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FOOD HYGIENE (Cont.)
On 1st January, 1956, the Food & Drugs Act, 1955, and
The Food Hygiene Regulations, 1955, came into operation.
The Act is partly a consolidating measure which repeals
the Acts of 1938, 1950 and 1954, as well as certain other Acts
and Orders. At the same time important changes in the law
have been effected. Perhaps the most important change is the
replacement of Section 13 of the 1938 Act (which dealt with
precautions against contamination of food) with powers
enabling the Ministers to make regulations as to hygiene in
connection with the sale etc. of food to the public.
The long-awaited Regulations appeared simultaneously
with the new Act and prescribe detailed requirements in respect
of (i) cleanliness of food premises, stalls, etc., and of
apparatus and equipment, (ii) the hygienic handling and wrapping
of food, (iii) the cleanliness of persons engaged in the
handling of food and of their clothing, and the action to be
taken where they suffer from, or are carriers of, certain
infections, (iv) the construction, repair and maintenance of
food premises, stalls, vehicles, etc., and the facilities to
be provided, and (v) the temperature at which certain foods that
are particularly liable to transmit disease are to be kept.
Higher maximum penalties than formerly are provided for,
whilst in certain circumstances a person may be disqualified
from using catering premises for a period.
Some of the Regulations which require alterations to
premises or substantial changes in existing practices did not
come into operation for six months.
Local Authorities are empowered to give certificates of
exemption from certain Regulations if through restricted
accommodation or special circumstances compliance cannot
reasonably be required.
"Food premises" means any premises on or from which
there is carried on any food business.
Some doubts which existed previously as to whether certain
types of premises could be dealt with are removed by the
definition of "business" which includes the undertaking of a
canteen, club, school, hospital or institution, whether carried
on for profit or not, and any undertaking or activity carried
on by a public or local authority.
The Minister of Health states that-
"food hygiene is recognised in the food and catering
industries as sound commercial practice serving their
own business interests as well as the public health,
and,the Minister is confident that local authorities
will find that in applying these Regulations they
have the support of the food and catering industries.
Statutory regulations by themselves can never achieve
the reduction in food-borne disease that everyone
hopes to see. The application of the Regulations
will need continual supplementing with publicity and
education in order that food handlers and the public
may always have before them the importance of good
food hygiene practice".
Nothing spectacular has occurred in the Borough consequent
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