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The Regulations modified and extended the hygienic requirements in Section 13
of the Food & Drugs Act, 1938. This section applied to premises, yards and forecourts,
but the Regulations include a number of provisions affecting stalls and vehicles and also
certain general requirements that apply wherever food is handled. Furthermore, whereas
Section 13 relates to sales, actual or Intended, the Regulations apply whether or not there
is any question of sale. They apply to the supply of food in the course of business, which
is defined so as to include canteens, clubs, schools and other institutions as well as
undertakings carried on by public and local authorities.
The principal extensions of the previous law relate to:-
1. specific requirements designed to prevent the contamination of food,
2. provision of sinks or other facilities for washing food or equipment,
3. the provision of a constant supply of hot water for sinks, wash basins, etc. in
food premises and a supply of hot water on stalls and vehicles,
4. restriction on the preparation and packing of food in or about domestic premises,
5. the conditions under which certain foods that provide a particularly favourable
medium for food poisoning organisms are to be kept in food premises,
6. a requirement to provide vehicles used for the transport of meat with duck-boards
and separate receptacles for offal, and, where the vehicles are not enclosed, a
covering supported by a frame or poles,
7. the circumstances in which persons carving meat are required to wear overalls
and head coverings,
A general provision of the Regulations includes a modification of Section 13 of
the Food & Drugs Act, 1938, by Regulation l6 with the object of securing that an adequate
number of wash-hand basins are provided in positions conveniently accessible to food
handlers, so that frequent washing of hands will be encouraged during working hours. The
Regulation is not intended to rule out the use of the wash-basins by customers as well as
by food handlers.
Experience In the practical application of the problems associated with the
Regulations has shown that different Interpretations can be placed on certain aspects
of the provisions. In some cases the issues are so broad that it is almost impossible
to Interpret Court decisions, e.g.
What is "Open Food"?
Open food is defined as food not contained in a container of such materials and
so closed as bo exclude all risk of contamination. The words have already produced fierce
argument; the definition excludes prepacked foods but leaves a state of indecision
concerning how far certain packaging can be regarded as excluding all risk of contamination,
e.g. the wooden boxes of the type normally used for the packaging of peaches, apples and
similar fruits.
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