The Food Irradiation Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

Regulations 4(2), 5(2)(b) and (3)(a), 6(1)(b) and7(a)(i) and (ii)(aa)

SCHEDULE 2 LICENCES

Part 1 Grant of Licences

Application for licence

1.  A person seeking a licence to irradiate food (“ the applicant”) shall apply by sending to the Agency an application in writing containing—

(a) the applicant’s name;

(b) the applicant’s address;

(c) the address of the facility at which the applicant proposes to irradiate food;

(d) details of any licence or registration under any other legislation which enables the applicant to use ionising radiation at the facility in circumstances where, but for that licence or registration, that use would be unlawful;

(e) a description of each food which the applicant proposes to irradiate which is sufficient to show that it falls within a permitted category of food;

(f) in respect of each food described pursuant to sub-paragraph (e)—

(i) the purpose for which the applicant proposes to irradiate the food and how that would benefit consumers;

(ii) the method by which the applicant will ensure that the food is in a suitably wholesome state before irradiation;

(iii) the overall average dose, maximum dose and minimum dose of ionising radiation which the applicant proposes to apply to the food;

(iv) the method (including instrumentation and frequency) by which the applicant proposes to measure any dose of ionising radiation and the dosimetry standard which the applicant proposes to use to calibrate the dose meters used to measure it;

(v) whether or not the applicant proposes to irradiate that description of food in packaging in contact with the food and, if so, the packaging which the applicant proposes to use; and

(vi) whether or not the applicant proposes to apply temperature control to the food while irradiating it and, if so, the temperature at which the applicant proposes to keep the food during the application of temperature control;

(g) in respect of each food described under sub-paragraph (e), particulars demonstrating that the irradiation will be in conformity with Schedule 1 and the Joint FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission Recommended International Code of Practice for the operation of irradiation facilities used for the treatment of foods (in this Part of this Schedule referred to as “the Code of Practice”), reference FAO/WHO/CAC, vol XV, edition 1(1);

(h) a plan of the layout of the facility, details of its design and construction and a statement of the practices which the applicant proposes to apply, including—

(i) the proposed method of irradiating food;

(ii) the type of radiation to be used;

(iii) the proposed methods of business control and organisation, including the minimum qualifications (whether they are formal or are derived from skill, training or experience) of persons who will be involved in applying the practices;

(i) the identity and qualifications of the person who has been designated to be responsible for compliance with the conditions necessary for application of the practices referred to in sub-paragraph (h) and that person’s position within the applicant’s management structure;

(j) the date from which the applicant wishes the licence to run; and

(k) any other particulars which the applicant wishes the Agency to consider in deciding whether to grant the licence.

Consideration of the application

2.  The Agency may grant a licence where it is satisfied that—

(a) the facility specified in the application satisfies the requirements of the Code of Practice;

(b) each food described in the application falls within a permitted category;

(c) there is a reasonable technological need;

(d) the irradiation would present no health hazard and would be carried out under the conditions described in the application;

(e) the irradiation would be of benefit to the consumer;

(f) the irradiation would not be used as a substitute for hygiene and health practices or for good manufacturing or agricultural practice;

(g) the purposes of irradiation are only—

(i) to reduce the incidence of food-borne disease by destroying pathogenic organisms;

(ii) to reduce spoilage of foodstuffs by retarding or arresting decay processes and destroying spoilage organisms;

(iii) to reduce loss of foodstuffs by premature ripening, germination or sprouting; or

(iv) to rid foodstuffs of organisms harmful to plants or plant products;

(h) where the purposes of irradiation include reducing the incidence of food-borne disease by destroying pathogenic organisms, the applicant will use microbiological criteria in deciding whether to irradiate food;

(i) there is no significant risk that the applicant may irradiate food which for microbiological reasons cannot comply with food safety requirements, or cannot comply without being irradiated;

(j) every method specified under paragraph 1(f)(ii) is adequate to enable the applicant to ensure that the food is in a suitably wholesome state before irradiation;

(k) the overall average dose specified under paragraph 1(f)(iii) in relation to each description of food is consistent with each purpose specified in respect of that description of food under paragraph 1(f)(i);

(l) the method and standard specified under paragraph 1(f)(iv)—

(i) comply with Schedule 1; and

(ii) eliminate any significant risk that the overall average dose, measured by that method, will deviate significantly from the overall average dose as defined under paragraph 1 of Schedule 1;

(m) the factors specified under paragraph 1(f) eliminate any significant risk that food, irradiated in any packaging specified under paragraph 1(f)(v), and at any temperature specified under paragraph 1(f)(vi), will fail to comply with food safety requirements; and

(n) the practices and qualifications specified in the statement under paragraph 1(h) are adequate for ensuring that the requirements of these Regulations and any conditions of the licence will not be breached.

