§ Mr. BOLANDasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he can state if any, and, if so, what, steps have been taken to ascertain the conditions under which the pork recently imported from China was fattened; whether any official inspection of the consignment has been made; and whether the retail vendors are under any obligation to disclose the origin of the pork when selling it in competition with British or Colonial pork?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. John Burns)Prior to the arrival of the carcases in this country I caused inquiries to be made both of the importers and of the Consul-General at Hankow. The latter reported that the animals exported were entirely different from the ordinary scavenger pig, and were of a special breed fed on rice in the valley of the Yangtse. This agrees with the statement made by the importers. The carcases are subjected to a strict examination under the Public Health (Foreign Meat) Regulations. A preliminary examination was made on the arrival of the ship. The carcases are now in cold store, and are examined by the officers of the Corporation before they are placed on sale. Retail vendors are not required to disclose the origin of the pork.