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Statutes of Northern Ireland


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FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - LONG TITLE

An Act to amend the law relating to food and drugs, and for
purposes connected with that matter.{1}
[30th December 1958]
PART I

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 1

1.(1) A person shall not add any substance to food, use any
substance as an ingredient in the preparation of food, abstract any
constituent from food, or subject food to any other process or
treatment, so as (in any such case) to render the food injurious
to health, with intent that the food shall be sold for human
consumption in that state.

Subs.(2) rep. by 1968 c.67 s.135(4) sch.8

(3) Subject to the provisions of this section, a person shall not

(a)sell for human consumption, offer, expose or advertise for sale
for human consumption, or have in his possession for the purpose of
such sale, any food rendered injurious to health by means of any
operation described in sub-section (1); or

Para.(b) rep. by 1968 c.67 s.135(4) sch.8

(4) A person who contravenes any of the foregoing provisions of
this section shall be guilty of an offence under this Act.

(5) In determining for the purposes of this Act whether an article
of food is injurious to health, regard shall be had not only to
the probable effect of that article on the health of a person
consuming it, but also to the probable cumulative effect of articles
of substantially the same composition on the health of a person
consuming such articles in ordinary quantities.

(6) In any prosecution under this section for an offence consisting
of the advertisement for sale of any food..., it shall be a
defence for the person charged to prove that, being a person whose
business it is to publish, or arrange for the publication of,
advertisements, he received the advertisement for publication in the
ordinary course of business, and did not himself make, or cause to
be made, any material alteration in the substance of that
advertisement.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 2
General protection for purchasers of food.

2.(1) A person who sells to the prejudice of the purchaser any
food... which is not of the nature, or not of the substance, or
not of the quality, of the food... demanded by the purchaser,
shall, subject to the provisions of section three, be guilty of an
offence under this Act.

(2) In any prosecution under this section it shall not be a
defence to allege that the purchaser bought for analysis or
examination and therefore was not prejudiced.

(3) In this section... the reference to sale shall be construed as
a reference to sale for human consumption.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 3
Defences available in proceedings under s.2.

3.(1) In any prosecution under section two for an offence consisting
of the sale of food to which any substance has been added, or in
the preparation of which any substance has been used as an
ingredient, or from which any constituent has been abstracted, or
which has been subjected to any other process or treatment, other
than food thereby rendered injurious to health, it shall be a
defence for the person charged to prove

(a)that the operation in question was not carried out fraudulently;
and

(b)that the article was sold having attached thereto a notice of
adequate size, distinctly and legibly printed and conspicuously
visible, stating explicitly the nature of the operation, or was sold
in a wrapper or container displaying such a notice.

Subs.(2) rep. by 1968 c.67 s.135(4) sch.8

(3) In any prosecution under section two for an offence alleged to
have been committed by the sale of an article containing extraneous
matter, it shall be a defence for the person charged to prove that
the presence of that matter was an unavoidable consequence of the
process of collection or preparation.

(4) In any prosecution under section two for an offence alleged to
have been committed by the sale of diluted spirit, being whisky,
brandy, rum or gin, it shall be a defence for the person charged
to prove that the spirit was diluted with water only and that its
strength was not lower than thirty-five degrees under proof; but
nothing in this sub-section shall affect the provisions of
sub-section (4) of section one hundred and sixty-one of the Customs
and Excise Act, 1952 (which relates to the dilution of spirits
after computation of duty).

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 4
Regulations as to composition of food, etc.

4.(1) Subject to sub-section (4), the Ministry of Health and Local
Government (in this Act referred to as "the Ministry") may, so far
as appears to the Ministry to be necessary or expedient in the
interests of the public health, or otherwise for the protection of
the public [or to be called for by any Community obligation], make
regulations for any of the following purposes:

(a)for requiring, prohibiting or regulating the addition of any
specified substance, or any substance of any specified class, to
food intended for sale for human consumption or any class of such
food, or the use of any such substance as an ingredient in the
preparation of such food, and generally for regulating the
composition of such food;

(b)for requiring, prohibiting or regulating the use of any process
or treatment in the preparation of any food intended for sale for
human consumption, or any class of such food;

(c)for prohibiting or regulating the sale, possession for sale, offer
or exposure for sale, consignment or delivery of food which does
not comply with any of the regulations, or in relation to which an
offence under the regulations has been committed or would have been
committed if any relevant act or omission had taken place in
Northern Ireland;

(d)for prohibiting or regulating the sale, possession for sale, or
offer, exposure or advertisement for sale, of any specified
substance, or of any substance of any specified class, with a view
to its use in the preparation of food for human consumption, and
the possession of any such substance for use in the preparation of
food intended for sale for human consumption.

