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Procedure under the Regulations.
The Regulations require by Article III. (2) that the Officer of
Customs shall cause to be detained, for examination by the Medical Officer
of Health of the Sanitary Authority, any foreign meat which according to
the best opinion which, in the circumstances of the case, his knowledge
enables him to form has the characteristics of foreign meat of either
Class I. or Class II.
If he finds that the cargo comprises Foreign Meat of Class III. or
Foreign Meat Unclassed he may allow it to be removed unless he is of
opinion that the meat requires examination by the Medical Officer of
Health.
It will be the duty of the Medical Officer of Health, on being informed
by the Customs Officer of the detention, to examine the meat and to give
either a notice forbidding its removal for any purpose other than exportation,
or a certificate that it may be removed. But he is not to give a
certificate and must give a notice as regards Foreign Meat of Class I. or
Class II., and also Article X. requires a record to be kept of foreign meat
destroyed, and Article XII. enables the Medical Officer of Health to
take samples of foreign meat for the purpose of the Regulations. He is
to dispose of the samples in such manner as the Sanitary Authority
direct.
It will be observed that under Article IV. the Medical Officer of Health
is empowered to examine any foreign meat which is still in the district;
even though its removal from the ship, or from the place of delivery or of
landing, may have been allowed, and that if he is of opinion that it should
not be removed to a place of destination for any purpose other than
exportation, he is to give notice forbidding its removal except for
exportation.
Provision for determination of Differences, &c.
*Article XVII. empowers the Board, on the application of all the
parties affected, to determine, either as arbitrators or otherwise, any
difference arising in relation to any subject-matter of, or anything done
under, the Regulations.
On the 12th December the Local Government Board issued a circular
letter drawing attention to further matters in connection with the
administration of the Public Health (Foreign Meat) Regulations. In
connection with this circular letter specimen forms for use in connection
with the Foreign Meat Regulations were appended.