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Public Health Inspector continued to be the Council's representatives on the No.8 Workable
Area Committee set up by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, for rodent control.
The Committee, comprising some 11 neighbouring authorities meets about three times per year
and apart from discussing general methods of rodent control and forms of treatment, investi
gate the results of the simultaneous treatment of interconnected sewers carried out biannually
by adjacent authorities.
BUSINESS PREMISES
In the Borough there are some 2,373 business premises, made up of factories, industrial
undertakings, food premises-catering establishments, shops, etc., -involving some 3,087
activities including registration and licensing. All these premises are subject to routine
inspection by the Public Health Inspectors to ensure compliance with the provisions of the
Acts, Orders and Regulations controlling them, and for the welfare of those who work in them.
Because of staff shortages it was not possible to maintain throughout the year a regular
and systematic inspection of all business premises. Nevertheless. 2,243 inspections were
carried out, 160 notices were served and 261 new registrations and/or licences were dealt
with. Attention is drawn to the statistical section (Part II) which gives detailed information
as to the Acts, Orders and Regulations involved and the action taken in relation
there to.
FOOD AND DRUGS AND SHOPS ACTS ADMINISTRATION
The Council is the Food and Drugs authority for the district and the Public Health
Inspectors are authorised under the Food and Drugs Act, 195-to procure samples of food
and drugs for chemical analysis or for bacteriological or other examinations. 138 samples
of a variety of food and drugs was submitted to the Public Analyst for chemical analysis.
14 adverse reports were received and reported to the Public Health Committee, these related
to 6 informal samples and 8 formal samples. Of the 6 unsatisfactory reports received in
respect of informal samples, 3 were followed by formal samples which proved to be satis
factory, in 2 cases no further action was required and in the remaining case a further
formal sample proved to be unsatisfactory and representations were made to the manufacturers
concerned. In respect of the reports received concerning the 8 formal samples, in
2 cases the Committee considered no further action was justified, and in the remaining
cases, 2 of which concerned oranges contaminated with thiourea and 2 samples of hot milk
obtained from a common supplier, representations were made to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Fisheries and Food and the proprietors concerned respectively.
MEAT AND FOOD CONDEMNED
The statistics table in Part II (Page 33 ) gives information as to foodstuffs in
respect of which condemnation certificates were issued as a result of routine inspection
of food premises. In addition 16 complaints regarding unsound and/or adulterated food were
investigated by the Public Health Inspectors and reported to the Public Health Committee.
In four cases the Committee authorised legal proceedings (details of which are also given
in the Statistical Section) in 7 instances the Committee resolved to send warning letters
to the retailers and/or manufacturers concerned the remaining 5 cases were noted with a
resolve for no further action.
FOOD HYGIENE
The campaign for cleaner food continues to receive special attention. The new provis
ions contained in the Food Hygiene Regulations for securing observance of sanitary and hygienic
practices in the food trades, which came into force in January and July last year
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