(2) In the exercise of the functions conferred by this section the
Ministry shall have regard to the desirability of restricting, so
far as practicable, the use of substances of no nutritional value
as foods or as ingredients of foods.

(3) Regulations made under this section may apply to cream and
separated milk, and to any food containing milk; but except as
aforesaid such regulations shall not apply to milk.

(4) Regulations under this section which apply to cream or ice-cream
shall be made by the Ministry with the concurrence of the Ministry
of Agriculture.

(5) Regulations made under this section may provide that, where any
food is certified by a public analyst as being food to which the
regulations apply so far as they are made under paragraph (c) of
sub-section (1), that food may be treated for the purposes of
section nine as being unfit for human consumption.

(6) Nothing in any regulations made under this section shall be
taken as prejudicing the generality of the powers conferred by
section nine.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 5
Power of Ministry to obtain particulars of certain food ingredients.

5.(1) For the purpose of enabling the Ministry to exercise the
functions conferred by section four, the Ministry may by order
require every person who, at the date of the order or at any
subsequent time, carries on a business which includes the production
or use of substances of any class specified in the order to
furnish to the Ministry, within such time as may be so specified,
such particulars as may be so specified of the composition and use
of any such substance sold in the course of that business for use
in the preparation of food for human consumption or used for that
purpose in the course of that business.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of sub-section (1), an order
made thereunder may require the following particulars to be furnished
in respect of any substance, that is to say

(a)particulars of the composition and chemical formula of the
substance;

(b)particulars of the manner in which the substance is used or
proposed to be used in the preparation of food;

(c)particulars of any investigations or inquiries carried out by or
to the knowledge of the person carrying on the business in
question, for the purpose of determining whether and to what extent
the substance, or any product formed when the substance is used as
aforesaid, is injurious to, or in any other way affects, health;

(d)particulars of any investigations or inquiries carried out by or
to the knowledge of the person carrying on the business in question
for the purpose of determining the cumulative effect on the health
of a person consuming such substance in ordinary quantities.

(3) Particulars furnished in accordance with an order under this
section, or information relating to any individual business obtained
by means of such particulars, shall not, without the previous
consent in writing of the person carrying on the business in
question, be disclosed except

(a)in accordance with directions of the Ministry, so far as may be
necessary for the purposes of section four or of any corresponding
enactment for the time being in force in England and Wales or
Scotland; or

(b)for the purposes of any prosecution for an offence under the
order or of any report of such prosecution;

(4) A person who discloses any particulars or information in
contravention of sub-section (3) shall be guilty of an offence under
this Act.

(5) An order made under this section shall be subject to negative
resolution.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 6
Labels and advertisements describing food incorrectly.

6.(1) A person who gives with any food... sold by him, or displays
with any food... exposed by him for sale, a label, whether attached
to or printed on the wrapper or container or not, which

(a)falsely describes that food...; or

(b)is calculated to mislead as to its nature, substance or quality;

(2) Subject to sub-section (4), a person who publishes, or is a
party to the publication of, an advertisement (not being such a
label so given or displayed by him as aforesaid) which

(a)falsely describes any food...; or

(b)is calculated to mislead as to its nature, substance or quality;

(3) It is hereby declared that for the purposes of this section a
label or advertisement which is calculated to mislead as to the
nutritional or dietary value of any food is calculated to mislead
as to the quality of the food.

(4) In any prosecution under sub-section (2) it shall be a defence
for the accused to prove either

(a)that he did not know, and could not with reasonable diligence
have ascertained, that the advertisement was of such a character as
is described in that sub-section; or

(b)that, being a person whose business it is to publish, or arrange
for the publication of, advertisements, he received the advertisement
for publication in the ordinary course of business and did not
himself make, or cause to be made, any material alteration in the
substance of that advertisement.