3.  Where the Agency believes that—

(a) it ought to take account of the practical operation of the facility before it finally determines the application; and

(b) it would not prejudice safety if food was irradiated at the facility for the time being,

it may grant a licence for a period, or further period, not exceeding 6 months in total to enable it to take such account.

Refusal of application

4.—(1) Where the Agency refuses to grant a licence, it shall give to the applicant a statement in writing of its reasons for doing so and shall invite the applicant to make representations to it in writing within 28 days after the statement is sent.

(2) After considering any such representations, the Agency—

(a) may if satisfied as to the matters specified in paragraph 2 grant a licence; or

(b) shall give to the applicant a statement in writing of its reasons for continuing to refuse a licence.

Duration

5.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), a licence shall continue in effect unless cancelled or suspended in accordance with the provisions of Part 5 or surrendered by the licensee to the Agency.

(2) A licence under paragraph 3 shall continue in effect until—

(a) the expiration of the period for which it was granted; or

(b) the refusal by the Agency of a licence on its final determination of the application,

unless cancelled or suspended in accordance with the provisions of Part 5 or surrendered by the licensee to the Agency.

Part 2 Contents of Licence

Contents of licence

1.  Every licence shall contain—

(a) the name of the licensee;

(b) the address of the licensed facility;

(c) a licence number;

(d) a description of each food to which the licence applies;

(e) the date from which the licence is to run; and

(f) in the case of a licence under Part 1 paragraph 3, the date of its expiry,

and may contain conditions.

Part 3 Requirements and prohibitions to be observed by a licensee

1.—(1) A licensee shall only irradiate food—

(a) to which the licence applies; and

(b) at the licensed facility.

(2) A licensee shall not irradiate any food received from another person unless the following particulars are attached to or accompany the food when it is received—

(a) a description of the food and the name and address of its consignor;

(b) a reference by which the food, or any batch, lot or consignment of food of the same description within which food falls, can be identified;

(c) if the food is received by the licensee as a bailee—

(i) the name and address of its owner; and

(ii) the reason why its owner wants it to be irradiated; and

(d) a statement as to whether the food or any part of it has been irradiated.

2.  Every licensee shall keep—

(a) food which awaits irradiation at the licensed facility on a part of the facility which is separated by a wall or barrier from any part of the facility where food which has been irradiated is kept; and

(b) all food which is either awaiting irradiation or has been irradiated on parts of the facility which are separated by a wall or barrier from any part of the facility on which other food is kept in the course of the business.

3.—(1) A licensee shall not irradiate food in combination with any chemical treatment having the same purpose as irradiating it.

(2) Subject to sub-paragraph (3), a licensee shall not irradiate food which, or any part of which, has previously been irradiated.

(3) The removal of food from, and its return to, the facility where irradiation takes place shall not constitute a breach of sub-paragraph (2) where they form part of a continuous process required by the design and construction of that facility.

4.  Every licensee shall number each batch of food irradiated by the licensee and, where any of the food has been received from another person, do so in such a way that the number can be linked to the reference specified in paragraph 1(2)(b).

5.  A licensee shall not irradiate food save with—

(a) gamma rays from the radionuclide ⁶⁰Co;

(b) gamma rays from the radionuclide ¹³⁷Cs;

(c) X-rays generated from machine sources operated at or below an energy level of 5 MeV; or

(d) electrons generated from machine sources operated at or below an energy level of 10MeV.

6.  A licensee shall not irradiate food save by proper irradiation.

7.  Every licensee shall maintain such controls as shall at all times ensure that irradiation is consistent with the method of measurement specified under paragraph 1(f)(iv) of Part 1.

8.  Every licensee shall record, in relation to each batch of food irradiated by the licensee, the following information—

(a) in the case of a radionuclide facility—

(i) in relation to each source configuration of ionising radiation available for use in the facility, such information as to its position as shows whether and if so when the batch of food was exposed to it;

(ii) either the speed at which the batch travels through the facility and the route which the batch travels while passing through it or the time which the batch spends in the radiation zone;

(b) in the case of a machine source—

(i) its energy level;

(ii) its electron current;

(iii) its scanner width;

(iv) the characteristics of its beam;

(v) unless it has a scattering device, the frequency with which its beam scans the batch; and

(vi) the speed at which the batch travels through the facility.

