§ Mr. Purbrickasked the Minister of Health whether he will set out in detail the steps taken by his Department in connection with the production and distribution of cows' milk in a clean and healthy condition and state the various regulations made by his Department for this purpose?
§ Mr. E. BrownThe hygienic quality of milk is the subject of various provisions of the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, and of Orders and Regulations made under, or kept in operation by virtue of, the Act. These are mainly the Milk and Dairies Orders, 1926–1938, and the Milk (Special Designations) Regulations, 1936–1942. They are executed and enforced by local authorities. The following are the principal relevant provisions:—Registration.—No person may carry on the trade of cowkeeper or dairyman or use any farm or other premises as a dairy unless he and the premises are registered with the local authority. A local authority may, in the case of persons applying to be registered or registered as retail purveyors of milk, refuse to register or cancel the registration if they are satisfied that the public health is, or is likely to be, endangered by any act or default of the person concerned. A person aggrieved by any such decision may appeal to a court of summary jurisdiction.
Conditions and methods of production.—The Milk and Dairies Order, 1926, contains a series of provisions with regard to 1721W cleanliness and methods of production, etc. For example, certain requirements are laid down for the lighting, ventilation and cleansing of cowsheds and buildings used for keeping milk, and for methods of milking. Requirements are also laid down for cooling and for preventing the contamination of milk, and for the cleansing of all churns, vessels or other Utensils with which milk may be brought into contact.
Conveyance, distribution, etc.—Special provisions are laid down with regard to cleanliness and avoidance of contamination of milk in connection with premises used for the sale of milk and in connection with its conveyance and distribution.
Infected milk.—A supply of milk may be temporarily stopped if the medical officer of health has evidence that infectious disease has been caused by it, or that the milk has been infected with such disease.
It is further an offence to sell for human consumption or Use in the manufacture of products for sale for human consumption the milk of a cow which has given tuberculous milk or is suffering from certain specified animal diseases.
Milk (Special Designations) Regulations.—These Regulations establish three grades of milk for which the special designations are Tuberculin Tested, Accredited and Pasteurised. It is unlawful to sell milk under these designations except in accordance with a licence. Licences are granted, in the case of producers, by county and county borough councils. Licences for dealers, bottlers and pasteurising establishments are granted by borough, urban and rural district councils. An appeal lies to the Minister against the refusal, suspension or revocation of a licence by a local authority.
Tuberculin tested milk is the milk of cows which pass a tuberculin test and a periodical clinical veterinary examination. The milk must also comply with a prescribed test for cleanliness and keeping quality. Accredited milk is the milk of cows which pass a periodical clinical veterinary examination, and is subject to the same cleanliness test as is tuberculin tested milk. Pasteurised milk is milk which is treated in accordance with one of two prescribed processes and it must also comply with a bacteriological test.