(5) In any prosecution for an offence under this section the fact
that a label or advertisement in respect of which the offence is
alleged to have been committed contained an accurate statement of
the composition of the food... shall not preclude the court from
finding that the offence was committed.

(6) In this section... references to sale shall be construed as
references to sale for human consumption.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 7
Regulations as to labelling and description of food.

7€.(1) Without prejudice to the provisions of section six the
Ministry may, subject to sub-section (4), make regulations for
imposing requirements as to, and otherwise regulating, the labelling,
marking or advertising of food intended for sale for human
consumption, and the descriptions which may be applied to such food.

(2) Regulations made under this section

(a)shall not make provision in relation to the labelling and marking
of food in respect to weight, measure and number;

(b)may make provision for any purpose authorised by paragraph (c) of
sub-section (1) of section four in the case of regulations under
that section.

(3) Regulations made under this section may apply to cream and
separated milk, and to any food containing milk; but except as
aforesaid such regulations shall not apply to milk.

(4) Regulations under this section which apply to cream or ice-cream
shall be made by the Ministry with the concurrence of the Ministry
of Agriculture.

Prohibition on sale, etc., of food unfit for human consumption.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 8

8.(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, any person who

(a)sells, or offers or exposes for sale, or has in his possession
for the purpose of sale or of preparation for sale; or

(b)deposits with, or consigns to, any person for the purpose of
sale or of preparation for sale;

(2) Subject as aforesaid, where food in respect of which an offence
under paragraph (a) of sub-section (1) has been committed was sold
to the offender by some other person, that person also shall be
guilty of an offence under this Act.

(3) Where a person is charged with an offence under paragraph (b)
of sub-section (1) or under sub-section (2) it shall be a defence
for him to prove

(a)that he had no reason to suppose that the person, with whom he
deposited, or to whom he consigned or sold, the food in question,
intended the food for human consumption, and that he gave notice to
that person that the food was unfit for such consumption; or

(b)that, at the time when he delivered or dispatched it to that
person, it was fit for human consumption; or

(c)that, at such time as aforesaid he did not know, and could not
with reasonable diligence have ascertained, that it was unfit for
human consumption.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 9
Examination and seizure of suspected food.

9.(1) An authorised officer of a [district council] may at all
reasonable times examine any food intended for human consumption
which has been sold, or is offered or exposed for sale, or is in
the possession of, or has been deposited with or consigned to, any
person for the purpose of sale or of preparation for sale, and, if
it appears to him to be unfit for human consumption, may seize it
and remove it in order to have it dealt with by a justice of the
peace.

(2) An officer who seizes any food under sub-section (1) shall
inform the person in whose possession the food was found of his
intention to have it dealt with by a justice of the peace, and
any person who under section eight might be liable to a prosecution
in respect of the food shall, if he attends before the justice
upon the application for its condemnation, be entitled to be heard
and call witnesses.

(3) If it appears to a justice of the peace that any food brought
before him, whether seized under the provisions of this section or
liable to be so seized, is unfit for human consumption, he shall
condemn it and order it to be destroyed or to be so disposed of
as to prevent it from being used for human consumption.

(4) Any order made under sub-section (3) shall be sufficient
evidence of the unfitness for human consumption of the food in
question in any prosecution under this Act.

(5) If a justice of the peace refuses to condemn any food seized
under this section by an authorised officer of a [district council,
the council] shall compensate the owner of the food for any
depreciation in its value resulting from its seizure and removal.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 10
Food offered as prizes, etc.

10.(1) Sections eight and nine shall apply

(a)in relation to any food which is intended for human consumption
and is offered as a prize or reward or given away in connection
with any entertainment to which the public are admitted, whether on
payment of money or not, as if that food were, or had been,
exposed for sale by each person concerned in the organisation of
the entertainment;

(b)in relation to any food which is intended for human consumption
and is offered as a prize or reward or given away for the purpose
of advertisement, or in furtherance of any trade or business, as if
that food were, or had been, exposed for sale by the person
offering or giving away the food;

(c)in relation to any food which is intended for human consumption
and is exposed or deposited in any premises for the purpose of
being so offered or given away as aforesaid, as if that food were,
or had been, exposed for sale by the occupier of the premises.

