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The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food in a report on labelling published in 1964 referred
to guiding principles which should be the basis of deliberations on the subject of labelling of foodstuffs.
One of these was that all labelling ('which includes any pictorial design') should be as clear
and informative as possible. Advice given to enquirers on labelling requirements of products intended
for distribution in the United Kingdom has incorporated this principle within the scope of current
legislation, and has also taken into account the requirements of the new Regulations in order that
manufacturers will not be required to make any further amendment when the new Regulations
come into operation.
The most frequent cause for adverse comment by this department on specimen labels is the name
used to describe the product. Whilst "coined" names are not in themselves prohibited, it is a requirement
of labelling legislation that the appropriate designation or common or usual name of the food,
shall be clearly indicated on the label. Pictorial designs used must also be accurate e.g. fruit must
not be depicted on a food which contains only fruit flavouring. The new Regulations will require
the letters of the appropriate designation to be of a specified height in direct relation to the largest
dimension of the container.
Apart from matters associated with the special requirements in respect of labelling and the
advertisement of certain foods, the new Regulations extend the requirement for the declaration of
ingredients to additional articles of food.
The regulations also deal with claims for general energy, calories and protein, and those relating
to vitamins, minerals, slimming, diabetics, tonic restorative and medicinal matters.
Under present legislation a "registered trade mark" where in use is sufficient identification of the
manufacture of that particular food. Under the new Regulations the name and business address of
either the packer or labeller of the food or a person in the United Kingdom on whose instructions this
was done must be displayed on the label. A trade mark will no longer be an acceptable alternative.
Consumer Protection—Date Stamping of Pre-packed Foodstuffs
During the year the public health inspectors investigated a number of complaints concerning
mould growth or out of condition pre-packed foodstuffs sold to members of the public.
Checks at a number of retail premises revealed failure to rotate stock. This has sometimes been the
result of a misunderstanding between retailers and salesmen as to their individual sphere of responsibility.
Manufacturers give advice on the storage and handling of their products and code them
in a way which gives information as to the date of manufacture. Suggestions have been made that
the date of expiration of the "shelf life" of a product should be plainly exhibited on the wrapper or
container and if this was accepted the incidence of the sale of out of condition goods would be
greatly reduced. Every opportunity has been taken by the inspectors to impress on retailers the need
for their own simple coding system which can be understood by all the staff concerned. If applied
universally, this should reveal cases where stale foodstuffs are removed from one premises and
delivered to another in association with improper "sale or return" practices.
The Government has recently intimated its intention to study the question of legislation to enforce
the marking of food with the date it was packed and it is anticipated that the review will take a year
to complete. The Food Standards Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
reported in 1964 that the marking of food with the date when packed was attractive to traders and
consumers. This, however, was considered impracticable at the time.
The recent growth in high pressure sales techniques has emphasised aspects which were not
apparent when the Committee prepared their Report in 1964, and the Government's decision to
review the matter is welcomed.
Poultry Processing Premises
There are no poultry processing premises in Westminster.
Slaughter of Animals
There are no slaughter houses 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 slaughtering
takes place for animal feeding purposes. The necessary licence for this and for the slaughterman who
works there were renewed during the year.