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made, he found it impossible to comply with it. He points out, however,
that a Local Authority may proceed against a manufacturer or wholesaler,
particularly in cases where an article is sold in a sealed container
bearing the name and address of either the former or the latter.
Public Health (Preservatives, &c., in Food) Amendment
Regulations, 1926.
Since the Regulations just described were issued, a further series of
amending Regulations have been circulated. Their object is to postpone
the operation of the 1925 Regulations in respect of certain foods and to
introduce certain minor alterations in those Regulations. These alterations
chiefly refer to matters of labelling and, where this is not required,
to suitable notices; also to the amounts of Sulphur Dioxide to be permitted
in certain fruit and fruit pulps.
The dates on which the principal Regulations will come into operation
are as follows:—
(1) All foods except those specified below, 1st January, 1927.
(2) Bacon, ham, egg yolk, and articles of food containing preservative
necessarily introduced by the use in their preparation of
preserved margarine, 1st July, 1927.
(3) Butter, cream, and articles of food containing preservative
necessarily introduced by the use in their preparation of
preserved bacon, preserved ham, preserved egg yolk or
preserved cream, 1st January, 1928.
(4) Articles of food containing preservative necessarily introduced
by the use in their preparation of preserved butter, 1st July,
1928.
The Ministry of Health state that a number of communications have
been received from various trade interests, representing that, owing to
the exceptional industrial conditions or other causes, it has not been
possible for retailers completely to clear their old stocks before the date
on which the Regulations operate. In view of the time which has elapsed
since the original Regulations were made and the desirability of avoiding
further elaboration in regard to the dates of their application to particular
commodities, the Minister has not felt justified in acceding to
the requests for further postponement. He remarks, however, that
Local Authorities will probably consider it desirable to refrain from
instituting legal proceedings during the next few months where they are
satisfied that reasonable efforts have been made to clear old stocks, and
that further consignments will conform with the Regulations.