(2) In this section the expression "entertainment" includes any
social gathering, amusement, exhibition, performance, game, sport or
trial of skill.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 11
Power to examine food in course of transit.

11.(1) If an authorised officer of a [district council] has reason
to suspect that any vehicle or container contains any food which is
intended for sale for human consumption, or is in the course of
delivery after sale for human consumption, he may examine the
contents of the vehicle or of the container, and for that purpose
may, if necessary, detain the vehicle or the container, and, if he
finds any food which appears to him to be intended for, but unfit
for, human consumption, he may deal with it as food falling under
sub-section (1) of section nine and sub-sections (2) to (5) of that
section shall apply accordingly.

(2) Where the duties of an officer of customs and excise with
respect to any goods have not been wholly discharged, nothing in
this section shall authorise the examination of those goods without
his consent.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 12
Punishment for sale, etc., of products of knackeries.

12.(1) A person shall not sell, or offer or expose for sale, or
have in his possession for the purpose of sale or of preparation
for sale, for human consumption

(a)any part of, or product derived wholly or partly from, an animal
which has been slaughtered in a knackery or of which the carcase
has been brought into a knackery;

(b)any part brought into a knackery of the carcase of an animal,
or any product derived wholly or partly from that part.

(2) A person who contravenes the provisions of this section shall
be guilty of an offence under this Act.

(3) In this section "knackery" means any premises used in connection
with the business of slaughtering animals the flesh of which is not
intended for human consumption, or of flaying, cutting up or
processing the carcases of such animals.

Regulations as to food hygiene.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 13

13.(1) The Ministry may make such regulations as appear to the
Ministry to be expedient for securing the observance of sanitary and
cleanly conditions and practices in connection with

(a)the sale of food for human consumption; or

(b)the preparation, transport, storage, packaging, wrapping, exposure
for sale, service or delivery of food intended for sale or sold
for human consumption;

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of sub-section (1),
regulations made by the Ministry under this section may make
provision

(a)for imposing requirements to secure the prevention of the
occurrence of disease through the contamination of food by persons
engaged in a food business;

(b)for imposing requirements as to the construction, layout, drainage,
equipment, maintenance, cleanliness, ventilation, lighting, water
supply, and use of premises in, at or from which food is sold, or
offered, exposed, stored or prepared for sale, for human consumption
(including any parts of such premises in which apparatus, equipment,
containers or utensils are cleansed or in which refuse is disposed
of or stored);

(c)for imposing requirements as to the provision, maintenance and
cleanliness of sanitary and washing facilities in connection with
such premises, the disposal of refuse and the maintenance and
cleanliness of apparatus, equipment, furnishings, containers or
utensils used in such premises, and in particular for imposing
requirements that every sanitary convenience situated in such premises
shall be supplied with water through a suitable flushing appliance;

(d)for prohibiting or regulating the use of any specified materials,
or of materials of any specified class, in the manufacture of
apparatus, equipment, containers or utensils designed for use in the
preparation of food for human consumption, and the sale of
apparatus, equipment, containers or utensils designed for such use
and containing any specified materials or materials of any specified
class;

(e)for prohibiting spitting on premises where food is sold or
offered, exposed, stored or prepared for sale for human consumption
(including any parts of such premises in which apparatus equipment,
containers or utensils are cleansed);

(f)for imposing requirements as to the clothing worn by persons in
such premises;

(g)for securing the inspection of animals intended for slaughter and
of carcases for the purpose of ascertaining whether meat intended
for sale for human consumption is fit for human consumption, for
securing the marking of such carcases, and for prohibiting the sale
of such meat where the animals or, as the case may be, the
carcases have not been so inspected;

(h)for requiring the staining or sterilisation in accordance with the
regulations of meat which is unfit for human consumption, or which
is derived from animals slaughtered in knackeries or from carcases
brought into knackeries or which, though not unfit for human
consumption, is not intended therefor;

(i)for regulating generally the treatment and disposal of such meat
and of any food unfit for human consumption;

(j)for prohibiting or regulating, or enabling [district councils] to
prohibit or regulate, the sale for human consumption or the offer,
exposure or distribution for sale for human consumption, of
shell-fish taken from beds or other layings for the time being
designated under the regulations.

