ABSTRACT
The discrepancy between the long list of clearances for irradiated foods granted by governments of almost 40 countries (Table 1 of Chapter 11) and the short list of irradiated commodities actually produced and marketed in some of those countries (Table 6 of Chapter 10) is striking. Food industry and food trade are obviously not making much use of the options provided by existing regulations. The reasons are complex. An economical use of an irradiation facility is only possible if that facility can be used year-round. In countries where only a few clearances exist, e.g., for potatoes and onions, as in Spain, or for potatoes, onions, and garlic, as in Italy, a radiation source built only to process these seasonal products could not be economically viable. Japan, with its clearance limited to potatoes and with a potato irradiator in operation since 1973, seems to prove the opposite. However, without government subsidies this would not be possible. Lack of more clearances is one of the reasons that the few existing permissions are not being used.
