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Food and Drug Regulations

Version of section B.26.005 from 2018-04-04 to 2024-11-11:


 A request that a food be added or a change made to the table to this Division shall be accompanied by a submission to the Minister containing the following information:

  • (a) the purpose and details of the proposed irradiation — including the type and source of the ionizing radiation — and the proposed number of treatments and the minimum and maximum absorbed doses of the ionizing radiation;

  • (b) data indicating that the minimum dose of ionizing radiation proposed to be used accomplishes the intended purpose of the irradiation and the maximum dose of ionizing radiation proposed does not exceed the amount required to accomplish the purpose of the irradiation;

  • (c) information on the nature of the dosimeter used, the frequency of the dosimetry on the food and data pertaining to the dosimetry and phantoms used to assure that the dosimetry readings reflect the dose absorbed by the food during irradiation;

  • (d) data indicating the effects, if any, on the nutritional quality of the food, raw and ready-to-serve, under the proposed conditions of irradiation and any other processes that are combined with the irradiation;

  • (e) data establishing that the irradiated food has not been significantly altered in chemical, physical or microbiological characteristics to render the food unfit for human consumption;

  • (f) where the Minister so requests, data establishing that the proposed irradiation is safe under the conditions proposed for the irradiation;

  • (g) the recommended conditions of storage and shipment of the irradiated food including the time, temperature and packaging and a comparison of the recommended conditions for the same food that has not been irradiated;

  • (h) details of any other processes to be applied to the food prior to or after the proposed irradiation; and

  • (i) such other data as the Minister may require to establish that consumers and purchasers of the irradiated food will not be deceived or misled as to the character, value, composition, merit or safety of the irradiated food.

TABLE

ItemColumn 1Column 2Column 3Column 4Column 5
FoodType and Source of Ionizing RadiationPurpose of IrradiationMinimum Absorbed Dose (kGy)Maximum Absorbed Dose (kGy)
1Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.)Gamma radiation from cobalt-60To inhibit sprouting during storage0.15
2Onions (Allium cepa)Gamma radiation from cobalt-60To inhibit sprouting during storage0.15
3Wheat, flour, whole wheat flour (Triticum spp.)Gamma radiation from cobalt-60To control insect infestation in stored food0.75
4Whole or ground spices and dehydrated seasoning preparations
  • (1) Gamma radiation from cobalt-60

  • (1) To reduce microbial load

  • (1) 10.0 (total overall average dose)

  • (2) Gamma radiation from cesium-137

  • (2) To reduce microbial load

  • (2) 10.0 (total overall average dose)

  • (3) Electrons from machine sources operated at or below 3 MeV

  • (3) To reduce microbial load

  • (3) 10.0 (total overall average dose)

5Fresh raw ground beef
  • (1) Gamma radiation from cobalt-60

  • (1) To reduce microbial load, including pathogens

  • (1) 1.0

  • (1) 4.5

  • (2) Gamma radiation from cesium-137

  • (2) To reduce microbial load, including pathogens

  • (2) 1.0

  • (2) 4.5

  • (3) Electrons from machine sources operated at or below 10 MeV

  • (3) To reduce microbial load, including pathogens

  • (3) 1.0

  • (3) 4.5

  • (4) X-rays from machine sources operated at or below one of the following:

  • (a) 7.5 MeV when the target material is tantalum or gold;

  • (a) To reduce microbial load, including pathogens;

  • (a) 1.0

  • (a) 4.5

  • (b) 5 MeV in any other case.

  • (b) To reduce microbial load, including pathogens.

  • (b) 1.0

  • (b) 4.5

6Frozen raw ground beef
  • (1) Gamma radiation from cobalt-60

  • (1) To reduce microbial load, including pathogens

  • (1) 1.5

  • (1) 7.0

  • (2) Gamma radiation from cesium-137

  • (2) To reduce microbial load, including pathogens

  • (2) 1.5

  • (2) 7.0

  • (3) Electrons from machine sources operated at or below 10 MeV

  • (3) To reduce microbial load, including pathogens

  • (3) 1.5

  • (3) 7.0

  • (4) X-rays from machine sources operated at or below one of the following:

  • (a) 7.5 MeV when the target material is tantalum or gold;

  • (a) To reduce microbial load, including pathogens;

  • (a) 1.5

  • (a) 7.0

  • (b) 5 MeV in any other case.

  • (b) To reduce microbial load, including pathogens.

  • (b) 1.5

  • (b) 7.0

  • SOR/89-175, s. 3
  • SOR/98-458, s. 7(F)
  • SOR/2017-16, ss. 6, 7
  • SOR/2018-69, s. 27

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