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bacon or ham, which is not and does not comprise any foreign meat of
Class I., and which is contained in a box, case, receptacle or package with
an official certificate impressed thereon, or affixed or attached thereto.
"Foreign Meat Unclassed" means:—
Foreign meat other than foreign meat of Class I., foreign meat of
Class II., or foreign meat of Class III.
The Regulations provide for the manner in which meat in the several classes
is to be detained by the Customs pending examination by the Medical Officer
of Health. Rules are also given for the guidance of that Officer.
Regulations are also made with regard to (i.) giving notice by the
Sanitary Authority to the importers of their intentions with regard to consignments
; (ii.) destruction of foreign meat; (iii.) proceedings for proof that
foreign meat is not intended for sale; (iv.) prohibition of removal for sale
of foreign meat in certain cases, and other matters of administrative detail in
connection with the subject.
The Regulations will meet the case of the imported "boxed " or barrelled
meat, which it has been my duty to so strongly object to under former conditions
of importation.
A Report of the Sanitary Committee, agreed to by the Court of Common
Council on the 31st October, 1907, contained a recommendation of your
Medical Officer of Health that the attention of the Local Government Board
should be directed to the importance of making Regulations under the Act
for the following purpose:—
"For preventing the admission of any meat, or meat products, into this
"country that have not been officially examined and certified as whole"some
before export, the inspection to be in accord with the standard in
"force in this country at the time. At present the only standard
"existing is that laid down in the recommendations of the Royal
"Commission on Tuberculosis, 1898."
It will be seen from the following definition in the Foreign Meat Regulations
that, with regard to this point, the Local Government Board requisitions
entirely comply with the recommendations of the Corporation:—
"The expression ' Official Certificate' used in relation to foreign meat
"or in relation to a box, case, receptacle, or package containing foreign
"meat, means a certificate, label, mark, stamp or other voucher that the
"cattle or pig from which the meat is derived has been certified by a
"competent authority in the place of origin to be free from disease at
"the time of slaughter, and that the meat has been certified by the like
"authority to have been dressed or prepared, and packed with the needful
"observance of all requirements for the prevention of danger arising to
"public health from the meat as an article of food."
In a Report dated the 27 th October, 1908, it was pointed out by your
Medical Officer that the administration of both sets of these Regulations was