The Ministry of Rural Development is putting strict regulations into force regarding the treatment of foods with ionizing radiation. The statute determines what foodstuffs may be treated under what conditions and at what doses using this process.

Only dried aromatic plants, spices and spice mixtures are included under the new statute; other foodstuffs may receive permission from the Central Agriculture Office, but only with the consent of the European Food Safety Authority.

Foods may only be treated with ionizing radiation in a facility that has received permission to do so from the Central Agriculture Office. This is because the process requires specialist, high-level professional training. A record must be kept of each individual treatment, on the basis of which the Office shall inform the European Commission through the Ministry of Rural Development.

In addition to the usual markings, the products in question must clearly indicate the phrase "treated with radiation" or "treated with ionizing radiation" on their labels. If such foodstuffs are utilized by public catering services – including the hotel and restaurant trade – then consumers must be made aware of this.

Secondary food monitoring regulations apply without quantitative limits to foodstuffs treated with ionizing radiation, if they arrive in Hungary from an EU Member State or from a non-EU, third country.

(Press Office of the Ministry of Rural Development)