Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) has given final approval for Ioteq's multi-award winning Isan technology to be used within the food-processing sector.

The Isan system, which uses iodine instead of chlorine for food sanitation, is a world leading development that is rapidly being adopted throughout numerous industries across Australia.

Developed by Melbourne technology firm Ioteq from a NASA concept, the Isan system is increasingly being used in Australia for post-harvest sanitation and disinfection, and for hydroponics and nursery applications.

For food processors, the Isan system can provide extremely high bacterial, fungal and pathogen kill rates, leading to significantly increased shelf life. The FSANZ approval follows the company's Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicine Authority (APVMA) registration, which was awarded two years ago.

"This is a major achievement for Ioteq. It now opens up the remaining areas of food processing to this remarkable technology," said Peter Klein, CEO of Ioteq. "This development also validates our confidence in relocating into a new and very much larger research and manufacturing facility in Melbourne earlier this year," he said.

The world class nature of the Isan system has resulted in it being awarded numerous prizes, including the 2004 Inaugural DuPont Innovation Award for Agricultural Marketing and Production. Also, recognition of the system's environmental, food safety and consumer health benefits has led to substantial support from Federal and State Governments.

By avoiding carcinogenic by-products, which can be an issue with other types of sanitisers and disinfectants, the Isan system has also gained FSANZ approval. Importantly, with the iodine being supplied in sealed canisters, there are no OH&S issues. Other major benefits of the Isan system include:

• the total elimination of pH monitoring and acid dosing
• accurate and automatic digital ppm dosing and recording
• full data logging and generation of quality control certificates
• significantly less corrosion
• cost effectiveness in dirty water
• automatic filling and emptying of wash tanks

Additionally, with its PC-based computer control, Isan installations are easily operated and maintained, and can be remotely linked for in-office monitoring and adjustment.