(3) In sub-section (2) "animals" includes poultry.

(4) Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions of this section or
section sixty-eight, any such regulations imposing requirements in
respect of premises may

(a)impose responsibility for compliance with those requirements on the
occupier of the premises and, in the case of requirements of a
structural character, on any owner of the premises who either lets
them for use for a purpose to which the regulations apply or
permits them to be so used after notice from the [district
council];

(b)provide, subject to such limitations and safeguards as may be
specified, for conferring, in relation to particular premises,
exemptions from the operation of specified provisions contained in
regulations made for the purposes of paragraph (b) or paragraph (c)
of sub-section (2) while there is in force a certificate of the
[district council] to the effect that compliance with those
provisions cannot reasonably be required with respect to the premises
or any activities carried on therein.

(5) If any person who has incurred, or is about to incur,
expenditure in securing that the requirements of regulations made
under this section, being requirements of a structural character, are
complied with in respect of any premises owned or occupied by him
claims that the whole or any part of the expenditure ought to be
borne by any other person having an interest in the premises, he
may apply to the county court, and the court may make such order
concerning the expenditure or its apportionment as appears to the
court, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, including
the terms of any contract between the parties, to be just and
equitable; and any order made under this sub-section may direct that
any such contract as aforesaid shall cease to have effect in so
far as it is inconsistent with the terms of the order.

(6) The Ministry may make regulations imposing, to such extent as
the Ministry may think fit, in respect of vehicles, stalls, and
places other than premises any requirement which could be imposed
under the foregoing provisions of this section in respect of
premises.

(7) The Ministry may take such steps as appear to the Ministry to
be expedient for publishing codes of practice in connection with
matters which may be made the subject of regulations under this
section, for the purpose of giving advice and guidance to persons
responsible for compliance with such regulations.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 14
Power of court to disqualify person for carrying on a food
business.

14.(1) Where a person is prosecuted by a [district council] for an
offence under regulations made under section thirteen in respect of
any premises used for the purposes of a food business, or of any
food business carried on at those premises, the following provisions
of this section shall have effect.

(2) If the [district council] have, not less than twenty-one days
before the date of the hearing, given the person against whom the
prosecution is brought notice of their intention to apply for an
order under this section to be made against him, and if the person
is convicted of the offence, the court, having regard to

(a)the gravity of the offence; or

(b)the unsatisfactory nature of the premises, where the offence is
committed in respect of premises; or

(c)any offences against regulations made under section thirteen of
which the person has previously been convicted;

(i)disqualifying the person for using those premises for the purposes
of a food business; or

(ii)disqualifying the person for using those premises for the
purposes of any food business specified in the order.

(3) Subject to sub-section (5), an order made under this section
shall remain in force

(a)where it is made on the ground of the unsuitability of premises
because the requirements of regulations made under section thirteen
have not been complied with, until it is revoked by the court;

(b)where it is made on any other ground, for such period not
exceeding two years as may be specified in the order.

(4) A person shall be guilty of an offence under this Act if

(a)while he is subject to an order of the kind referred to in
paragraph (i) of sub-section (2) he uses the premises specified in
the order for the purposes of a food business, or participates in
the management of a food business carried on at the premises so
specified;

(b)while he is subject to an order of the kind referred to in
paragraph (ii) of sub-section (2) he uses the premises specified in
the order for the purposes of any food business specified in the
order, or participates in the management of any such business
carried on at the premises so specified.

(5) A person subject to an order made under this section may apply
to the court to revoke the order, and on any such application the
court may, if it thinks proper having regard to all the
circumstances of the case, including in particular the person's
conduct subsequent to the conviction and any improvement in the
state of any premises specified in the order, grant the application.

(6) If an application made under sub-section (5) is refused by the
court to which it is made, a further application thereunder shall
not be entertained if made within three months after the date of
the refusal.

