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Part 2.—Incorporates the provisions of the Margarine Act and deals in a
composite form with marking the articles, and the registration of the
premises from which they are sold by wholesale.
Part 3.—Relates to the appointment of Analysts and the powers of Inspectors
as to sampling, etc. The Food Inspector is now to be termed
"Sampling Officer."
Part 4.—Deals with the legal proceedings, and it is in Section 29 that the
important provisions relating to the defence of warranty are contained.
Part 5.—Relates to definitions, repeals, title and date of operation of Act.
The Public Health (Preservatives in Food, &c.) Regulations, 1925 to
1927, are now given the power of statute law. In Section 1, sub-section
4 of the Food and Drugs (Adulteration) Act; the addition of a
preservative in contravention of the regulations shall be deemed
to render the article injurious to health. Section 21 lays down
a definite standard of proof spirit in whisky, brandy, rum and gin,
namely, they shall not contain a greater dilution than 35 degrees under
proof. It is further laid down that the purchaser, in demanding an
article included in the regulations, is prejudiced as regards its nature
or substance or quality if the article supplied does not comply with the
regulations as regards the presence or amount of any constituent
ingredient or material specified in the regulations.
Under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926, and the Agricultural Produce
(Grading and Marking) Act, 1928, a rapid succession of orders were made
during the year. Hardly a month passes but fresh articles of produce
come within the ambit of new orders. As pointed out in last year's
report, the administration of these orders has no direct bearing on public
health except in so far as some slight difference in quality may be found
in Home produce as contrasted with similar produce imported from
abroad. The orders emanate from the Ministry of Agriculture and
Fisheries, and as the number of articles scheduled continues to increase,
the administration of these orders demands a still greater share of the
time of the Food Inspectors.
The system adopted is that all imported articles are dealt with under
the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926, and Home produce under the Agricultural
Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1926.
Two orders uncler the Merchandise Marks Act were in force during
the year dealing with the following foods:—
No. 3 Order Honey.
Fresh Apples.
No. 5 Order Currants, Sultanas and Raisins.
Eggs in Shell.
Dried Eggs.
Oat Products.
(9583) H 2