Section 579.22 - Ionizing radiation for treatment of animal dietsIonizing radiation for treatment of complete diets for animals may be safely used under the following conditions:
(a)Energy sources. Ionizing radiation is limited to:(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)Uses.(1) The ionizing radiation is used or intended for use in single treatment as follows:| Food for irradiation | Limitations | Use |
| Bagged complete diets, packaged feeds, feed ingredients, bulk feeds, animal treats and chews | Absorbed dose: Not to exceed 50 kiloGrays. Feeds and feed ingredients treated by irradiation should be formulated to account for nutritional loss | Microbial disinfection, control or elimination |
(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.51 FR 5993, Feb. 19, 1986; 51 FR 8315, Mar. 11, 1986, as amended at 58 FR 18148, Apr. 8, 1993; 66 FR 18540 , Apr. 10, 2001