One of the components of the Cold Chain scheme is to set up Irradiation facilities for preserving food products including onion, potato etc.
Irradiated food regulated according to Atomic Energy (Radiation Processing of Food & Allied Products) Rules 2012 and Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011.
Food can be irradiated only in a food irradiation plant authorized by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and licensed by competent Government Authority.
License given only after ascertaining the safety and security of the installation
Board of Radiation & Isotope Technology (BRIT) providing consultancy services to ensure proper process control, and availability of licensed operators and qualified staff.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulates food safety aspects of irradiated food products under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2016.
Scheme Details
Ministry provides financial assistance in the form of grant-in-aid@35% for general areas and@50% for North East States, Himalayan States, Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) areas and Islands for storage and transport infrastructure and@50% and 75% respectively for value addition and processing infrastructure subject to a maximum grant-in-aid of ₹ 10 crore for setting up integrated cold chain projects including irradiation facility.
Scheme primarily private sector driven through Expression of Interest (EOI) . Promoters free to set up facility as per their business model and financial capability.
Schedule for setting up the cold chain projects including irradiation projects is 20 months in General Areas and 24 months in North-East States, Himalayan States, ITDP Areas, and Islands from the date of issue of the sanction to the project.