Sale of Food and Drugs.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 12, 19 July 1905, Page 4

Sale of Food and Drugs.

The sale bf Food and Drugs Bill, one of the Government's policy measures which hasbeen introduced by Governor's message, provides for tbe appointment of analysts and for the purchase of samples- of food or drugs for analysis by health offices. The addition of any ingredient into food or drugs, calculated to be injurious to health or to injure their potency, is to be punishable by a •tine of £50 for the 'first offence, and six months' imprisonment for any subsequent offence. Any one selling any article so adulterated is liable to a fine of £20, unless it is proved that he acted m ignorance. A fine of £10 may be inflicted on J anyone selling food to which an ingredient has been added that tends to increase the weight or bulk, unless the article be labelled to that effect. In court proceedings the analyses certificate is to be prima facie, evidence, of the facts alleged. After a second conviction the magistrate may cause the offender's name, address,' offence, and the penalty imposed, to be advertised at the expense of the offender. Provision has been made to prevent the adulteration of flour, or selling the flour of one corn as the,Jlour of another. Power is given to search bakers' shops and seize adulterated bread or flour. Inspectors are also given power to take samples of milk, wines, or spirits, and to enter proceedings for breaches of the law. All tea and cocoa brought into the colony may also be detained for examination, and the name of the owner or importer of condemned tea is to be published after the second offence.