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"Class B.—Some safeguard against tuberculosis afforded by the system of meat
"inspection established by the meat law of the country of origin. Such inspection
"would exclude pigs affected by tuberculosis in certain forms, but would pass other
"tuberculous pigs.
"United States Practically the whole importations from these two
"Belgium. countries.
"Class C.—No safeguard against tuberculosis in any degree.
"Dutch.—Pig carcases from Holland not bearing labels attesting Govern"ment
inspection for export.
"Class D.—Unclassified ; importation small.
"Australian, Canadian, Russian, New Zealand, and other countries.
"On the Customs figures above given the importation into the United Kingdom
"of fresh and frozen pork in these different classes appeared to be approximately:—
"In Class A, about 54 per cent, of the total.
” B, ” 34 ” ”
” C ” 9 ” ”
” D 3 ” ”
"If suitable action is taken under the new meat inspection law in the Netherlands,
"Dutch pigs in Class C may be expected in future to diminish in number or to
"disappear altogether. The recent Belgian circular in regard to exported pork has
"presumably already effected some transference of Belgian pigs from Class B to
"Class A. It may here be noted that the Canadian Meat and Canned Food Act,
"1907, provides for systematic inspection of meat foods prepared in Canada for
"export, under which regulations will no doubt be made regarding tuberculosis and
"other diseased conditions of animals slaughtered for food. A system of official
"inspection of meat prepared for export has already been developed in Australia and
"in New Zealand.
“United States.—As matters now stand, if the label ‘U.S. Inspected’ on
"packages of box pork from the United States is accepted at its maximum value,
"it affords a guarantee that the meat does not come from animals suffering from
certain severe forms of tuberculosis, but does not attest that none of the meat is
"derived from tuberculous pigs ; indeed, the United States regulations justify the
"assumption that some of the box pork comes from animals affected by tuberculosis."
Practical Difficulties in Administration with regard to Tuberculosis
in Imported Pork.
Dr. Buchanan points out that inspection at the place of slaughter is the
only safe way of dealing with pork. The present arrangements are unfair to
the Home trader, inasmuch as American boxed pork is allowed to be sold when
it may have been derived from tuberculous animals ; the Home trader has no
such privilege. He does not suggest that any relaxation should be permitted
from the standard set up by the Royal Commission of 1898, but that
measures should be taken to secure the greater wholesomeness of
that which is imported, and for that purpose suggests the following
conditions:—
"(a.) Pork imported as carcases to be required to consist of entire carcases
"including the head and lymphatic glands about the throat.