View report page

51
FOOD INSPECTION.
Regulations have been made under the Public Health (Regulations as to
Food) Act, 1907.
This Act is for the purpose of preventing danger to the public health from
the importation, preparation, storage and distribution of articles of food or
drink other than drugs or water.
The Public Health (1st Series, Unsound Food) Regulations, 1908, came
into operation on the 1st October.
The execution of these Regulations is entrusted to Port Sanitary Authorities
and such Riparian Authorities in England and Wales, whose areas do not abut
upon part of a Customs Port.
These Regulations have the object of securing that articles of food which
are unsound, unwholesome or unfit for human consumption, and which, as
part of the cargo of a ship, are brought to a place in this country, shall be
dealt with at the port of discharge.
The experience of the inspection of articles of food by the Port Sanitary
Authority in the Port of London, for many years past, has been utilized by
the Local Government Board in preparing these Regulations.
Powers of inspection, for the purposes of these Regulations, are conferred
upon the Medical Officer of Health and upon any other person appointed or
employed by the Authority, under the Regulations.
The Board consider it advisable that notices or certificates and the like,
should only be given by the Medical Officer of Health or by Officers acting in
the place of, or assistant to, the Medical Officer of Health.
The Medical Officer of Health may examine articles of food which have
been landed within the district of the Sanitary Authority.
\
He may also examine such articles before they have been landed, either on
the ship or in lighters and barges where the vessel discharges foodstuffs
overside.
The Regulations provide that necessary facilities shall be given for the
purpose of his examination as regards unpacking and the like, and he is
authorised to apply to a justice for a warrant to enter premises in special
cases.