§ Mr. WATTasked the right hon. Gentleman whether, in regulations under The Public Health (Regulations as to Food) Act, it is the Customs officer whose duty it is to call in the medical officer of health to examine imported meat which the Customs officer considers unsound; if so, will he say whether that official is qualified by training to decide what meat is diseased and what meat is wholesome; and, if not, will he alter the regulation so that all meats imported are subjected to expert examination?
§ Mr. BURNSIt is the case that an officer of Customs would not be qualified by training to decide what meat is diseased and what meat is wholesome, but the Regulations do not require him to do this. His duties under them are to require that certain classes of foreign meat, whether it is diseased or not, shall not be removed until they have been examined by the medical officer of health, and that other classes of foreign meat shall not be removed if, by reason of facts brought to his knowledge, or of representations made to him, he is of opinion that the meat requires examination by the medical officer of health. The responsibility for expert examination rests with the medical officer of health, and he may examine any foreign meat whilst it is still in the district, although it has not been detained by the officer of Customs. It does not appear to me that any alteration of the Regulations is necessary.