§ 11. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Minister of Health what scientific and other steps he takes to ensure that food imported for consumption in Britain is pure and free from harmful ingredients and germs.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonEnforcement of the Public Health (Imported Food) Regulations is primarily a matter for port health and other local authorities acting through their medical officer. He arranges for clinical and bacteriological tests as required.
§ Mr. HughesWhat is the difference between imports for defence purposes and those for sale to the public? Who imports them for sale to the public? What 20 scientific and technical steps are taken to protect the public—in the case of goods imported from, say, the Argentine—from infectious disease?
§ Mr. RobinsonSo far as I am aware, the same regulations apply to both categories. As my hon. Friend knows, since the Aberdeen typhoid outbreak we have sent to overseas suppliers a detailed statement of our hygienic requirements for the production of meat and meat products. There are other recommendations of the Milne Committee about the importation of canned meat which are under consideration.