§ Mr. HUNTasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that, under the official regulations of the American Department of Agriculture, lard is allowed to be extracted from the carcases of diseased swine; and, as on the average 2,000,000,000 lbs. of American lard are imported into this country every year, he proposes to take any action to protect our people from this diseased supply?
§ Mr. BURNSThe average quantity of American lard imported into this country every year would appear, from the Board of Trade Returns, to be more nearly 200,000,000 than 2,000,000,000 lbs. The fat extracted from carcases condemned by the inspectors of the Department of Agriculture at United States packing houses is required by official regulations to be placed in specially marked containers, bearing the word "Inedible," before shipment. Under the Public Health (Unsound Food) Regulations, 1908, action has been taken by the Board and by British port sanitary authorities to prevent this material, when imported, from being used by lard refiners or for other food purposes.
§ Mr. HUNTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that under the regulations they can send lard here and mark it fit for food?