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45
before use, and there is not the same tendency for the juice to exude on cutting.
Frozen beef undoubtedly has some advantages, but these are rather of interest to
the trader than to the consumer.
The condition of the meat when seen by me was excellent. The carcases
themselves might have been of primer quality but the examples clearly showed that
chilled beef from Canada, which only takes a period of twelve or thirteen days
from slaughter to sale on the Markets, can arrive here in excellent condition, and
that it possesses certain advantages over that which takes a longer period in transit.
EXAMINATION OF MEAT INTENDED FOR EXPORT TO HOLLAND.
The Netherlands Government have recently issued a general order prohibiting
the importation of meat into the Netherlands from countries which have not a
national system of meat inspection. Subject to certain conditions, however, they
are prepared to admit meat derived from cattle slaughtered at the abattoirs at
Aldgate or Islington. These conditions include the inspection of the meat by a
duly appointed Veterinary Inspector both before and after slaughter, the adoption
of the criteria laid down in the Minister of Health's memorandum on meat inspection
issued in 1922 (Memo 62 /Food) and the marking of the meat which has been
passed after inspection.
Tn June, a letter was received from the Ministry of Health, asking whether
the Corporation were prepared to undertake the inspection and marking of meat
under these conditions and suggesting that if they were the mark used should be
one which could subsequently be approved under the general system of marking
proposed under Part VI. of the draft of the Public Health (Meat) Regulations.
The methods of meat inspection practised at Aldgate are in accordance with
those set out in the Memorandum referred to and in this connection no difficulty
was experienced in complying with the requirements of the Netherlands Government.
In view, however, of the fact that the Regulations referred to had not been
approved at the time the matter was under consideration, it was felt that any
attempt to secure the approval of a distinctive stamp would be premature.
Accordingly, it was suggested that the stamp and declaration at present in
use under the Order of the Netherlands Government, of date September, 1922, in
regard to fat might well be utilised to meet the present needs, and that if, after the
Regulations of the Ministry were approved, any modification was found necessary,
the matter might be further considered.
The Minister of Health, however, was of opinion that the stamp should be in
conformity with the Public Health (Meat) Regulations and that it was desirable
that the mark to be used should be approved on that basis. The form of stamp is,
therefore, at the present time receiving consideration.
The Order referred to permitted the importation into Holland of fat derived
from animals slaughtered in the public abattoirs of Aldgate and Islington, and
such fat has to be stamped to indicate that it had passed an official inspection. It
had also to be accompanied by a declaration that it had been extracted from the
bodies of animals that had been duly passed as fit for human consumption.
VISIT TO HOLLAND—MEAT INSPECTION IN THE NETHERLANDS.
In response to an invitation received from the Netherlands Government that
a small party, representative of the City of London Corporation, should proceed
to Holland, to observe the methods of meat inspection adopted in that country,
a deputation, consisting of Mr. Deputy Alderton, Chairman of the Sanitary Committee;
Mr. W. Leuw, C.C.; the Medical Officer of Health ; and the City Veterinary
Inspector, proceeded to Holland in April of this year.
The visit has been the subject of a detailed report to the Corporation and it is
not necessary here to refer to it at length. Among the objects of interest which
were visited were the export slaughterhouses, which are under the direct control of
the Ministry of Agriculture, and the slaughterhouses under the control of the local
authority in which animals are slaughtered for home consumption.
Other places inspected included:—
(1) A super-excellent dairy establishment;
(2) The open-air school at Gravenhage;
(3) The serum institute at Rotterdam; and
(4) The Veterinary College at Utrecht.