subsection (2), any of the following is not a fruit or a vegetable for the purposes of this section: dried pulses; legumes; nuts; or seeds.\n\n1.5.3—4 Irradiation of herbs and spices\n\n(1) Herbs and spices may be irradiated for the purpose of controlling sprouting and pest disinfestation, including the control of weeds, if the absorbed dose is no higher than 6 kGy.\n\n(2) Herbs and spices may be irradiated for the purpose of bacterial decontamination, if the absorbed dose is:\n\n(a) no lower than 2 kGy; and\n\n(b) no higher than 30 kGy.\n\n(3) In this section:\n\nherbs and spices includes (but is not limited to):\n\n(a) a herb or a spice described in Schedule 22; and\n\n(b) chives.\n\n1.5.3—5 Irradiation of plant material for a herbal infusion\n\n(1) Plant material for a herbal infusion may be irradiated for the purpose of controlling sprouting and pest disinfestation, including the control of weeds, if the absorbed dose is no higher than 6 kGy.\n\n(2) Plant material for a herbal infusion may be irradiated for the purpose of bacterial decontamination, if the absorbed dose is:\n\n(a) no lower than 2 kGy; and\n\n(b) no higher than 10 kGy.\n\n(3) In this section:\n\nplant material for a herbal infusion means fresh, dried or fermented leaves, flowers and other parts of plants used to make beverages, but does not include tea.\n\n1.5.3—6 Re-irradiation of food\n\nFood that has been irradiated may be re-irradiated if any of the following conditions is met:\n\n(a) the food is prepared from food, including ingredients, that have been irradiated at levels that do not exceed 1 kGy;\n\n(b) the food contains less than 50 g/kg of irradiated ingredients;\n\n(c) the required full dose of ionising radiation was applied to the food in divided doses for a specific technological reason.\n\n1.5.3—7 Sources of radiation that may be used\n\nFood may be irradiated in accordance with this Division using any of the following forms of ionising radiation:\n\n(a) gamma rays from the radionuclide cobalt 60;\n\n(b) X-rays generated by or from machine sources operated at:\n\n(i) an energy level not exceeding 5 megaelectronvolts; or\n\n(ii) if the machine source uses tantalum or gold as the target material—an energy level not exceeding 7.5 megaelectronvolts;\n\n(c) electrons generated by or from machine sources operated at an energy level not exceeding 10 megaelectronvolts.\n\nDivision 3 Record-keeping for and labelling of irradiated food\n\n1.5.3—8 Record-keeping\n\n(1) A person who irradiates food must keep records in relation to:\n\n(a) the nature and quality of the food treated; and\n\n(b) the \\*lot identification; and\n\n(c) the minimum durable life of the food treated; and\n\n(d) the process used; and\n\n(e) compliance with the process used; and\n\n(f) the minimum and maximum dose absorbed by the food; and\n\n(g) an indication whether or not the product has been irradiated previously and if so, details of such treatment; and\n\n(h) the date of \\*irradiation.\n\n(2) The records must be kept at the facility where the food was irradiated.\n\n(3) The records must be kept for a period of time that exceeds the minimum durable life of the irradiated food by 1 year.\n\n1.5.3—9 Labelling and other information—retail and catering\n\nFor the labelling provisions, the information relating to irradiated foods is:\n\n(a) if the food has been irradiated—a statement to the effect that the food has been treated with ionising radiation; and\n\n(b) if the food has as an ingredient or \\*component a food that has been irradiated—a statement to the effect that the ingredient or component has been treated with ionising radiation.\n\nNote 1 The labelling provisions are set out in Standard 1.2.1. Labelling provisions apply to both packaged and unpackaged irradiated foods.\n\nNote 2 For paragraph (b), the statement may be on the statement of ingredients or elsewhere on the label.\n\n\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\n\n  \n\nAmendment History\n\nThe Amendment History provides information about each amendment to the Standard. The information includes commencement or cessation information for relevant amendments.\n\nThese amendments are made under section 92 of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 unless otherwise indicated. Amendments do not have a specific date for cessation unless indicated as such.\n\nAbout this compilation\n\nThis is compilation No. 6 of Standard 1.5.3 as in force on 15 August 2024 (up to Amendment No. 230). It includes any commenced amendment affecting the compilation to that date.\n\nPrepared by Food Standards Australia New Zealand on 15 August 2024.\n\nUncommenced amendments or provisions ceasing to have effect\n\nTo assist stakeholders, the effect of any uncommenced amendments or provisions which will cease to have effect, may be reflected in the Standard as shaded boxed text with the relevant commencement or cessation date. These amendments will be reflected in a compilation registered on the Federal Register of Legislation including or omitting those amendments and provided in the Amendment History once the date is passed.\n\nThe following abbreviations may be used in the table below:\n\nad = added or inserted am = amended\n\nexp = expired or ceased to have effect rep = repealed\n\nrs = repealed and substituted\n\nStandard 1.5.3 was published in the Food Standards Gazette No. FSC96 on 10 April 2015 as part of Amendment 154 (F2015L00406 –- 31 March 2015) and has since been amended as follows:\n\n| Section affected    | A’ment No. | FRL registrationGazette                        | Commencement(Cessation) | How affected | Description of amendment                                                                        |\n| ------------------- | ---------- | ---------------------------------------------- | ----------------------- | ------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| table to 1.5.3—3(2) | 157        | F2015L013741 Sept 2015FSC993 Sept 2015         | 1 March 2016            | ad           | Permissions for certain fruits and vegetables previously included in the Code as part of A1092. |\n| table to 1.5.3—3(2) | 166        | F2017L000255 Jan 2017FSC10812 Jan 2017         | 12 Jan 2017             | ad           | Permissions for blueberries and raspberries.                                                    |\n| table to 1.5.3—4(3) | 190        | F2020L0002415 Jan 2020FSC13117 Jan 2020        | 17 January 2020         | am           | Permissions for irradiated herbs and spices                                                     |\n| 1.5.3—3             | 201        | F2021L0098314 Jul 2021FSC14222 July 2021       | 22 July 2021            | am           | Permissions for fresh fruit and vegetables                                                      |\n| 1.5.3—3(2)          | 211        | F2022L0111826 Aug 2022FSC1511 Sep 2022         | 1 September 2022        | am           | Definition of ‘vegetables’                                                                      |\n| 1.5.3—4(3)          | 211        | F2022L0111826 Aug 2022FSC1511 Sep 2022         | 1 September 2022        | am           | Definition of ‘herbs and spices’                                                                |\n| 1.5.3-7(b)          | 230        | F2024L0098613 August 2024FSC 17015 August 2024 | 15 August 2024          | rs           | Repeal the paragraph and substitute                                                             |","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The current compilation shows the Standard's scope has been amended over time to add permitted items and refine definitions and technical limits. Amendments added permissions for particular fruits and vegetables and for specific herbs and spices (see Amendment Nos. 157, 166, 190, 201, 211 reflected in s 1.5.3—3(2), s 1.5.3—4(3)), amended definitions of 'vegetables' and 'herbs and spices' (Amendment 211), and substituted the machine X‑ray provision at s 1.5.3—7(b) (Amendment 230, effective 15 Aug 2024). These changes broadened or clarified which items may be irradiated and adjusted permitted radiation‑source parameters, affecting who can irradiate which products and under what technical constraints."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple, purpose‑specific dose ranges and units (Gy, kGy) across product categories (s 1.5.3—3, 1.5.3—4, 1.5.3—5).","Different permitted treatments depending on the objective (pest disinfestation, sprout control, bacterial decontamination) requiring choice of dose and process.","Detailed permitted radiation sources with distinct energy caps and target‑material exceptions (s 1.5.3—7(b)); technical machine limits increase compliance complexity.","Re‑irradiation is allowed only under alternative conditions that must be demonstrated (s 1.5.3—6), creating verification burdens.","Record‑keeping is specific and time‑bound: what to record, where to store it and retention period tied to product shelf life (s 1.5.3—8).","Labelling and information requirements reference another standard (Standard 1.2.1) and apply to packaged and unpackaged foods (s 1.5.3—9), adding cross‑standard compliance.","Definitions and carve‑outs (s 1.5.3—2; s 1.5.3—3(2)–(3); s 1.5.3—4(3); s 1.5.3—5(3)) rely on Schedule 22 and exclusions, increasing interpretive complexity for product classification.","Cross‑references to other Code provisions (notes citing ss 1.1.1—10 and 1.1.1—14) mean obligations are dispersed across the Code.","Amendment history shows staged additions and substitutions (Amendment Nos. 157, 166, 190, 201, 211, 230) which change permitted items and technical limits, creating transitional and legal‑interpretation complexity.","Technical compliance (dosimetry, divided doses, energy settings) requires specialised equipment, testing and possibly third‑party verification (s 1.5.3—6, s 1.5.3—7)."],"plain_english_summary":"This Standard permits specified fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices and plant materials for herbal infusions to be treated with ionising radiation for pest control, sprout control or bacterial decontamination, subject to fixed absorbed‑dose limits, permitted radiation sources, re‑irradiation rules and mandatory labelling. It affects irradiators, food processors, importers and retailers in Australia and New Zealand, imposing record‑keeping (s 1.5.3—8) and labelling obligations (s 1.5.3—9) and setting technical dose and source limits (Div.2, s 1.5.3—3–7)."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Standard has expanded significantly from its original scope. The amendment history shows progressive expansion: originally focused on specific fruits and vegetables, it has grown to include blueberries and raspberries (Amendment 166), expanded permissions for herbs and spices (Amendment 190), broadened definitions of vegetables and herbs/spices (Amendment 211), and updated radiation source specifications (Amendment 230). The original intent appears to have been limited phytosanitary treatment for fruit/vegetable exports, but the Standard now covers bacterial decontamination of herbs/spices and herbal teas, representing a shift from purely quarantine purposes to general food safety and processing applications."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple dose ranges with different purposes (pest control vs bacterial decontamination) requiring cross-referencing between sections","Defined terms rely on external Schedule 22 for specific fruit/vegetable/herb lists (not reproduced in this extract)","Nested conditions in re-irradiation exceptions (section 1.5.3—6) with three alternative pathways","Technical measurement units (Gy, kGy, megaelectronvolts) requiring scientific knowledge to interpret","Cross-references to labelling provisions in Standard 1.2.1 and general Code definitions in section 1.1.2—2","Specific exclusions in definitions (e.g., 'does not include tea' for herbal infusions, explicit exclusion of dried pulses/legumes/nuts/seeds from fruit/vegetable definitions)"],"plain_english_summary":"This Standard sets when and how food can be treated with ionising radiation in Australia and New Zealand, affecting food businesses, retailers and consumers. It permits irradiation for specific uses (mainly pest control and bacterial reduction) on certain foods under strict dose limits and only with approved radiation sources.\n\nRe‑irradiation is largely banned, records must be kept, and irradiated foods must be labelled. The rules aim to protect safety and trade while ensuring consumer transparency."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/f2015l00406","history":"/api/acts/f2015l00406/history","analysis":"/api/acts/f2015l00406/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/f2015l00406/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/f2015l00406/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/f2015l00406/documents"}}