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hygienic handling of milk is of vital importance to the health and
well-being of the nation and the eradication of bovine Tuberculosis,
Typhoid and Undulant Fever, Diarrhoea and many other diseases is
largely dependent on this factor. It is, therefore, to be expected
that this commodity formed the largest class of focd sampled during
the year.
Milk Supply.—The supply of milk continues to be under the
direction of the Milk Marketing Board, who, in this connection, act
as agents to the Ministry of Food. The greater proportion of the
milk which enters the Borough originates from the Home Counties
and the remainder which is of a higher fat content, arrives from
Devon and the Channel Islands.
Milk and Dairies Regulations 1949 and 1953.—Under the
provisions of the principal Regulations each person retailing milk in
the Borough must be registered as a Distributor. At the commencement
of the year 109 persons were so registered and, allowing for
additions to and deletions from this list the number of Distributors
registered at the end of the year was 111 which total includes 7
dairy premises.
On 201 occasions the premises of distributors and dairies were
visited, other than for sampling purposes, and defects were detected
and remedied as and when necessary. Only one Intimation Notice
was required and this was served in respect of a defective drain.
The Milk (Special Designation) (Pasteurised and Sterilised
Milk) Regulations, 1949-1953 and The Milk (Special Designation)
(Raw Milk) Regulations, 1949 and 1950.—All milk now sold in the
Borough has been Sterilised, Pasteurised or Tuberculin Tested and
the use of these Special Designations in relation to the sale of milk
is prohibited under the above Regulations unless the distributor is
licensed for the use of same. The special designation " Accredited "
is coupled with " Tuberculin Tested" in the Milk (Special
Designation) (Raw Milk) Regulations, 1949, in order to obtain
absolute control of the sale of milk so designated.
Licences issued in accordance with the above Regulations are
operative for one year from 1st January and are required to be
renewed annually. Principal Licences are granted to Distributors
in respect of premises within the Borough and Supplementary
Licences to Distributors who sell within the Borough but whose
premises are outside. The following licences had been granted and
were in force on the 31st December, 1953 :—