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when the improvement resulting from the institution of examination in the countries
of origin was so marked as to make it possible to reduce the routine examination to
ten per cent., and later to five per cent.
Importers realise that it is in their interests to attain a high standard of
examination at the source, and, in addition, to have goods so prepared and packed as
to facilitate examination here. Thus, Ox Tongues arrive dressed so as to have the
lymphatic glands easily accessible. Pig carcases have the submaxillary glands
incised and drawn forward in an exposed position, so that no difficulty is experienced
in examining the carcases in the frozen state. Imported Offal is packed with a view
to rapid inspection, as is also boneless Veal, in which care is taken to expose the
serous membranes.
As regards Canned Goods, a considerable proportion is submitted for examination
by expert examiners, on behalf of the merchants. From experience, the Port Sanitary
Authority have complete confidence in this examination, which is of great assistance
to their Inspectors.
When diseased or unsound food is discovered it is almost invariably voluntarily
surrendered, and very rarely is it necessary for the Port Sanitary Authority to go
through the formal procedure of seizure and condemnation by a Magistrate.
The majority of Foodstuffs condemned as unfit for human consumption is not
destroyed, but is used for some industrial purpose, such as the manufacture of poultry
food, soap, grease, &c. In every case the Port Sanitary Authority obtain guarantees
and require to be satisfied that there is no danger that such condemned food, when
it leaves their district, will be sold elsewhere for human food. Thus it comes about
that, though such vast quantities of food are imported, and the number of Inspectors
is few, the amount of food which goes into consumption in an unsatisfactory condition
is infinitesimal.
The Public Health (Imported Food) Amendment Regulations came into force
on the 1st September, 1933. On 21st July the following explanatory Memorandum
was circulated to the Meat Importers:—
"Dear Sirs,
"PUBLIC HEALTH (IMPORTED FOOD) AMENDMENT REGULATIONS, 1933.
"The above came into operation on 1st September, 1933, They extend the classes of Prohibited and
Conditionally Admissible meat as defined in the principal Regulations, viz., the Public Health (Imported
Food) Regulations, 1925.
"The first thing to note is that whereas the principal regulations defined the terms cattle and pig
separately, the term animal is now used and includes a bull, cow, ox, heifer, calf, ram, ewe, wether, lamb,
goat, kid, boar, sow and hog.
"The importation of the following classes of meat is Prohibited
"(a) Scrap meat, that is to say, meat which consists of scraps, trimmings or other pieces (whether
with or without bone) of such shape or in such condition as to afford insufficient means of
identification with a definite part of the carcase. But sausages and other prepared or
manufactured articles of food (i.e., canned meat, potted meat, &c.) are not prohibited.
"(b) Meat comprising the ribs or the abdominal wall from which the pleura or the peritoneum has
been detached.
"(c) The carcase of an animal with the head in its natural state of attachment in which any of
the principal lymphatic glands are missing from their natural position.
"(d) Part of the carcase of an animal from which any of the principal lymphatic glands which should
normally be present in such part have been removed.
"(e) The head or tongue without the submaxillary gland.
"Briefly, then, scrap meat; stripped meat; meat from which lymphatic glands which ought to be
there and available for inspection have been removed, or meat so cut as to avoid the inclusion of the principal
lymphatic glands belonging to the parts are prohibited.
"The following classes of meat are Conditionally admissible, that is to say, they must have the
approved certificate, label or stamp affixed by a competent authority in the country of origin:—
"(a) Any meat which is less than the complete carcase plus the head with all the principal lymphatic
glands in their natural position.
"This means that practically all imported meat will be required to have an official
certificate. There are a certain number of pigs which come in as a complete carcase with
the head attached, and these will not be required to have a certificate.