40 FOOD LAWS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. 



control and handling of food from foreign countries which is unsound 

 and unwholesome and unfit for consumption. Inspection takes 

 place at the port of entry. Similar work had formerly been locally 

 carried on at the port of London under the port sanitary authority 

 and also at the port of Manchester, but such control had not been 

 general until the issue of these regulations. When such unsound 

 food is discovered by the medical officer of health of the port sanitary 

 authorities, and the importer does not surrender it for destruction or 

 dispose of it in a manner .approved by the medical officer of health, an 

 application for an act of condemnation is made of a justice, who may 

 order the destruction of such food or provide for its disposal, except 

 as an article for human consumption. 



There have also been established public health (foreign meat) 

 regulations, 1908. These regulations have for their object the con- 

 trol of the character of meat of various kinds coming from foreign 

 countries and in general u to provide means by which foreign meat 

 generally which is diseased, unsound, unwholesome, or unfit for 

 human consumption may be detected and dealt with by the public 

 health authorities at the place of importation." Such regulations 

 are especially necessary in Great Britain because of the reliance that 

 must be placed on importations to furnish an adequate food supply. 



Official recognition has been given to certain countries respecting 

 their inspection of meat obtained from cattle or pigs. When such 

 meat products bear an official tag and come from Denmark, the 

 Netherlands, the Dominion of Canada, or the Dominion of New 

 Zealand they are recognized in general as coming from animals free 

 from disease, as having been prepared and packed properly, and as not 

 offering any danger to public health. The fact that such products 

 are properly labeled, while giving facilities in the matter of inspection 

 at the ports of entry, does not, however, grant any immunity from 

 such inspection. These regulations virtually forbid the importation 

 into the United Kingdom of a few specified articles of food, among 

 which are included meat in the form of scraps, not identifiable with 

 definite parts of the carcass; tripe, tongues, and kidneys which have 

 been treated with preservatives, including boric acid; and fresh or 

 frozen pork, when in portions less than the entire carcass, if not 

 inclosed in a receptacle bearing an accepted certificate as to inspection 

 in the country of origin. 



THE MERCHANDISE MARKS ACTS, 1887-1894. 



The merchandise marks act of 1887 makes it an offense, among 

 other things, for any person to apply any false trade description to 

 goods, unless "he proves that he acted without intent to defraud. " 

 (Sec. 1.) Not only does this act apply to the manufacturers, but like- 

 wise to " every person who sells, or exposes for, or has in his possession 



