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2. It was believed at the time that the only birds in which the disease occurred were of that
specie, but research has since shown that it also occurs in other birds such as seagulls, pigeons,
ducks, turkeys, etc., and is understood to exist in an enzootic form among birds in this country
at the present time.
3. The Minister is advised that there is no reason on health grounds for maintaining the
ban against the import of parrots and he has accordingly made the enclosed Statutory Instrument
revoking the Regulations of 1930, with effect from the 8th January, 1952."
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
A consignment of 792 cases of canned hams and luncheon meat arrived in the Tilbury Dock on
the 15th November, 1951, from Belgium and was detained by an Officer of the Port Health Authority
since the consignment did not comply with the requirements of the Public Health (Imported Food)
Regulations, 1937 and 1948, in the matter of " official certificates."
A subsequent inspection of the consignment revealed that a considerable proportion of the cans
were burst, blown and leaky and furthermore, the contents of the cans not showing obvious signs of
deterioration were found to be stale, mouldy and unsuitable for human consumption.
After lengthy and unsatisfactory correspondence with the Belgian Embassy, the Importers and
the Underwriters, an application was made to a Justice of the Peace for the condemnation of the
consignment as unfit for human consumption.
The application was upheld by the Justice of the Peace who issued an Order that the said food be
destroyed or disposed of under the supervision of the Medical Officer of Health in such a manner as
to prevent its being used for human consumption.
A consignment of 39 cases of Pork in natural juices arrived in the Surrey Commercial Dock on
the 24th June, 1952, from Germany and was detained on the grounds that, on examination, a number
of the tins were found to be blown.
The consignment was sorted with the result that approximately 86 per cent. of the tins were
found to be apparently sound, but in view of the progressive deterioration and blowing of these
apparently sound tins it was considered that the whole consignment was potentially unsound,
unwholesome and unfit for human consumption and the Importer was called upon to authorise the
destruction of the whole consignment under the supervision of the Medical Officer of Health.
After correspondence with the Underwriters and the Importer, the latter being reluctant to
authorise the destruction of the goods an application was made to a Justice of the Peace for a condemnation
of the consignment as unfit for human consumption.
The application was upheld by the Justice of the Peace who issued an Order that the said food
be destroyed or disposed of under the supervision of the Medical Officer of Health by such means
and in such a manner as to prevent its being used for human consumption.
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