Why is there so much delay and hesitation in approving irradiation of food items?
There is a delay but no hesitation in approving irradiation of food items. Government of India has in principle accepted irradiation processing of food stuffs and also constituted an Apex Body namely National Monitoring Agency under the Ministry of Health to oversee all aspects in implementing this technology in India. The delay came in finalizing the rules under the Atomic Energy Act to control the food irradiation process and amendment of PFA act for including food irradiation technology and labelling of irradiated foods. Now the rules under Atomic Energy Act have been approved and published in India Gazette March 1991. As and when the PFA rules are also published, commercialization of this technology will begin in India.
