View report page

107
"8. Secondly, the Danish Inspection, as explained in a previous com"munication,
has hitherto been exclusively sanitary and veterinary.
"Carcasses of pigs showing no sign of disease when slaughtered will,
"nevertheless, when sent off closely packed before properly cooled, arrive
"in a distant market in a state unfit for food. This has been felt more
"of late because of a rickety state among many small pigs, making it
"unprofitable to feed them off for bacon, has caused them to be killed
"young for pork, and in many cases for export. Such carcasses, even
"when perfectly sound and fit for food at the place of slaughtering, have
"been found unfit for export. Being otherwise sound they have not
"been detained by the Inspector.
"9. The many seizures of these carcasses, as revealed by the return of
"the labels, together with the explanation of your Medical Officer of
"Health of the objection to the use of the label on these carcasses, have
"caused an extension of the scope of the Danish Inspection by the follow"ing
addition to the Instructions issued to the Danish Inspectors of Meat,
"which was signed by the Minister of Agriculture on the 18th of this
"month:—
"'Carcasses of pigs must not be passed for export before they are
"'quite cold, and in that state have been found perfectly firm and
"'dry. Carcasses of rickety pigs must not be passed for export.'"
"The Minister has, at the same time, by an Order of the same date,
"taken steps to limit the number of places where pigs can be slaughtered
"for export, so as to ensure a better control.
"10. Finally, I would point out that an evident reason for the more
"frequent condemnation of carcasses from Denmark in 1904 than in 1903,
"and particularly during the last three or four months, is the great
"increase in the import of Danish pork. The larger number of seizures,
"however undesirable, does not necessarily mean a heavier percentage.
"Export of fresh Pork from Denmark to London during the last four months and the
"the same period of the previous year.
1903-4. 1904-5.
"October 25 tons 95 tons.
"November 20 „ 147 „
"December 11 „ 195 „
"January 14 „ 278 „
"11. I have very little doubt but that the Order of January 19th this
"year, and the new Order and Instructions just issued, will have the
"desired effect. The criticism passed on it by the return through me of
"labels of condemned carcasses has undoubtedly been an assistance to the
"Danish Inspection of Meat for export to this country.