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tion, until they have been marked with the mark and in the manner
described in Schedule 3. With certain exceptions, prior notice of
intention to slaughter must be given; the minimum period of this
notice has been extended from three hours to twenty-four hours.
Local authorities are empowered to make a charge for inspection.
Schedules 1 and 2 contain provisions as to the manner in which
inspectors are to carry out inspections and as to the circumstances
in which meat is to be regarded as unfit for human consumption.
Circular FSH 9/63 issued by the Ministry of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Food on 18th July, 1963, gives a summary of the
above regulations.
Butchers' Shops and Stalls.—These are under the constant supvision
of the Food Inspectors who made 163 visits of inspection
and arranged for the correction of insanitary defects in 19
instances.
As with other premises, legal proceedings are instituted only
after disregard of the Officer's warning and in no instance was it
necessary to resort to this procedure.
Slaughterhouses.—Two premises in the Borough originally
licensed as slaughterhouses have not been used as such since the
introduction of the Livestock (Restriction of Slaughtering) Order
1940. In both instances the premises are no longer used
as slaughterhouses and the issue of the appropriate licences has
therefore been discontinued.
Public Health (Imported Food) Regulations, 1937 and
1948.—The Metropolitan Borough of Greenwich with a river
frontage of five miles with more than 30 wharves and two of
London's largest and most modern cold stores receives a considerable
percentage of London's imported meat stored on behalf of
various importers. In addition, considerable quantities of fresh
fruit, tinned foods and miscellaneous provisions are dealt with.
Visits to wharves and cold stores are made by the Food Inspectors
and imported food generally is carefully supervised.
Inevitably meat is the commodity to which Food Inspectors
must devote most of their time and it is their responsibility to see
that each consignment landed is accompanied by an "official"
certificate. This may be in the form of a certificate, label, mark,
stamp or voucher which is recognised by the Ministry of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Food as a guarantee that the accompanying
product was inspected ante and post mortem and passed as fit in
accordance with criteria satisfactory to the Minister and that any
necessary packing or preparation had been executed under hygienicconditions.