A law aimed at regulating the treatment of agricultural products with ionizing radiation may be adopted in Russia.

Currently, such a legislative initiative has been approved by the State Duma in the first reading.

According to the bill, the end purchaser will be warned that the agricultural products have been treated accordingly. This information will be provided on the packaging.

In addition, the law will specify the rules for the technology of manufacturing products that may be exposed to radiation. Thus, these goods shall meet the radiation safety rules and undergo production control.

Companies, which own regulated facilities, shall be obliged to get special vehicles and premises for such treatment.

At the same time the Ministry of Agriculture and Rosselkhoznadzor shall possess all the information on the enterprises using such treatment and inform their registers.

Today about 70 countries use radiation treatment of farm produce. About 40 countries irradiate their food on a regular basis. The leaders in application of radiation technologies at the moment are China and the United States.

In our country, this method has recently attracted attention. It allows for complete sterility of the product, which in turn leads to a much lower subsequent use of chemical preservatives. Radiation also slows down the germination of vegetables and ripening of fruit, making a longer shelf life.

Such treatment destroys crop pests and is cheaper than traditional preservation methods.

Made in Russia // Made in Russia

Author: Ksenia Gustova