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that could be desired.
It can be said of traders who lead in the field of food hygiene that standards
voluntarily adopted are often far higher than the minima required by legislation;
on the other hand there are those who are without initiative in this respect and
who fail to maintain standards or effect improvements unless continuously pressed
by the local authority.
The Pood and Drugs Act 1938 together with the Pood and Drugs (Milk, Dairies
and Artificial Creajn) Act 1950, contain the principal legislation used in connec
tion with the enforcement of food standards, and although the act of 1938, which
deals with food generally, has many wide and useful provisions it has long been
felt that it required amending to bring it into line with modern conditions.
A Bill to strengthen the Act of 1938 was introduced into the House of Lords
on November 10th. The Bill proposes to amend the existing legislation in certain
respects:
1. The control of hygienic conditions under which food is manufactured,
prepared, and sold.
2. The introduction of powers to Ministers to make general regulations
covering the whole field of food hygiene.
3. The registration of food premises and the licensing of street traders.
4. The inclusion in permanent legislation of the powers contained in emergency
Defence Regulations governing the labelling and advertising of food.
5. The wider control of injurious ingredients.