9.—(1) Every licensee shall record for each batch of food irradiated by the licensee—

(a) the nature and quantity of food in the batch;

(b) the number given to it under paragraph 4;

(c) the name and address of each consignor and consignee of food within the batch;

(d) the date on which the batch was irradiated;

(e) any microbiological information relating to food within the batch;

(f) the type of packaging in contact with the food in the batch during irradiation;

(g) where the licensee has applied temperature control while irradiating it, the temperature of the food in the batch immediately before irradiation;

(h) the maximum, minimum and overall average dose of ionising radiation applied to the batch;

(i) the type of ionising radiation used;

(j) the data used for control of the irradiation including—

(i) the positioning of dose meters within the batch and the doses of ionising radiation recorded by them;

(ii) previous tests used for the purpose of validating that positioning; and

(iii) the method (including instrumentation and frequency) used for measuring the doses of ionising radiation applied during the irradiation, and in the previous tests, and the dosimetry standard used to calibrate the meters used to measure them.

(2) A licensee shall not consign food irradiated by the licensee to another person unless it is accompanied by—

(a) the licensee’s name;

(b) the licensee’s licence number;

(c) the information specified in sub-paragraph (1)(a) to (d); and

(d) the overall average dose required to be recorded by sub-paragraph (1)(h).

10.  Every licensee shall keep for 5 years the information required to be recorded by paragraphs 8 and 9(1), even if the licensee ceases meanwhile to be licensed.

11.  Every licensee shall send to the Agency by the last day of February each year a return in writing in respect of the previous calendar year containing—

(a) the licensee’s name;

(b) the licensee’s licence number;

(c) the year to which the return relates;

(d) a description of each food which the licensee has irradiated during the year; and

(e) the quantity, by volume or weight, of each such food.

Part 4 Variation of Licence

1.—(1) Subject to paragraph 2, the Agency may at the request or with the consent of the licensee vary any condition of the licence.

2.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), the Agency shall not agree a variation which permits any act or omission a proposal for which would, had it been made in the application for a licence, have caused the Agency to refuse to grant a licence under paragraph 2 of Part 1.

(2) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1) the Agency, in considering whether to vary a licence, shall treat all scientific knowledge which it has at that time as if it had had it at the time it granted the licence.

Part 5 Cancellation and Suspension of Licence

1.  If the Agency considers that circumstances exist which, had it foreseen them (and possessed the same scientific knowledge it does now) at the time, it would have refused under paragraph 2 of Part 1 to grant the licence, it may give notice to the licensee —

(a) explaining why it would have refused to grant the licence; and

(b) informing the licensee that, unless the licensee persuades it in writing not to do so within a period of 28 days after the sending of the notice, or such longer period as it may allow, it will cancel the licence.

2.  If by the expiration of the 28 day period or of any longer period allowed under paragraph 1(b) the Agency is not persuaded to the contrary, it shall give notice in writing to the licensee that the licence is cancelled from a date specified in the notice and shall state in the notice why it is not so persuaded; but if so persuaded it shall notify the licensee accordingly.

3.  If cancelled, the licence shall cease to have effect on the date specified in the notice.

4.—(1) If the Agency considers that unless the licence is suspended there will or may be a risk of injury to health it may give notice in writing to the licensee suspending the licence from a date specified in the notice and, subject to sub-paragraphs (2) and (3), the licence shall have no effect for the purpose of these Regulations during that period.

(2) Subject to sub-paragraph (3), where notice is given suspending the licence—

(a) the suspension shall cease to have effect at the expiration of three days after notice of the suspension has been given unless notice has in the meantime been given to the licensee under paragraph 1; but

(b) if notice has in the meantime been given to the licensee under paragraph 1, the suspension shall continue until either—

(i) the Agency is persuaded not to cancel the licence; or

(ii) the licence terminates.

(3) The Agency may, if it considers that in the absence of suspension there will not be a risk of injury to health, by further notice in writing to the licensee withdraw the notice suspending the licence.

Part 6 Other Provisions Concerning Licence

1.  The Agency shall publish in the Belfast Gazette notice of—

(a) each licence granted;

(b) each suspension of a licence;

(c) each cancellation of a licence; and

(d) each agreed variation of the terms of a licence.

2.  Any notice so published shall specify—

(a) the name of the licensee or former licensee;

(b) the licensed or formerly licensed facility; and

(c) their licence number,

and shall state in outline the effect of the matter to which it relates.

3.  Save as provided by Article 42 of the Order (continuance on death), a licence is not transferable.

(1)

A copy of the Code of Practice may be obtained from the Codex Alimentarius Commission, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Vialle della Terme di Caracalla, 0010, Rome