§ 37. Colonel DAYasked the Minister of Health when the pure milk regulations are likely to be brought into effect?
§ Sir K. WOODThe Milk and Dairies Order, 1926, will come into operation on the 1st October next. The Public Health (Imported Milk) Regulations, 1926, will come into operation on 1st January, 1927.
§ 39. Major McLEAN (for Brigadier-General CLIFTON BROWN)asked the Minister of Health what steps are taken to ensure that foreign condensed skimmed milk and other milk products imported from abroad are free from deleterious matter; and whether, in view of the 229 proposed Milk and Dairy Orders enforcing milk producers in this country to provide clean milk, he will prevent distributors in this country mixing British milk with any imported substance?
§ Sir K. WOODThe Public Health (Imported Milk) Regulations, 1926, impose a standard for the bacterial content of imported milk, and require it to be free from tubercle bacilli. I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of these Regulations and also of the Public Health (Imported Food) Regulations, 1925. I may further refer him to the provisions of Section 1 of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1899, which deals with the importation of adulterated or impoverished milk or cream. The addition of any dried or condensed milk or any fluid reconstructed therefrom, or any skimmed milk or separated milk to milk intended for sale, is prohibited by Section 4 of the Milk and Dairies (Amendment) Act, 1922.
§ Major McLEANIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that during the first five months of the current year over 760,000 cwts. of this condensed milk were imported into this country, that it represents an increase of over 30 per cent. on the figures compared with 1924, and can he explain this large and increasing consumption of this commodity?
§ Sir K. WOODI am unable, of course, to verify my hon. Friend's figures, but I hope that the new Regulations that have just come into force will, at any rate, help.