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TEA IMPORTATION
Tea arriving in the Port of London and destined for warehouses within the City of London or
into the districts of London Riparian Authorities is allowed forward unexamined and under bond
for clearance by H.M. Customs and sampling in those areas.
Only when tea is of unknown destination or when clearance by II.M. Customs is effected
within the dock area is it inspected and sampled by Port Health Officers.
During the year, 1688 samples of tea were examined by the Public Analyst of which 17 or
1.0% were the subject of adverse reports, 15 on account of excessive lead content, one on account
of excessive lead content, one on account of rodent contamination, and one on account of insect
infestation.
The Food Investigation Committee's report on Lead in Foods recommends an acceptable
maximum of 10 parts per million of lead and lead compounds in tea and this figure is used in the
assessment of fitness for human consumption.
The lead content varied from 12 to 70 parts per million in the 15 teas found to be contaminated.
Formosa tea generally appears to be subject to lead contamination, the source of which
would not seem to have been discovered, as the contamination has been present with no apparent
diminution since examination for metallic content was undertaken in January 1959.
Indonesian tea is also liable to excessive lead content, as is China tea although to a much
lesser degree.
Details of the lead content reported with the countries of origin are:—
Formosa: 12, 13, 13, 13, 14, 15, 15, 30, 55, 65, 70.
Indonesia: 13, 17, 55.
China: 22.
Teas in which lead contamination is excessive only by a small amount are allowed to be
blended with lead-free teas in such proportion that in the final blend the lead content is reduced
to minimal proportions, and, after sampling of the blend if found to be satisfactory in this respect,
the tea is released.
Where the contamination is of such proportion as to be unsuitable for blending the tea is
released for re-export only or is destroyed.
THE FOOD HYGIENE (DOCKS, CARRIERS ETC.) REGULATIONS, 1960
These Regulations came into operation on 1st November, 1960, to complete the chain of the
hygienic handling, transport, and storage of inadequately protected foodstuffs from time of discharge
of the vessel within the docks to sale to the consumer.
The necessity for such regulations has always been apparent, and the powers given are well
designed to remove those sources of contamination within the dock area which have caused concern
to those whose duty it is to enforce the regulations for hygienic food handling outside that
area well knowing the contamination that has already taken place in the absence of powers to
prevent it at the time of importation.
Meetings have been held with Officers of the Port of London Authority and stevedoring companies
and a large measure of agreement has been reached as to the changes necessary to satisfy
the Regulations.
A draft"Code of Practice" has been drawn up and little remains to be agreed for the acceptance
of this as a guide to hygienic practice in the handling of foodstuffs within the dock area.
Further meetings have been arranged with the British Transport Commission in regard to
rail transport, and with representatives of road and water transport interests.
It is felt these preliminary informal discussions have great value in securing the co-operation
necessary to the smooth working of the Regulations.
CLEAN AIR ACT 1956
THE DARK SMOKE (PERMITTED PERIODS)
(VESSELS) REGULATIONS 1958
The spirit of optimism for the future expressed in my Annual Report for 1959 has throughout
1960 proved fully justified. Ship owners, masters of vessels and engineroom personnel, the Port
of London Authority and the owners of fleets of tugs operating in the Thames have, as proved by
results, contributed appreciably to assist the Port Health Authority in reducing smoke from
vessels to a minimum. The truth of this statement is borne out as follows:—
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