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Catering Premises
Catering premises in the borough numbered 1,322 at the end of the year. Consideration was
given last year to the suggestion for the introduction of legislation requiring that catering
establishments register with local authorities. The Council agreed that there was a need for
registration and supported the proposal of the London Boroughs Association to seek inclusion of
suitable provisions in a Greater London Council (General Powers) Bill.
Food Hygiene (General) Regulations 1960
Food Hygiene (Markets, Stalls and Delivery Vehicles) Regulations 1966
Food premises in the borough are subject to frequent inspection by the public health
inspectors to ensure that the provisions of the Food Hygiene Regulations are being observed
and a public health inspector visits the borough's Sunday markets each week. There are over
4,000 food premises, including stalls, in the area. Notices of requirements served numbered
628 and 280 summonses involving 58 premises/stalls were heard during the year.
Details of action taken under Regulations 16 and 19 of the Food Hygiene (General)
Regulations 1960, are contained in the Appendix, page 111,
Food Export Certificates
Certificates numbering 89 were issued in respect of a variety of foodstuffs exported to
Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Canary Islands, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon,
Libya, South Africa, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Zambia.
Before certificates are issued the foodstuffs destined for export are examined and where
necessary samples taken for analysis. Relevant investigation is also made into the methods of
product ion.
Imported Food
During the year 17 samples of imported food were found not to comply with the Labelling
of Food Order and importers and manufacturers were notified so that labels could be amended.
Non-permitted colours were found in samples from two consignments of imported confectionery.
One of the consignments was dealt with by the Local Authority to which it had been sent; the
other is still detained at the wharf. At the request of the Customs, a sample of Absinthe was
submitted for analysis. One of the constituents, thujone or absinol, is of such potency that it
is important that it should be controlled. In the U.S.A. the recommended limit is 10 p.p.m. in
alcoholic drinks flavoured with wormwood oil. Thujone in the sample submitted was approximately
3 p.p.m. Samples of Pakistani sweetwater dried fish were found to be affected by insect
contamination and were released for sorting before distribution.
Insect attack was also responsible for the condemnation of a consignment of Sudanese
groundnuts in shell which were subsequently released for use as bird food. A number of
consignments of groundnuts in shell were sampled for the presence of aflatoxin, but were
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