Standard Guide for Irradiation of Fresh Agricultural Produce as a Phytosanitary Treatment

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 The purpose of radiation treatment, as discussed in this guide, is to minimize the pest risk and to maximize the safety associated with the movement and use of fresh agricultural produce.  
4.2 Irradiation as a phytosanitary treatment can prevent development or emergence of the adult stage where adults are not present in the agricultural produce (for example, fruit flies) or sterilize the adult where that stage is present (for example, weevils). (4)
SCOPE
1.1 This guide provides procedures for the radiation processing of fresh agricultural produce, for example, fruits, vegetables, and cut flowers, as a phytosanitary treatment. This guide is directed primarily toward the treatment needed to control regulated pests commonly associated with fresh agricultural produce.  
1.2 The typical absorbed dose range used for phytosanitary treatments is between 150 gray (Gy) and 600 gray (Gy). The practical minimum or maximum dose of a treatment may be higher or lower than this range, depending on the type of pest to be controlled and the radiation tolerance of a particular type of fruit. If the minimum effective dose necessary to achieve the desired phytosanitary effect is greater than the radiation tolerance of the produce, then irradiation is not an appropriate treatment (see 5.2).  
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

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Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: F1355 − 06 (Reapproved 2014)
Standard Guide for
Irradiation of Fresh Agricultural Produce as a Phytosanitary
Treatment
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1355; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this guide is to present information on the use of ionizing energy (radiation) in
treating fresh agricultural produce to control insects and other arthropod pests, in order to meet
phytosanitary requirements.
This guide is intended to serve as a recommendation to be followed when using irradiation
technology where approved by an appropriate regulatory authority. It is not to be construed as a
requirement for the use of irradiation nor as a required code of practice. While the use of irradiation
involves certain essential requirements to attain the objective of the treatment, some parameters can
be varied in optimizing the process.
This guide has been prepared from a Code of Good Irradiation Practice published by the
International Consultative Group on Food Irradiation (ICGFI), under the auspices of the Food and
AgricultureOrganization(FAO),theWorldHealthOrganization(WHO),andtheInternationalAtomic
Energy Agency (IAEA). (1)
1. Scope priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.1 This guide provides procedures for the radiation pro-
cessing of fresh agricultural produce, for example, fruits,
2. Referenced Documents
vegetables, and cut flowers, as a phytosanitary treatment. This
2.1 ASTM Standards:
guide is directed primarily toward the treatment needed to
E170 Terminology Relating to Radiation Measurements and
control regulated pests commonly associated with fresh agri-
Dosimetry
cultural produce.
F1640 Guide for Selection and Use of Packaging Materials
1.2 The typical absorbed dose range used for phytosanitary
for Foods to Be Irradiated
treatments is between 150 gray (Gy) and 600 gray (Gy). The
2.2 ISO/ASTM Standards:
practical minimum or maximum dose of a treatment may be
51204 Practice for Dosimetry in Gamma Irradiation Facili-
higher or lower than this range, depending on the type of pest
ties for Food Processing
to be controlled and the radiation tolerance of a particular type
51261 Guide for Calibration of Routine Dosimetry Systems
offruit.Iftheminimumeffectivedosenecessarytoachievethe
for Radiation Processing
desired phytosanitary effect is greater than the radiation toler-
51431 Practice for Dosimetry in Electron Beam and X-ray
ance of the produce, then irradiation is not an appropriate
(Bremsstrahlung) Irradiation Facilities for Food Process-
treatment (see 5.2).
ing
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the 51539 Guide for Use of Radiation-Sensitive Indicators
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 2.3 Codex Alimentarius Commission Recommended Inter-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- national Codes of Practice and Standards:
CX STAN 1-1985, Rev. 1991, Amd 2001 General Standard
for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E61 on Radiation
Processing and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E61.05 on Food
Irradiation. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved June 1, 2014. Published June 2014. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1991. Last previous edition approved in 2006 as F1355 – 06. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/F1355-06R14. the ASTM website.
2 4
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to a list of references at the end of AvailablefromJointFAO/WHOFoodStandardsProgrammeJointOffice,FAO,
this standard. Viale delle Terme di Caracalla 00100 Rome, Italy.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F1355 − 06 (2014)
CX STAN 106-1983, Rev. 2003 General Standard for Irra- of those plants with an economically unacceptable impact and
diated Food which is therefore regulated within the territory of the import-
CAC/RCP 19-1979, Rev. 2003 Recommended International ing contracting party (3).
Code of Practice for the Radiation Processing of Food
3.1.9 regulated pest—quarantine pest or a regulated non-
2.4 ISO Standards:
quarantine pest (3).
