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presented to the Public Health Committee in October 1925. It came into
force on the 1st October, 1926.
It revokes the Dairies and Milkshops Orders of 1885, 1886 and 1889,
and all Regulations made thereunder by Local Authorities. The new
provisions replace those contained in the above-mentioned Orders and
amplify many of them in accordance with modern knowledge and standards
of hygiene. It is required that greater attention shall be paid to the health
and cleanliness of individuals engaged in the milk industry. There are
also similar provisions dealing with the health of cattle and the conditions
in which they are to be kept. The latter provisions will be entrusted to
County Councils and County Borough Authorities.
The City Council as a Metropolitan Sanitary Authority are concerned
with those articles of the Order which refer to:—
Registration (the person or the premises must be registered).
Sanitary condition of dairies as regards free access to air and daylight.
Water supply to such premises and means of artificial lighting.
Cleaning of milk vessels and those for containing water.
Rooms in which milk may not be deposited except for purposes of
butter, cheese and cream manufacture, e.g. kitchens, living or
sleeping rooms &c.
Safeguards against contamination or infection from w.cs, drains, &c.
More extended powers to the Medical Officer of Health in the investigation
of sources of infectious disease and obligations on the
occupier of milk premises to notify the Medical Officer of Health
as to the existence of infection among those handling milk or in
their households.
There are important provisions as to the stoppage of milk supplies
from infected premises. The Medical Officer of Health has power to give
notice for this purpose, but must report the matter to his Sanitary Authority.
"Where the Medical Officer of Health suspects infection among those
employed at registered premises, he has power, on giving notice, to examine
all suspected persons and to exclude for a specified period those considered
as likely to spread infection.
Milkshops and all fittings and furniture shall be washed at least once
every day. There are further provisions for ensuring the use of churns
which can be cleansed readily and for the compulsory cleansing of
" empties " before return. This is important.
The Minister has given consideration to the representations which
have been made to him on the need for the sealing of milk churns. All