(7) Where a conviction for an offence against any regulation made
under section thirteen is quashed, the court quashing the conviction
shall also revoke any order made under this section in consequence
of that conviction.

(8) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (7), a person
aggrieved by an order made under this section may appeal against
that order to a court of quarter sessions.

(9) Nothing in this section shall apply to any premises used for
the purposes of a business in respect of which a licence is in
force under the Milk Act (Northern Ireland), 1950, or to any
premises in respect of which a licence is in force under the
Slaughter-houses Act (Northern Ireland), 1953.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 15
Byelaws as to handling and sale of food.

15.(1) A [district council] may make byelaws for securing the
observance of sanitary and cleanly conditions and practices in
connection with the handling, wrapping and delivery of food sold or
intended for sale for human consumption, and in connection with the
sale or exposure for sale in the open air of food intended for
human consumption.

Subs.(2) rep. by SRO (NI) 1973/211

(3) In so far as any byelaws made under this Act conflict with
regulations made under Part I, the regulations shall prevail.

S.16 rep. by 1969 c.36 (NI) s.48 sch.3

Registration of manufacturers of, and traders in, ice-cream.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 17

17.(1) A person shall not use any premises for

(a)the manufacture of ice-cream for the purpose of sale for human
consumption;

(b)the storage of ice-cream intended for sale for human consumption;

(c)the sale of ice-cream for human consumption;

(2) A person who uses any premises in contravention of sub-section
(1) shall be guilty of an offence under this Act.

(3) An application for registration under this section in respect of
any premises shall

(a)be made by the person who proposes to use the premises;

(b)contain such information in relation to those premises as the
[district council] may require;

(c)where the application is in respect of premises not yet erected,
or of premises to be reconstructed, be accompanied by plans showing
the proposed works.

(4) Subject to the provisions of this section, the [district
council] shall, on an application for registration under this section
being duly made by a person in respect of any premises

(a)register those premises; and

(b)issue to that person, upon payment of a fee of [10p] or such
other amount as may be prescribed, a certificate of registration.

(5) Where an application is made for registration under this
section, or where premises are registered under this section, and it
appears to the [district council]

(a)that the requirements of regulations in force under section
thirteen are not complied with in connection with the business
carried on at the registered premises, or in connection with the
registered premises, or, as the case may be, in connection with the
premises specified in the application; or

(b)that the premises or any part thereof are otherwise unsuitable
(having regard to considerations of hygiene and in particular to the
situation, construction or condition of the premises, or to any
activities carried on therein) for use for the purpose or purposes
specified in the application, or for which they are used, as the
case may be;

(6) A [district council] shall not refuse, cancel or vary any
registration under this section unless

(a)they have served on the applicant or the occupier of the
premises a notice of their proposal so to do for reasons specified
in the notice, stating the place and time, not being less than
twenty-one days after the date of the service of the notice, at
which they will take the matter into consideration, and informing
him that he may appear (and be represented, if he so desires, by
counsel or solicitor) before them, with any witnesses he desires to
call, at that place and time to show cause why the [council]
should not proceed with the proposal; and

(b)the applicant or occupier fails to show cause to their
satisfaction.

(7) If

(a)the [district council] refuse, cancel or vary a registration under
this section; and

(b)the applicant or the occupier requests the [council] for a
statement of the reasons for their decision;

(8) A person aggrieved by a decision of a [district council] under
this section to refuse, cancel or vary any registration may appeal
to a court of summary jurisdiction, and any person aggrieved by the
decision of that court may appeal to the county court.

(9) A register kept by a [district council] under this section
shall be open to public inspection free of charge at all reasonable
hours.

(10) The occupier of premises registered under this section shall
keep the certificate of registration fixed in a conspicuous place in
those premises.

(11) Upon any change in the occupation of premises registered under
this section the incoming occupier shall, within fourteen days of
that change, give notice thereof to the [district council].

(12) Any person who fails to comply with the provisions of
sub-section (10) or sub-section (11) shall be guilty of an offence
under this Act.

(13) Nothing in section fourteen shall apply in relation to any
premises registered under this section.

