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APPENDIX G.
MARKING OF IMPORTED FOODSTUFFS.
NOTICE TO SHOPKEEPERS.
The attention of greengrocers, grocers and others concerned is called to the Orders in Council
made under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926, relating to the marking of the following imported
produce:—
1. Fresh apples. 5. Currants, sultanas and raisins.
2. Raw tomatoes. 6. Oat products (i.e., oatmeal, rolled oats, oat
3. Eggs in shell (i.e., hen and duck eggs). flour and groats).
4. Dried Eggs. 7. Honey.
The Orders apply to these goods on sale and exposure for sale wholesale, as well as by retail,
and generally on importation also ; but this notice refers to sale and exposure for sale by retail only.
Indication of Origin.
These Orders require the above goods to be marked, if imported from foreign countries, with the
word "foreign"; or, if imported from His Majesty's Dominions, with the word "Empire." In
either case, however, the goods may, at the option of the seller, be marked with a definite indication
of the country in which they were made or produced (e.g., "Danish," "Produce of Canada," &c.),
instead of with the words " Foreign" or "Empire."
Show Tickets.
On exposure for sale by retail the following goods are required to be marked with a show ticket,
clearly visible to intending purchasers, bearing the indication of origin in letters not less than half
an inch in height :—
Fresh apples. Currants, sultanas and raisins (not pre-packed).
Raw tomatoes. Oat products (not pre-packed).
Pre-packed Goods.
The following goods are required to bear the indication of origin on the container when prepacked
(i.e., made up in packages ready for retail sale) before reaching the retailer, but not otherwise :—
Currants, sultanas and raisins. Dried eggs.
The following goods are always required to be marked with the indication of origin when packed
ready for retail sale :—
Honey.
Oat products (either on the container or by means of a show ticket as above).
The marking on the container in the above cases is required to be in plain block letters not less
than one-twelfth of an inch in height when the greatest dimension of the packages does not exceed
six inches and in letters one-eighth of an inch in height when the greatest dimension of the package
exceeds six inches.
Sales from bulk.
The following goods, when not pre-packed, must be marked with the indication of origin at the
time of retail sale in quantities of more than 14 lb. :—
Fresh apples. Currants, sultanas and raisins.
Raw tomatoes. Oat products.
Honey, if sold from bulk by retail, must be marked with the indication of origin whatever the
quantity sold.
Blends or Mixtures.
Blends or mixtures of oat products and blends or mixtures of honey must be marked in one of
the following ways :—
(a) if derived entirely from within the Empire, by the word " Empire "; if derived entirely
from foreign countries, by the word "Foreign" ; or
(b) a definite indication of the countries of origin of the goods forming the blend or mixture ;
or
(c) " Blended Imported." This expression is applicable even though the blend or mixture
contains among its constituents some product of the United Kingdom.
Eggs in Shell.
Imported hen or duck eggs in shell must be marked conspicuously and durably on the shell of
each egg in letters not less than 2 millimetres (approximately one-twelfth of an inch) in height.
Imported Goods generally.
Apart from the above Orders, the Act of 1926 requires that all imported goods must be marked
with the indication of origin at the time of exposure for sale and sale if they bear any name or trade
mark of any manufacturer, dealer or trader, or the name of any place or district in the United Kingdom.
The Orders described above apply irrespective of whether the goods bear a United Kingdom
name or trade mark. Failure to comply with them may result in prosecution.
Note.
This Notice does not purport to deal with the whole effect of the above Orders or the Act, but is
intended as a guide to those responsible to observe their requirements. For any further information
required apply to :—
The Medical Officer of Health,
Guildhall, E.C. 2.