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July 2012
IAEA EB, XRay Meeting July 2012
iiA Newsletter
 
Dear Reader
 
This is the Newsletter of the International Irradiation Association. For more information about the Association visit our web site at www.iiaglobal.org.

IAEA Meeting - Electron Accelerators & Plasma Generators

 

A meeting was convened by the IAEA in early July in order to consider innovations in Electron Accelerators and Plasma Generators and their use in the processing of Healthcare Products, Materials and Environmental Applications. 

 

iiA was represented at the meeting which brought together research institutes, users and manufacturers in order to consider applications and possible mechanisms to facilitate greater use of the technologies.

 

Image above - participants at the IAEA meeting

 

 

 

 

In This Issue
IAEA - Electron Accelerators & Plasma Generators
ASTM Workshop - USA
IRaP 2012
GIPA Gamma Factsheet
Journal of Radiation Physics & Chemistry
IAEA Publication
Cobalt Transport
Irradiation Opportunities in Australia
EC Report on Food Irradiation
APPPC Meeting Thailand
Key Diary Dates
Contact Us
IMRP Shanghai    

Visit the updated iiA website
International Dosimetry Workshop for Radiation Processing
 
The ASTM Workshop was held between the 24 and 28th June 2012 in San Diego, California USA. Cherin Balt (Hepro South Africa and iiA member) reports that 58 people from 11 countries attended the Workshop which provided practical hands-on exposure to the complexities of dosimetry calculations, an understanding of dosimetry calibration and of the regulatory requirements and standards.
 
Training was provided by an experienced team which included representatives of the FDA, NPL, contract irradiators, dosimetry suppliers and medical device companies.
 
The 4 day event included a mixture of plenary sessions, in which overviews of different topics were provided, and hands-on working sessions. The practical sessions were designed to challenge and to develop attendees understanding of the issues involved in all aspects of dosimetry. The Workshop included briefings on regulatory standards in North America and Europe. An associated exhibition and poster session enabled those present to see different dosimetry systems in operation.
 
The event is held approximately every 2 years and details of the next event will be provided when they become available.

IRaP 2012

 

The 10th meeting of the Ionizing Radiation & Polymers Symposium will be held in Cracow, Poland, between the 14 & 19 October 2012. The meeting will focus on developments in the field of basic and applied radiation chemistry and the physics of polymeric systems. The meeting will also consider new trends and potential applications for radiation processing of polymers. 

 

iiA will be present at the meeting in order to strengthen its relations with the Accelerator and X-Ray radiation community. 

 

Full details of the event can be found by clicking on the following link: IRaP 2012

 

GIPA Gamma Sterilisation Factsheet

 

GIPA (Gamma Industry Processing Alliance) have recently published a Gamma Sterilisation factsheet. The factsheet is available in the members section of the GIPA website.

 

The Journal of Radiation Physics & Chemistry  

 

The proceedings of IMRP 2011 - The International Meeting on Radiation Processing Montreal 13 - 16 June 2011 are now available in electronic form. The Journal can be accessed via a link from the iiA website and will remain available until 6 December 2012.

 

Printed copies of this Journal will be available shortly and will be sent to those who submitted order to purchase the document earlier this year. 

 

 New IAEA publication  

 

The IAEA have announced the publication of:

Management Systems Standards: Comparison between IAEA GS-R-3 and ISO 9001:2008

 

Safety Reports Series No. 69

 

This safety report compares the requirements of IAEA Safety Standards Series No. GS-R-3, The Management System for Facilities and Activities, and ISO 9001:2008, Quality Management Systems - Requirements, and identifies the main difference between the two standards. The Report also provides information and guidance on adding safety specific management system requirements to the ISO 9001:2008 standard, to ensure that safety can be achieved. The publication is intended primarily for use by owners, operators and employees of nuclear facilities and installations, and by regulatory bodies, suppliers, and research and development organisations. 

 

The electronic version of can be accessed via the following link: IAEA GS-R-3

 

Cobalt Transport  

 

The 5th meeting on the proposed illicit trafficiking document was discussed at a meeting at the IAEA last week. The proposals will shortly be submitted to member States for review and comment. 

 

Irradiation as an alternative to Dimethoate and Fenthion for Australian vegetables  

 

AUSVEG, the Australian body representing the interests of Australian vegetable and potato growers ran a series of seminars in April 2012 as part of a Road Show to educate growers on alternative treatments (including irradiation) to Dimethoate and Fenthion (D&F) for fruit fly.

 

D&F are under review by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) and it is anticipated that both chemicals may be banned for use in Australia.

 

The presentation on irradiation by Peter B Roberts (Radiation Advisory Services, New Zealand) can be found vis the following link. AUSVEG

 

EC Report - Food Treated with Ionizing Radiation  

 

The European Union published its report on food irradiated in the European Union in 2010 - published 2012.

 

Out of 24 approved irradiation facilities in 13 member states (2 of which were approved during the year - Bulgaria and Estonia) 17 reported having processed food or food ingredients.

 

9,263 tones of food or food ingredients were treated with ionizing radiation 91% in three countries (Belgium 63%, Netherlands 17% and France 11%). The main products were frogs legs 48%, poultry 22% and herds and spices 16%).

 

The Report can be viewed via the following link EC Report.

 

Asia & Pacific Plant Protection Commission (APPPC)  

 

The Standards Committee will convene a meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, from 30 July to 3 August 2012. The agenda will include a review of the draft Regional Standard for Sanitary Measures (RSPM) "Guidelines for the Audit and Accreditation of Irradiation Facilities used for Phytosanitary Treatment of Food and Agricultural Products".

 

The document to be reviewed originated from an IAEA Regional Technical Cooperation Project. The AGE Division (the joint FAO/IAEADivision) coordinated and provided technical input into developing the guidelines in close collaboration with iiA.

 

Project participants from Australia, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, The Philippines, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam are expected to attend the meeting. 

Key Diary Dates

  1. The Asia and Pacific Plant Protection Commission (APPPC) Standards Committee Meeting, Bangkok, Thailand, 30 July - 3 August 2012
  2. Int Conference on the Application of Accelerators in Research & Industry. Fort Worth Texas USA. 5-10 August 2012
  3. Drug Device & Combination Products - Munich Germany. 11-12 September 2012.
  4. Libyan Healthcare Exhibition. Libya. 11-13 September 2012.
  5. Medical Fair, Suntec, Singapore, 12-14 September 2012
  6. Irap 2012. International Symposium on Ionizing Radiation and Polymers, Cracow, Poland 14-19 October 2012
  7. International Forum and Exhibition on Nuclear Technology Applications, Chengdu, China, 10-13 November 2012

If you know of additional events that we should be highlighting please let one of the iiA team know.

Contact Us

 

The iiA team now consists of Paul Wynne , Director and General Manager, Yves Henon, Manager Asia Pacific and  John Woolston, Manager Europe Middle East and Africa.

 

The iiA board: John Masefield (Executive Advisor Steris), Neil Bennett (Reviss), Arnold Herer, Eamonn Hoxey (Johnson & Johnson), Byron Lambert (Abbot Vascular), Scott Mcintosh (Nordion), Dave Meyer (Sterigenics), Richard Steeves (Synergy).

 

Paul Wynne
iiA