(14) Premises which, at the coming into operation of this section,
are registered in accordance with section four or section five of
the Sale of Ice-Cream Act (Northern Ireland), 1937, shall be deemed
to be registered under this section, and the provisions of this
section shall have effect accordingly.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 18
Extension to other food businesses of provisions relating to
registration, etc.

18.(1) The Ministry may

(a)by regulations prescribe that persons intending to use any
premises for the purposes of any food business specified in those
regulations shall give notice to the [district council] of that
intention;

(b)by order apply, with or without modifications, the provisions of
section seventeen to any food business specified in the order.

(2) An order made under paragraph (b) of sub-section (1) shall be
subject to affirmative resolution.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 19
Licensing of vehicles, etc.

19.(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, the Ministry may
make regulations providing

(a)for the issue by [district councils] of licences in respect of
the use of vehicles, stalls or places other than premises, for the
preparation, exposure or offer for sale, or sale, of food for human
consumption; and

(b)for prohibiting the use for any such purpose of any such
vehicle, stall or place except in accordance with a licence issued
under the regulations.

(2) Regulations made under this section may provide for the refusal
or cancellation of a licence under the regulations, either wholly or
in respect of a part of the business for which the licence is
applied for or is held

(a)where the requirements of regulations in force under section
thirteen are not complied with in relation to that business; or

(b)where the applicant or holder is unable or has failed to comply,
in relation to that business, with any byelaws in force under
section fifteen;

(i)affording to persons aggrieved by any such refusal or cancellation
an opportunity to make representations to the [district council];

(ii)giving to such persons a right of appeal from the decision of
the [district council] to a court of summary jurisdiction;

<(iii)giving to any person aggrieved by the decision of a court of summary jurisdiction on any such appeal the right to appeal from that decision to the county court.

Regulations as to milk.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 20

20.(1) The Ministry may, to prevent danger to health from the
supply or sale of infected milk, make such regulations as appear to
the Ministry to be expedient

(a)for requiring the treatment before it is supplied or sold of
milk which is infected or suspected of being infected;

(b)for prohibiting the supply or sale of milk which is infected or
suspected of being infected;

(c)for prohibiting the use of milk which is infected or suspected
of being infected in the manufacture of products for sale for human
consumption;

(d)for authorising the payment by [district councils] of compensation
to any person for damage or loss sustained by him by reason of
any prohibition or restriction imposed by regulations made under this
section on the supply, sale or use of milk which is infected or
suspected of being infected.

(2) The Ministry may, where no express provision is made by this
Act, make regulations for prohibiting or restricting

(i)the addition of any substance to milk, or the abstraction from
milk of fat or any other constituent;

(ii)the supply or sale of milk to which any such addition, or from
which any such abstraction, has been made, or which has been
otherwise artificially treated.

(3) Regulations made under sub-section (2) shall not apply in
relation to cream in so far as they are made for any purpose for
which regulations relating to cream may be made under section four.

(4) The Ministry may, with the approval of the Ministry of Finance,
repay out of moneys provided by Parliament such part, not exceeding
three-quarters, as the Ministry may with such approval determine of
any sums paid by a [district council] by way of compensation to
any person for any damage or loss sustained by him by reason of
any prohibition or restriction imposed by regulations made under
sub-section (1) on the sale, supply or use of milk which is
infected or suspected of being infected.

(5) In this section "milk" means milk intended for supply or sale
or supplied or sold for human consumption, or intended for
manufacture into products for sale for human consumption.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 21
Prohibition of sale of milk from diseased cows.

21.(1) A person shall not

(a)sell, or offer or expose for sale, or have in his possession
for the purpose of sale, for human consumption; or

(b)use in the manufacture of products for sale for human
consumption;

(2) In any prosecution under this section, the defendant shall be
deemed to have known that a cow had given tuberculous milk, or was
so suffering as aforesaid, if he could with ordinary care have
ascertained the fact.

(3) A person who contravenes any of the provisions of this section
shall be guilty of an offence under this Act.

(4) The diseases of cows to which this section applies are those
listed in the First Schedule and any other disease to which the
provisions of this section are extended by regulations made by the
Ministry for that purpose.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 22
Certain additions not to be made to milk and certain liquids not
to be sold as milk.

