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Authority. If the circumstances, in his opinion, so require, he may also
examine such articles before they have been landed.
The same Article provides for necessary facilities being given for the
purposes of his examination in the matter of convenient arrangement,
unpacking, and the like, and Article VI. authorises him to apply to a
Justice for a warrant to enter premises in special cases.
Taking of Samples.
In order to meet the case of particular consignments in which it is
necessary that special examination should be made (e.g., in the laboratory),
powers of sampling are conferred by Article VIII.
Article VIII. also provides for the temporary detention of consignments
pending the completion of the examination of the samples taken.
Communication with Customs Officers.
Article XIV. (2) provides that in certain circumstances the examination
of an article of food by an officer of the Sanitary Authority shall not
be made without the consent of the Officer of Customs. The Officer of
Customs is, however, required to afford facilities for such examination.
Procedure in connection ivith Unsound Food.
Under Article IV. the Medical Officer of Health is empowered,
himself or by an assistant, to seize and carry away an article of food
which, in his opinion, is unsound or unwholesome, or unfit for human
consumption, in order that application may be made to a Justice for an
order of condemnation. Alternatively, the Medical Officer of Health, by
notice to the importer or to any other person having charge of the article,
may require that until it has been examined by a Justice it shall not be
removed from the place specified in the notice without the permission of
the Medical Officer of Health. Such notice, however, does not preclude
the removal of the food in question, at the request or with the consent of
the importer, and with the permission of the Medical Officer of Health,
for the purpose of its destruction or for the application of a process
which will effectually prevent the article from being used for human
consumption.
The Justice, if satisfied as regards the unsoundness of the particular
food concerned, is required by Articles V. and VI. to condemn the food
and order its destruction or its disposal under the supervision of the
Medical Officer of Health by such means and in such a manner as to
prevent its being used for human consumption. If, however, evidence