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ARS Home » Plains Area » Manhattan, Kansas » Center for Grain and Animal Health Research » Stored Product Insect and Engineering Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #309313
Title: Phytosanitary irradiation in ports of entry: A practical solution for developing countries

Author
item BUSTOS-GRIFFIN, EMILIA - Consultant
item Hallman, Guy
item GRIFFIN, ROBERT - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)

Submitted to: International Journal of Food Science and Technology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/2/2014
Publication Date: 1/1/2015
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/60930
Citation: Bustos-Griffin, E., Hallman, G.J., Griffin, R.L. 2015. Phytosanitary irradiation in ports of entry: A practical solution for developing countries. International Journal of Food Science and Technology. 50(1):249-255. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ijfs.12676.

Interpretive Summary: Recently the US has permitted countries to treat imports with irradiation for phytosanitary purposes at approved ports of entry in the US. This manuscript discusses the possibilities for developing countries to economically use this approval to explore the feasibility of using phytosanitary irradiation to overcome quarantine barriers to trade in their fresh commodities. Those benefitting from this work will be US consumers of fresh produce and the wholesale and retail markets in the US that can provide a broader assortment of fresh produce because previously absent produce will now be available.

Technical Abstract: The advantages of using ionizing irradiation as a phytosanitary treatment have been demonstrated commercially in the past two decades and several countries currently use the technology for commercial treatments to meet plant quarantine requirements. Although many countries have expressed interest in using phytosanitary irradiation (PI) and it provides a viable alternative for overcoming a wide range of phytosanitary restrictions for numerous fresh products, the use of PI for fresh fruits and vegetables faces economic obstacles due to the sizeable initial investment required to build an irradiation facility. Projecting the market demand for irradiated products to justify the investment in treatment facilities is a business challenge limited by the potential for all countries to invest in this technology, especially developing countries. A recent change in import regulations by the United States allows for treatment upon entry, thus removing the immediate need for treatment facilities in the exporting country. This change makes it possible for exporting countries to explore and develop new markets prior to investing in treatment facilities at the origin. This paper discusses the economic potential of products that could be shipped to the United States for irradiation from selected countries in the Americas, Asia, and Africa.