Indian scientists suggest generic approval for food irradiation Global News Wire - Asia Africa Intelligence Wire  November 28, 2004 Scientists have suggested generic approval for irradiation of food under the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act in lieu of case-by-case approval for different crops. Already, 24 improved varieties of crops developed through radiation and radioisotopes induced mutation breeding have been released for commercial cultivation. Some others are in the pipeline. Speaking to FE, Dr SF D'Souza of Bhaba Atomic Research Centre (BARC) said, "Food irradiation is a time-tested approved technology. Food irradiation is necessary to cut down post-harvest losses and remove unhygenic content. Removal of unhygenic content in food can not only improve prospects for exports but also ensure safe consumption within the country." He said that so far only 13 food items are allowed for irradiation. These are onion; potato; shallots (small onion); rice; semolina (sooji or rawa) along with wheat atta and maida; pulses; dried seafood; raisins, figs and dried dates; mango; meat, meat and poultry products; fresh seafood; frozen sea food and spices. "We are prepared to irradiate more food items provided we get the necessary approval. There should be generic approval for food irradiation," he said. Dr AK Sharma, head of the department of food technology division in BARC said, "Mutation breeding for crop improvement is an active area of research at BARC. BARC has developed several improved crop varieties of which 24 have been released and notified in the gazette for commercial cultivation." The process of application of radiation technology and radioisotopes in mututation breeding is commonly called 'Nuclear Agriculture'. Though there is a genetic transformation in crops, the process is distinct from transgenic technology where a foreign gene is inserted and hence crops developed via radiation induced breeding do not fall in the commonly known category of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), the two scientists said. When questioned whether the approval of the regulatory authority, Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), is required, Dr Sharma said: "These are not transgenic crops. Mutation breeding is defined as heritable change in the genetic material not caused by recombination or segregation. The GEAC is for the approval of transgenic crops where foreign genes are inserted." He said prior to the release of these mutation bred crops, only all-India coordinated agronomic field trials under the observation of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is necessary. He said that a few more crops are at various stages of development before they are commercially released at state or national levels. All these crop varieties are high-yielding with some additional desirable characters like disease resistance and improved quality parameters. Another achievement in radiation induced mutation programme is the development of a photoperiod insensitive mutant in a green manuare crop, Seshanta rostrata. Being a leguminous plant, it not only develops nitrogen fixing nodules on roots but also on the stem.