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251
INSPECTION OF FOOD AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD PREMISES
New Legislation
The Imported Food Regulations, 1968
These Regulations, which contain measures for the protection
of public health in relation to imported food, came into operation
on 1st August, 1968, and replaced the Public Health (Imported
Food) Regulations, 1937 and 1948, the Food and Drugs (Whalemeat)
Regulations, 1949 and (Amendment) Regulations, 1950.
Part I of the Regulations contains definitions and specifies the
authorities by whom the Regulations are to be enforced. This will
usually be the port health authority of the port through which the
food is imported, but may in certain circumstances be an inland
authority.
Part II deals with imported food generally. Regulation 6 makes
it an offence to import food which is unfit for human consumption
or is unsound or is unwholesome. Food imported in contravention
of this requirement can be taken before a Justice of the Peace,
who may order its condemnation. Regulations 7 to 9 deal with the
examination of imported food by authorised officers of local and
port health authorities and with the submission of samples to the
Public Analyst. Customs officers are empowered in certain circumstances
to detain food for examination under Regulations 10
and 11.
Part III deals with imported meat and meat products. With
certain exceptions, these cannot be imported without an official
certificate from the country of origin which is recognised by the
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food as guaranteeing that
the meat or meat product has been prepared in accordance with
satisfactory standards of hygiene. Meat and meat products which
do not satisfy these requirements can be re-exported, but if this
is not done, the local or port health authority may require the
destruction of the meat or meat product or disposal in such a
manner that it will not be used for human consumption. The
importer has a right of appeal to a Justice of the Peace.
Part IV deals with various supplementary matters and includes
provisions:—
(a) requiring records to be kept for 12 months of food which
is destroyed;
(b) prescribing penalties for offences against the Regulations;
(c) applying sections of the Food and Drugs Act, 1955, dealwith
prosecutions, evidence of analysis and third party or
warranty defences.