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90

Sir, — Copenhagen, 6th July, 1911. In obedience to the instructions conveyed to me in your despatch, No. 33, of this series of the 10th ultimo, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy and translation of the Danish law of the 13th May, 1911, relating to the control of meat by the local authorities. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P., &c. Cqnyngham Greene.

Law relating to Control of Meat by Local Authorities, dated the 13th May, 1911. We, Frederick VIII, by the Grace of God King of Denmark, the Vandals and Goths, Duke of Slesvic, Holstein, Stormarn, Dytmarshen, Lauenburg, and Oldenburg, hereby proclaim— The Rigsdag has passed, and We, by our consent, have ratified the following law : — Section 1. Meat and slaughterhouse offal from animals that have been killed in the public abattoirs in communes where killing is obligatory according to the sanitary regulations, if on examination in the abattoir it is passed as first class, may, in spite of the local sanitary regulations, be imported and offered for sale for human consumption in any commune in the country without examination, and free of charge. The sale thereof shall further not be restricted to special places of sale or subject to restrictions of a similar nature. The same applies to meat which on examination at the abattoir has been placed in the second class, though examination at the place of import may be claimed, but without any charge being made for such examination. There is, however, an implied condition that the controlling veterinary surgeon and the rules according to which he carries out the control have been approved by the Minister of Agriculture, and that the methods employed in the control are in accordance with the regulations prescribed by the Minister of Agriculture. Further, the products must be stamped in the manner prescribed by the sanitary regulations, indicating both condition and place of stamping, and must bear a stamp distinctive from that used in the case of imported meat. Section 2. Meat and slaughterhouse offal from animals that have been slaughtered in communes where, in accordance with the sanitary regulations, there is communal control of meat but no public abattoir or obligatory slaughtering, may, when the products have been considered to be first class by the communal authority, be imported and offered for sale as human food in any commune in the country, without examination or payment of dues at the place of import, in spite of the sanitary local regulations to this effect. In such cases the following rules shall apply:— 1. That the animal has been inspected by the controlling veterinary surgeon at the place of slaughter both alive and immediately after being killed ; that the head (of pigs, calves, sheep, lambs, and goats), hearts, lungs, liver, kidneys, milt, and udder (except when it contains morbid secretion), and the uterus, provided it does not contain large fetus, shall be naturally attached to the carcase on inspection ; that all entrails, mesentery, and fat and head, tongue, and udder from cattle and horses are present, and that the lymphatic glands have not been removed from any of the animals. 2. That the stamping has been effected in a manner prescribed by the sanitary regulations, showing both the condition of the product and the place of stamping, and that the stamping is distinctive from that used in the case of imported or other meat stamped in the controlling station. 3. That the controlling veterinary surgeon and his scale of fees and the rules according to which he carries out the control have been approved by the Ministry of Agriculture, and that the administration of the meat control is subject to the supervision prescribed by the Minister of Agriculture. 4. That, in so far as the sanitary regulations already in force are concerned, these do not contain special stipulations which in the opinion of the Minister of Agriculture might make the control less effective than usual in regard to the regulations for meat control herein mentioned. Section 3. The Minister of Justice shall publicly notify by decree in what manner the communes shall be classified in accordance with the rules contained in section 1 and section 2 respectively, and the marks which are to be recognized for each commune in accordance with these sections. Section 4. The Minister of Justice shall be authorized subsequent to discussion with representatives of the communal abattoirs and the export slaughterhouse, to issue regulations to the effect that, — 1. In public abattoirs, export slaughterhouses, and other establishments where professional slaughtering is carried on, sausage-factories, preserved-meat factories, and sale premises, where principally meat and meat products, &c, are offered for sale, the necessary cleanliness as regards premises, implements, working-clothes, &c., is adhered to. 2. That the state of health of the working staff in the places mentioned is duly looked after. 3. That the products are protected against dirt during transport, whether by private or by public means of conveyance, and that they must not be forwarded, offered for sale, or stored with odoriferous goods. Those who are in charge of the transport of the products may be ordered to take the necessary measures to ensure the application of this rule.