View report page

31
During the year some 294 (237) tons of unsold or unsaleable foodstuffs were voluntarily
surrendered for disposal.
Under Section 9 of the Food & Drugs Act, 1955, a public health inspector may at all reasonable
times examine any food intended for human consumption which has been sold, or is offered or
exposed for sale, or is in the possession of, or has been deposited with or consigned to, any person for
the purpose of sale or of preparation for sale, and if it appears to him to be unfit, he may seize it and
remove it in order to have it dealt with by a Justice of the Peace.
During the year four applications were made to the Court for orders to seize food, which had been
found to be infested or otherwise contaminated. In each case the order was granted. It became
necessary in one case to make an application to the Court for an Order under Section 100 of the Act
for a warrant to enter premises in the face of refusal of access by the proprietor. Legal proceedings
ensued in all four cases.
The Liquid Egg (Pasteurisation) Regulations, 1963
There are no egg pasteurisation plants in Westminster, and any liquid egg used at premises in the
City would be subject to supervision by the local authority at the place of manufacture or examined
on import.
Imported Food Regulations, 1968
Nearly all imported food coming into Westminster is examined at the port of entry. However, in
some cases the examination of goods is deferred until the food reaches the place of destination.
Immediately notification of this is received concerning goods destined for premises in Westminster
action is taken to contact the importer before distribution takes place.
During the year 78 notifications were received of imported foodstuffs coming into Westminster
which had not been examined at the port of entry.
One notification received in the department concerned Golden Mustard which was found on
analysis, after arrival at the importers' premises, to contain benzoic acid contrary to the Preservatives
in Food Regulations 1962. Arrangements were made for the whole of the consignment to be returned
to the country of origin.
Imported Soya Paste examined at the port of entry was found to contain sorbic acid, a nonpermitted
preservative. The goods had already been forwarded to the recipient in Westminster. He
was immediately contacted and voluntarily surrendered the consignment, comprising two five gallon
containers, which were destroyed.
Export Certificates
Applications for Certificates of Export received in the Health Department during the year in respect
of foodstuffs to be despatched abroad numbered 15 (35). Eight of these were in respect of relief
supplies despatched by a charitable organisation. A food inspector examines the consignment
intended for export and where necessary submits a representative sample to the Public Analyst, or
Public Health Laboratory, to ascertain the fitness of the product concerned before issuing the
certificate.
Trades Descriptions Act, 1968
Some 26 complaints alleging contraventions of the Act, were received in the department during
the year. These included matters relating to eggs, reconstituted potatoes, meat, wine and tea.
As recommended by the Department of Trade and Industry, where overlapping offences occur
in respect of other and more specialised legislation, such as food and drugs laws, appropriate action
should be taken under that legislation, and the matters were dealt with accordingly.
Advice on Labelling
During the year the Labelling of Food Regulations 1970 were published. These revoked the
Regulations of 1967 before they came into operation. The new Regulations will supersede the
present labelling legislation (Labelling of Food Order, 1953) and will come into force on the 1st
January 1973.