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140
IMPORTATION OF IMMATURE CALVES.
In May last, the attention of the Netherlands Government was directed
to the impropriety of their Inspectors passing as fit for export to this country
calves of such an exceedingly low weight as to leave room for doubt as to
whether the animal had any independent existence.
On two days in March, four calves, weighing respectively 34 lbs., 27 lbs.,
37 lbs. and 35 lbs., were seized in the Central Meat Market.
Such puny animals by reason of their miniature condition are certainly not
fit for food. In the City, the sale of calves for food, weighing less than 48 lbs.
or of a less age than three weeks, is prohibited.
REGULATIONS FOR MEAT INTENDED FOR EXPORT
FROM THE NETHERLANDS.
In September last, I was favoured by the Consul-General for the Netherlands
with an English translation of the Netherlands Decree of June 24th, 1908,
Number 50, prescribing the Regulations for carrying into effect Section 5 of
the Netherlands Inspection of Meat for Export Law, 1907.
Hitherto, the inspection and marking of meat for export from Holland has
been conducted upon voluntary lines, a method that has proved most useful
in preparing the way for a compulsory system.
The following summary of these Regulations shows that the Netherlands
Government is determined that, so far as statutory requirements are concerned,
that an endeavour to ensure that meat for export from Holland shall be above
suspicion. These deal with:—
I. The manner of slaughtering animals, the meat of which is
subject to inspection before export.
II. The communes and places where, and the times at which,
meat can be submitted for inspection before export.
III. The state in which meat shall be submitted for inspection
or transport before export.
IV. The rules for the inspection of meat intended for export,
the standard to be adopted for such meat, and the mode of dealing
with it by sterilization or destruction when rejected for export.
V. The manner in which the meat intended for export' is
marked, and the arrangement of the marks.