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The present- conditions of world food shortage and the economic state of the
country has resulted in the importation during the post-war years of certain types
of foodstuffs which would have been unhesitatingly condemned before the war. large
quantities of boneless beef and mutton, much of it of very poor quality, are now
being imported and great difficulty is experienced in examining this material for
evidence of disease. Furthermore quantities of 'scrap' meat which, under the
Imported Food Regulations, 1937 is 'prohibited meat', whether it be sound or unsound,
has had to be accepted failing definite directives by the Ministry of Health.
It is, of course, quite impossible to ascertain the origin of this meat, i.e., from
what part of the carcase it is derived, and reliance has to be placed on the inspection
of the animal ante- and post-mortem at the time of slaughter abroad.
Port Medical officers are thus placed in a very invidious position which is
not helped by the fact that they have been unable to obtain any guidance from the
Ministry of Health in the action they should take in regard to this unsatisfactory
material.
What is particularly required is a series of standards underlying the acceptance
or rejection of imported foodstuffs, common to all ports receiving foodstuffs
from abroad.
DANGEROUS DRUGS.
During the year nineteen Certificates authorising the purchase of scheduled
Dangerous Drugs were issued under the Dangerous Drugs (No. 3) Regulations, 1923,
amending the Dangerous Drugs Regulations, 1921, regulation 15 of which is as follows:-
"If a foreign ship in any port in Great Britain requires to obtain a supply
of any of the drugs in order to complete the necessary equipment of the ship,
the Master of the ship is authorised to purchase and be in possession of
such quantity of any of the drugs as may be certified by the Medical Officer
of Health of the Port where the ship is (or in his absence by the Assistant
Medical officer of Health) to be necessary for the purpose, the quantity not
to exceed what is required for the use of the ship until it next reaches its
home port. The certificate given by the Medical Officer or Assistant Medical
Officer of Health of the Port shall be marked by the supplier with the date
of the supply, and shall be retained by him and kept available for inspection"
.
PUBLIC HEATH ACT, 1936 . PART X - CANAL BOATS.
On the 16th January, 1947, the Port Medical Officer made a report on the
steps taken to carry into effect the provisions of part X of the Public Health
Act, 1936, relating to Canal Boats within the district of the Port of London Health
Authority, during the year ended 31st December, 1946.
During the year eleven inspections of Canal Boats were made, all of which were
found to conform to the Acts and Regulations.
No new boats were registered during the year under review, the actual number
of Canal Boats on the Register on the 31st December, 1946 being 216.
PARROTS (PROHIBITION OF IMPORT)REGULATIONS, 1930.
Twenty-three parrots etc., came under the notice of your Officers during the
year. Twenty Notices were issued in respect of 21 parrots etc.
Number exported in respect of Notices served 14
Number destroyed (Notice served to export) 7
Number admitted under Ministry of Health permit 2
TOTAL 23
(19)