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Public Health (Meat) Regulations, 1924.
Tho above Regulations, which came into force on April 1st, 1925, are based on the
recommendations of the Departmental Committee on Moat Inspection. They are designed to
secure more adequate inspection of animals slaughtered in this country, and improvements in
the handling, transport and distribution of meat. The Borough Council have to enforce and
execute these Regulations and, by resolution, have authorised the Medical Officer of Health
and the Food Inspectors to act for the Council.
"With regard to slaughter-houses, the Regulations require that due notice shall be
given to the Local Authority concerning the time when slaughtering is to take place, that
notice must be given when any carcase appears to be diseased or unsound, and forbids certain
processes to be carried on in any slaughter-house.
With regard to shops, stores, stalls, etc., the Regulations specify certain precautions
which are to be taken with the object of preventing contamination, and for securing
cleanliness of premises, implements, etc.
A person suffering from infectious disease is also prohibited from slaughtering
animals or handling meat.
A copy of the Regulations was delivered by the Food Inspectors to every person in
the Borough who deals in "meat." This is defined in the Regulations as meaning the flesh
of cattle, sheep or goats (including bacon, ham, edible offal and fat) sold or intended for sale
for human consumption.
A number of prosecutions have been undertaken in connection with breaches of the
above Regulations. Particulars concerning these will be found on page 95.
In actual practice the above Regulations have been disappointing, and their value has
been diminished owing to their ambiguity.
The Union of London Retail Meat Traders stated that, as there existed an impression
that there can be read into the Regulations a direction for the compulsory introduction of
glass windows to all butchers' shops, a letter was forwarded to the Minister of Health asking
for a ruling on this point.
In his reply, the Minister stated that he had no jurisdiction to give an authoritative
interpretation of the Meat Regulations, that they would be administered by Local Authorities,
and in any case of dispute as to their meaning it would be for the Courts to decide. Such a
position is thoroughly unsatisfactory to the public, to the traders and to the officers of Local
Authorities. It should not be necessary to have to undertake prosecutions in order to define
the meaning of a Regulation. Every Act, by-law, regulation or order should be made as
definite and as clear as possible, so that the interpretation cannot be influenced by the bias of
the party affected, or the ideal of the official concerned.
Bye-laws—Slaughter Houses—Humane Killing.
The by-laws made in 1923 requiring the use of mechanically-operated instruments in
connection with the slaughter of animals, permitted, under certain conditions, the Jewish
method of slaughter.
During the past year the question arose as to whether similar permission should be
allowed in respect of slaughter of animals for the food of Moslems. This appeared to be
desirable, and an amending by-law was made by the London County Council in March; this
was approved by the Minister of Health and came into operation on the 31st July, 1925.