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109
SALE OF FOREIGN MEAT AS ENGLISH.
As bearing upon the foregoing, the following note taken from the Annual
Report (1908) of the Intelligence Department of the Board of Agriculture and
Fisheries is of public interest:
"The attention of agriculturists was drawn this year to the sale of
"foreign meat as English by a law suit against a meat salesman, in the
"course of which it was stated for the defence that it was the custom of
"the trade to describe as English the meat of animals imported from
"abroad and slaughtered at the point of landing, and several complaints
"on this subject were received by the Board.
"The Board enquired into these complaints to ascertain if there was
"any evidence of an offence against the Merchandise Marks Acts, but
"without result. As a general rule, butchers do not 'apply' within
"the meaning of the Merchandise Marks Acts any description whatever
"to their meat, and if they did it would still be very difficult to obtain
"evidence to prove that the meat to which the description 'English'
" was applied was, in fact, foreign."
With a Meat Marking Act in force, this abuse could not exist.
CERTIFICATION OF MEAT PRODUCTS FOR EXPORT.
In the Annual Report for last year reference was made to the appointment
of your Medical Officer by the Local Government Board as " Certifying
Officer" in relation to the export of meat products to Argentina, and the
United States of America and the Philippine Islands.
During 1909, 64 certificates were issued, 41 of which were in connection
with exports to Argentina, and 23 with exports to the United States of
America and the Philippine Islands.
These certificates are issued in accordance with Regulations prescribed by
the Local Government Board, and no case has arisen where it has been
necessary to refuse to grant a certificate.
MEAT INSPECTORS' OFFICES.
During the year, in consequence of the Corporation requiring for market
purposes the space occupied by the Meat Inspectors' offices in the Central
Avenue at Smithfield Market, other accommodation for the purpose was
acquired at No. 62, Long Lane, to which the staff were transferred in January
last year.
Increased office accommodation has been further necessitated by the
appointment of a Veterinary Surgeon, and arrangements have been made for
surrendering the lease of the premises at No. 508, in the Western end of the
Market, and moving into more extensive premises in the Fish section.