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45
FOOD INSPECTION.
During the year under review a great increase in the amount of foodstuffs
inspected has taken place.
The Unsound Food Regulations, which came into force on October 1st,
1908, did not get into full working order until the 1st January, 1909, whilst
the Foreign Meat Regulations, which took effect from January 1st, at once
called for additional responsibility and work on the part of your staff.
Until the issue of these regulations the only powers of food inspection
possessed by this Authority were under Section 47 of the Public Health
(London) Act, 1891. The regulations not only confirmed but extended these
powers, and enabled the foodstuffs to be inspected on board a ship or after
it had been delivered overside, and after it had been landed within the district
of the Port Sanitary Authority.
The inspector is thus able not only to control the delivery of the foodstuffs
for purpose of examination, but also can require packages to be opened
and the contents exposed for his inspection.
The penalties were also increased, for the Public Health Act, 1896, provides,
by Sub-section 3 of Section 1, that "if any person wilfully neglects or refuses
to obey or carry out, or obstructs the execution of any regulation made under
any of the enactments mentioned in that Act he shall be liable to a penalty
not exceeding ONE HUNDRED POUNDS, and in the case of a continuing
offence to a further penalty not exceeding fifty pounds for every day during
which the offence continues."
I append a list of the Acts and Regulations, with explanatory circulars
which were issued by the Local Government Board. With the exception of
Section 47, Public Health (London) Act, 1891, all the others practically
became applicable during the past year:—
Public Health (London) Act, 1891, Section 47.
Public Health (Regulations as to Food) Act, 1907.
51891 First Series, Unsound Food Regulations, 1908.
51890 Foreign Meat Regulations, 1908.
54199 „ „ Amending Regulations, 1909.
Joint orders for securing co-operation between Port of London Sanitary
Authority and certain local authorities in regard to the administration of the
Regulations were also made by the Local Government:—
53036-53041 Joint Order, City of London.
53034-53039 „ „ Southwark.
52940-52941 „ „ Bermondsey.
53035-53040 „ „ Stepney,
53033-53038 „ „ Poplar.