ISO 873 Peaches—Guide to Cold Storage
3.1.10 transport system—the conveyor or other mechanical
ISO 931 Green Bananas—Guide to Storage and Transport
means used to move the process load through the irradiator.
ISO 1134 Pears—Guide to Cold Storage
ISO 1212 Apples—Guide to Cold Storage
4. Significance and Use
ISO 1838 Fresh Pineapples—Guide to Storage and Trans-
4.1 The purpose of radiation treatment, as discussed in this
port
guide, is to minimize the pest risk and to maximize the safety
ISO 2168 Table Grapes—Guide to Cold Storage
associated with the movement and use of fresh agricultural
ISO 2826 Apricots—Guide to Cold Storage
produce.
ISO 3631 Citrus Fruits—Guide to Cold Storage
ISO 3659 Fruits and Vegetables—RipeningAfter Cold Stor-
4.2 Irradiation as a phytosanitary treatment can prevent
age
development or emergence of the adult stage where adults are
ISO 6660 Mangoes—Guide to Storage
not present in the agricultural produce (for example, fruit flies)
ISO 6661 Fresh Fruits and Vegetables—Arrangement of
or sterilize the adult where that stage is present (for example,
Parallelpipedic Packages in Land Transport Vehicles
weevils). (4)
ISO 6664 Bilberries and Blueberries—Guide To Cold Stor-
age
5. Selection of Fresh Agricultural Produce for Irradiation
ISO 6665 Strawberries—Guide to Cold Storage
5.1 Mostfreshagriculturalproduceisnotadverselyaffected
ISO 6949 Fruits and Vegetables—Principles and Techniques
at the minimum doses indicated in 8.5.2. In particular, the
of the Controlled Atmosphere Method of Storage
following fruits have been found to be tolerant of those
ISO 7558 Guide to the Prepacking of Fruits and Vegetables
minimum doses: apple, cantaloupe, carambola, cherry, citrus,
currant, date, fig, grape, guava, honeydew melon, kiwi, lychee,
3. Terminology
mango, muskmelon, nectarine, papaya, peach, prune,
3.1 Definitions:
raspberry, strawberry, and tomato.
3.1.1 Other terms used in this guide may be defined in
5.2 Some fresh agricultural produce may be damaged or
Terminology E170.
3.1.2 absorbed dose—quantity of ionizing radiation energy exhibit unacceptable changes in shelf-life, color, taste, or other
properties at the minimum doses indicated in 8.5.2, making it
imparted per unit mass of a specified material. The SI unit of
necessarytoevaluatetheeffectsofirradiationonthefruitatthe
absorbeddoseisthegray(Gy),whereonegrayisequivalentto
required dose level. Differences among varieties, origins,
the absorption of 1 joule per kilogram of the specified material
growing and harvest conditions,, and elapsed time between
(1 Gy = 1 J/kg).
harvest and processing should be considered.
3.1.2.1 Discussion—A standard definition of absorbed dose
appears in Terminology E170.
5.3 Irradiation of product will result in a distribution of
3.1.3 dose distribution—variation in absorbed dose within a absorbed dose in a process load, which is characterized by a
process load exposed to ionizing radiation. maximum and minimum absorbed dose. Thus, in addition to
evaluating the suitability of treating product at the minimum
3.1.4 pest—anyspecies,strainorbiotypeofplant,animalor
dose necessary to inactivate pests, tolerance of the product to
pathogenic agent injurious to plant or plant products (2).
the expected maximum dose should be evaluated.
3.1.5 process load—volume of material with a specified
product loading configuration irradiated as a single entity.
6. Packaging
3.1.6 quarantine pest—a pest of potential economic impor-
6.1 Guide F1640 provides guidance on packaging materials
tance to an endangered area and not yet present there, or
in contact with food during irradiation.
present but not widely distributed and being officially con-
trolled (3). 6.2 Appropriate packaging materials should be used for
safeguarding the produce as part of the effort to ensure
3.1.7 quarantine treatment—pertaining to the killing,
phytosanitary integrity (for example, see Ref (5)).
removal, or rendering infertile of regulated plant pests on host
material that has been placed in quarantine (or seized and
7. Pre-Irradiation Product Handling and Treatment
detained) by regulatory authorities because of the potential or
actual presence of a quarantine pest (4).
7.1 Fresh agricultural produce intended to be irradiated
shouldbeofgoodoverallqualityandreflecttheresultsofgood
3.1.8 regulated non-quarantine pest—non-quarantine pest
agronomic practices.
whose presence in plants for planting affects the intended use
7.2 Fresh agricultural produce should be appropriately seg-
regated or otherwise safeguarded prior to irradiation as part of
Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
4th Floor, New York, NY 10036. the effort to ensure phytosanitary integrity.
