View report page

103
beyond the seven seas, at one time regarded as rarities but now accepted
as every day necessaries.
There were purchased for analysis during the year 1,815 samples of
different foods and 3,494 visits were paid to premises where food is sold,
stored or otherwise handled for the purpose of observation as to condition,
cleanliness, state of premises and methods of working.
New legislation relating to foods and drugs passed into law during
the year included the Slaughter of Animals Act, Public Health (Cleansing
of Shellfish) Act, 1932, and the Pharmacy and Poisons Act.
The main provisions of the Slaughter of Animals Act, 1933, are that
every animal slaughtered in a slaughter-house or knacker's yard shall be
instantaneously slaughtered or instantaneously rendered insensible to
pain until death intervenes. Special reservations are made to conform
with religious susceptibilities. All slaughtermen must be licensed.
There are, however, no slaughter-houses in Westminster.
Pharmacy and Poisons Act, 1933.
It is only Part II of this Act which concerns local authorities, on
whom is imposed the duty of keeping a register of persons other than
registered pharmacists, who are entitled to sell poisons included in Part II
of the Poisons List. The local authority would have power to inspect
and to take samples for analysis. While the Bill was before Parliament
it was pointed out that the Metropolitan Borough Councils, as Food and
Drugs Authorities, were already carrying out similar duties in connection
with various statutes relating to food administration. An amendment
constituting the Metropolitan Borough Councils local authorities for Part II
of the Bill was accepted.
Part II of the Act will come into force when the Poisons Lists have
been compiled by the specially constituted Poisons Board to be set up
under the Act. It was contemplated that its administration would be
referred to the Public Health Committee and that the Medical Officer
of Health and the Council's Food Inspectors would be appointed the
appropriate officers to carry out the provisions.
London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1932.
Part II of this Act requires the registration of:—
(1) Premises used or proposed to be used for the sale,
facture for sale or storage of ice cream or similar
commodity.
(2) Premises in which the manufacture of sausages, potted,
pressed, pickled or preserved meat, fish or other food
intended for sale takes place or is intended to take place,