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26
Disposal of Unsound or Unsaleable Food
Due to the concentration of restaurants, shops, canteens, etc. in the City of Westminster, a large
amount of unsound food is annually collected for disposal. Much of this comes from Covent Garden
where surrender of fruit and vegetable produce involves daily visits by a public health inspector.
Under Section 73 (1) of the Public Health Act, 1936 a local authority may undertake the removal
of trade refuse, from premises within their district, and having so undertaken shall at the request of
the occupier remove such trade refuse. Westminster has entered into such an undertaking.
Schedule 11, Part II (7) of the London Government Act, 1963 states that any person who has in his
possession or under his control any article of food which is unsound, unwholesome or unfit for
human consumption, may, by notice to the local authority, specifying and identifying the article,
request its removal as if it were trade refuse.
By Statute, a public health inspector has the right to seize, and a Magistrate the authority to condemn
and order the destruction of, unsound food. Whilst no provision is made in the Food and Drugs Act
to authorize the voluntary surrender of unsound food, and the issue of certificates of unsoundness,
this procedure has long been established and accepted. The Inspector's role is often that of independent
arbitrator, and his decision is normally accepted by both parties. By arranging for the removal and
destruction of such foods at the City Council's Depot at Gatliff Road, it is ensured that none goes
astray and is used for human consumption. In order to indemnify the City Council against any liability
in respect of food voluntarily surrendered the person making the request is required to do so in
writing on a form giving all relevant particulars of the articles being surrendered, and to sign it.
During the year, approximately 170 tons of foodstuffs were voluntarily surrendered for disposal.
Pharmacy and Poisons Acts, 1933 and 1941
At the end of the year the names of 180 traders were on the Council's lists of persons entitled to sell
poisons included in Part II of the poisons list, the number of premises concerned being 211.
Rag Flock and Other Filling Materials Act, 1951
Under the provisions of this Act, various types of premises concerned with the upholstery trade
or with the provision of materials for that trade must be registered or licensed with the local authority.
At the end of the year, 24 premises were on the register; one licence was issued for the use of premises
for storage purposes.
Fertilizers and Feeding Stuffs Act, 1926
Under the London Government Act, 1963, the City Council assumed, as from 1st April, 1965,
responsibilities under this Act and under the Fertilizers and Feeding Stuffs Regulations, 1960 and the
amending regulations of 1962 and 1964. Prior to these duties devolving upon the City Council, only
one premises within their present area of jurisdiction was visited periodically for sampling purposes
and during the year under review no samples were taken.
Slaughter of Animals
There are no slaughterhouses in Westminster, but in the grounds of the Zoological Society of
London for many years there has been a knacker's yard, licensed by the Council, where animals are
slaughtered for feeding purposes. The renewal of the necessary licence was effected during the year.
Applications are received from time to time from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals for the issue of Slaughterman's licences to probationary inspectors to enable them to
commence training as slaughtermen. The licences are necessary in order that the Society can give the
inspectors concerned training and instruction in modern methods of humane slaughter. Eleven licences
were issued during the year.
Diseases of Animals Act, 1950 and Other Acts Relating to Animals
By arrangement with the City Council the Corporation of the City of London acts for them on
an agency basis in connection with duties under the Diseases of Animals, Riding Establishments,
Performing Animals, Pet Animals and Animal Boarding Establishments Acts where veterinary
services are involved. Officers of the Corporation undertake routine inspection of animals in transit
and inspections for licensing purposes under the Riding Establishments Act, together with inspections
specifically requested by the Medical Officer of Health of Westminster. All other necessary inspections
are made by the public health inspectors. The Corporation issue any notices and advertisements
which may be required under those Acts but licensing and registration of residents or premises in
Westminster is undertaken by the City Council.