F1355 − 06 (2014)
female lays eggs in the agricultural produce. Later, these eggs hatch and
7.3 Normal storage procedures should be used prior to
larvae emerge. These larvae feed and develop in the fruit and in this
radiation treatment. Pre-irradiation storage should include
mannerdamageit.Thelarvaeleavethefruituponmaturationandundergo
appropriate temperature and atmospheric conditions. Informa-
pupation in the ground. In packaged agricultural produce, pupation may
tion on storage conditions is provided in ISO Standards (see
occur in the container. Seed weevils can infest fresh agricultural produce
2.4).
at an early stage and upon emergence as adults, damage the seed and the
fruit. One should concentrate on developing a treatment against the most
7.4 It may not be possible to distinguish irradiated from
radiation-tolerant stage, that can be reasonably expected to be in, on, or
non-irradiated product by inspection. It is essential that appro-
with the fresh agricultural produce. The most tolerant stage is usually the
priate means integral with facility design, such as physical one closest to the adult if the adult itself is not present in the agricultural
produce.
barriers or clearly defined staging areas, be used to separate
non-irradiated product from irradiated product.
8.4 Routine Production Dosimetry:
NOTE 1—Radiation-sensitive indicators undergo a color change when
8.4.1 Routine dosimetry is part of a verification process for
exposed to radiation in the pertinent dose range. These indicators may be
establishing that the irradiation process is under control.
useful within the irradiation facility as a visual check for determining
8.4.2 Select and calibrate a dosimetry system appropriate to
whether or not a product has been exposed to the radiation source. They
are not dosimeters intended for measuring absorbed dose and must not be the radiation source being used, the environmental conditions,
used as a substitute for proper dosimetry. Information about dosimetry
and the range of absorbed doses required (see ISO/ASTM
systems and the proper use of radiation-sensitive indicators is provided in
51261 and Refs (8)and (9)).
ISO/ASTM Guides 51261 and 51539, respectively.
8.4.3 Verify that the product receives the required absorbed
8. Irradiation dose by using proper dosimetric measurement procedures,
along with appropriate statistical controls, and documentation.
8.1 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)—Standard op-
Place dosimeters in or on the process load at locations of
erating procedures for food irradiation are documented proce-
maximum and minimum absorbed dose. If those locations are
dures for ensuring that the absorbed-dose range and irradiation
not accessible, place dosimeters at reference locations that
conditions selected by the radiation processor are adequate
have a known and quantifiable relationship to the maximum
under commercial processing conditions to achieve the in-
and minimum absorbed dose locations (see ISO/ASTM Prac-
tended effect on a specific product in a specific facility. These
tices 51204 and 51431).
procedures should be established and validated by qualified
8.4.4 The size and shape of the process load are determined
persons having knowledge in irradiation requirements specific
partly by certain design parameters of the irradiation facility.
for the food and the irradiation facility (see CAC/RCP 19).
Critical parameters include the characteristics of the transport
8.2 Radiation Sources—The sources of ionizing radiation
system and of the radiation source as they relate to the dose
that may be employed in irradiating fresh agricultural produce
distribution within the process load. The size and shape of the
are limited to the following (see CX STAN 106):
produce and the minimum and maximum dose limits may also
8.2.1 Isotopic Sources—gamma rays from the radionuclides
affect the loading configuration of the process load.
60 137
Co (1.17 and 1.33 MeV) or Cs (0.66 MeV);
8.5 Criteria for Assessing Irradiation Effıcacy:
8.2.2 Machine Sources—X-rays and accelerated electrons.
8.5.1 The key criterion for acceptance of a phytosanitary
NOTE2—TheCodexAlimentariusCommissionaswellasregulationsin
treatment is the verification that the absorbed dose is sufficient
some countries currently limit the maximum electron energy and nominal
to achieve the required level of phytosanitary security.
X-ray energy for the purpose of food irradiation (CX STAN 106 and Ref
(6)). 8.5.2 The minimum absorbed dose specified to achieve an
acceptablelevelofphytosanitarysecurityisusuallyestablished
8.3 Absorbed Dose:
by regulatory agencies. Efficacy should be established on the
8.3.1 Absorbed Doses Required to Accomplish Specific
basisofscientificstudiesusingstatisticallysignificantnumbers
Effects—Food irradiation specifications provided by the owner
of the pest.
of the product should include minimum and maximum ab-
sorbed dose limits: a minimum necessary to ensure the
NOTE 4—In the United States for example, quarantine treatments for
intended effect, and a maximum to prevent product degrada- tephritid fruit flies have often required 99.9968 % efficacy (also known as
probit 9) at the 95 % confidence level. This means approximately 94 000
tion. One or both of these limits may be prescribed by
insects must be treated without any emerging adults.
regulation f
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