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235
INSPECTION OF FOOD AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD PREMISES
New Legislation
The Meat (Sterilization) Regulations, 1969.
These Regulations, made under Sections 13 and 123 of the Food
& Drugs Act, 1955, and which apply to England and Wales only
and supersede the Meat (Staining & Sterilization) Regulations,
1960, came into force on the 1st November, 1969.
They require all knacker meat and meat (other than the meat of
a rabbit or hare) which is imported otherwise than for human consumption,
as well as all butcher's meat or imported meat which
in either case is unfit for human consumption, to be sterilized
before entering the chain of distribution. They also require that
imported meat which is unfit for human consumption or imported
otherwise than for human consumption and without an official
certificate or meat inspection stamp and which is stored in or
removed from the port of entry shall be sterilized or shall bear a
notice to the effect that the meat is not fit for human consumption.
The different categories of meat to which the regulations relate are
defined in Reg. 2(1).
Provision is made whereby zoos, menageries, mink farms, trout
farms and processors may obtain such meat unsterilized if it is
transported in locked containers or vehicles. Supplies of meat to
hospitals, medical or veterinary schools or similar institutions for
instructional or diagnostic purposes and to manufacturing chemists
for the manufacture of pharmaceutical products are unaffected by
the Regulations.
On consignment or delivery of specified meat the Regulations
also require that a notice be given or sent therewith giving particulars
of the meat and the names and addresses of the persons
from and to whom it is being conveyed (Reg. 12).
The Regulations are to be enforced by local authorities and port
health authorities and prescribe the maximum penalties provided
for in Section 106 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1955.
The Food (Control of Irradiation) (Amendment) Regulations, 1969.
With one exception, the above Regulations, made under Sections
4 and 133 of the Food & Drugs Act, 1955, prohibit the application
of ionizing radiation to food intended for sale for human consumption.
These Regulations make a further exception to permit the
irradiation of food for patients who are certified by a registered
medical practitioner to require a sterile diet as an essential factor
in their treatment.