21 U.S.C. 321, 342, 343, 348, 371.
Regulations providing for irradiation in the production, processing, and handling of food in part 179 of this chapter are incorporated in subchapter E as applicable to use in the production, processing, handling, and labeling of animal feed and pet food, except where specifically provided for in this part.
Ionizing radiation for treatment of complete diets for animals may be safely used under the following conditions:
(a)
(1) Gamma rays for sealed units of the radionuclides cobalt-60 or cesium-137.
(2) Electrons generated from machine sources at energy levels not to exceed 10 million electron volts.
(b)
(2) If an irradiated feed ingredient is less than 5 percent of the final product, the final product can be irradiated without being considered to be re-irradiated.
Ionizing radiation for the treatment of complete poultry diets and poultry feed ingredients may be safely used as follows:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(1) Minimum dose 2.0 kiloGrays (kGy) (0.2 megarad (Mrad)); maximum dose 25 kGy (2.5 megarads Mrad). The absorbed dose of irradiation is to be based on initial concentration of salmonella using the relationship that 1.0 kGy (0.1 Mrad) reduces salmonella concentration by one log cycle (one decimal reduction).
(2) Feeds treated by irradiation should be formulated to account for nutritional loss.
(3) If an irradiated feed ingredient is less than 5 percent of the final product, the final product can be irradiated without being considered to be reirradiated.