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Slaughter of Animals Act, 1933.
Slaughterhouses are subject to annual licensing. There are only two licensed
slaughterhouses in the Borough, one of which is not being used at the present time.
During the year the Council approved the renewal of 14 slaughtermen's licences
and granted one new licence to a slaughterman. All the applications, with one
exception, related to persons who were employed at the Plumstead Abattoir.
Basement Bakehouses.
During 1953 a special survey on the occasion of the quinquennial examination
as prescribed by the Factories Act, 1937 was carried out on basement bakehouses
in the Borough.
On the occasion of the last review in 1948 there were seven basement bakehouses
in the Borough and the Council renewed the Certificates of Suitability in respect
of five of these premises, the other two not being used at that time.
Since the last review two basement bakehouses have ceased to be used for more
than a year and, in accordance with the Factories Act, cannot again be used as
bakehouses.
Certificates of Suitability in respect of the remaining basement bakehouses
situated at 31, Vincent Road, 15, Woolwich New Road, and 38-40, Frances Street
have been renewed for a further period of five years.
Woolwich Imported Food Order.
In January, 1952, imported food was being landed from ships at a wharf in
Warspite Road, Woolwich, where a customs' office has been established, and one
of the Council's Food Inspectors has since that time attended as necessary to
inspect the food being imported.
As specific Ministerial approval is required to undertake such duties, the Council
decided at that time to apply to the Minister of Food for an Order permitting the
Council to execute and enforce the powers given by the Imported Food Regulations.
The necessary Order has now been made, the date of operation being the 1st
February, 1954.
Wharves associated with that part of the Royal Docks situated within the
Borough of Woolwich are the responsibility of the Port of London Authority and
are excluded from the provisions of the Order.
The Council has authorised myself and four of the Sanitary Inspectors to be
authorised officers in accordance with the terms of the Order.
Unsound Food.
The Council's food inspectors are required to examine food suspected of being
unsound and if considered unfit for human consumption the food is surrendered and
a certificate of condemnation issued.
A large number of such certificates were issued during the year. Whilst no
food was seized and formally condemned during the year, some 43,978 articles of
food, weighing approximately 116 tons, were voluntarily surrendered as unfit for
human consumption. The majority of these articles, weighing approximately 88
tons, were from the large abattoir in the Borough. The food was utilised for animal
feeding or for fertilisers. The total weight of the food voluntarily surrendered as
unfit was approximately 30 tons more than that surrendered the previous year.
Meat Inspection.
Slaughtering at the Plumstead Abattoir has continued on a larger scale than
in previous years, the total kill during 1953 being 96,292 animals, compared with
90,002 the previous year.
Far more pigs are now arriving at the Abattoir for slaughter than ever before,
and the total number of pigs inspected comprises two-thirds of the total number
of animals killed.
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