22.(1) [Subject to sub-section (2A)] a person shall not

(a)add any water or colouring matter, or any dried or condensed
milk or liquid reconstituted therefrom, to milk intended for sale
for human consumption; or

Para.(b) omitted by SRO (NI) 1972/363

(c)sell, or offer or expose for sale, or have in his possession
for the purpose of sale, for human consumption, any milk to which
any addition has been made in contravention of the provisions of
this sub-section.

(2) A person shall not sell, or offer or expose for sale, or have
in his possession for the purpose of sale, as milk any liquid in
the making of which... any dried or condensed milk has been used.

[(2A) The prohibitions contained in sub-section (1)(a) and (c), in
so far as they relate to the adding of any water to milk or the
sale, offering or exposure for sale or possession of milk to which
water has been added shall not apply in any case where water is
added to milk in the course of any process of direct heat
treatment by steam authorised under the Milk Acts (Northern Ireland)
1950 and 1963 or the Marketing of Milk Products Act (Northern
Ireland) 1958 (whichever is applicable), where the process is
conducted in accordance with regulations made in that behalf by the
Ministry of Agriculture under those Acts or, as the case may
require, that Act.]

(3) A person who contravenes any of the provisions of this section
shall be guilty of an offence under this Act.

(4) For the purposes of paragraph (c) of sub-section (1), a person
shall be deemed to retain the possession of milk which is deposited
in any place for collection until it is actually collected; but
nothing in this sub-section shall be taken as prejudicing the
defence available under sub-section (10) of section thirty-six [or,
as the case may be, under sub-section (8) of section thirty-six A,]
to a person charged with an offence in respect of a sample of
milk taken after the milk has left his possession.

S.23 omitted by SRO (NI) 1972/363

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 24
Cream substitutes.

24.(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, a person shall
not sell, or offer or expose for sale, for human consumption

(a)any substance which resembles cream in appearance, but is not
cream; or

(b)any article of food containing such a substance;

(2) Sub-section (1) shall not apply to the sale, or offer or
exposure for sale, of any substance being reconstituted or imitation
cream as defined by this section, or of any article containing such
a substance, under a description or designation which identifies the
substance as such, or to the sale, or offer or exposure for sale,
of any substance under a description or designation which indicates
that the substance is not for use as, or as a substitute for,
cream.

(3) A person who contravenes sub-section (1) shall be guilty of an
offence under this Act.

(4) For the purposes of this section, the description or designation
under which a substance or article is sold, or offered or exposed
for sale, shall be deemed to include the word "cream" if it
includes any other word (composite or otherwise) which is calculated
to lead a purchaser to suppose that the substance is or, as the
case may be, the article contains either cream or a substance for
use as cream.

(5) In this section

"reconstituted cream" means a substance which, not being cream,
resembles cream in appearance and contains no ingredient not derived
from milk, except

(a)water; or

(b)ingredients (not added fraudulently to increase bulk, weight or
measure, or conceal inferior quality) which may lawfully be contained
in a substance sold for human consumption as cream or butter;

"imitation cream" means a substance which, not being cream or
reconstituted cream, resembles cream in appearance and is produced by
emulsifying edible oils or fats with water, either by themselves, or
with other substances not prohibited by regulations made for the
purposes of this section under section four, nor added in quantities
so prohibited.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 25
Sign to be displayed on premises, etc., where horse-flesh is sold
for human consumption.

25.(1) A person shall not sell, or offer or expose for sale, or
have in his possession for the purpose of sale, any horseflesh for
human consumption elsewhere than in premises or in a stall, vehicle
or place other than premises over or on which there is at all
times displayed in a conspicuous position a notice in legible
letters not less than four inches in height stating that horseflesh
is sold there.

(2) A person shall not supply horseflesh for human consumption to a
purchaser who has not asked to be supplied with horseflesh, or who
has asked to be supplied with some compound article of food not
ordinarily made of horseflesh.

(3) A person who contravenes any of the provisions of this section
shall be guilty of an offence under this Act.

(4) If any horseflesh is exposed for sale elsewhere than in
premises or in a stall, vehicle or place other than premises
distinguished as aforesaid without anything to show that it was not
intended for sale for human consumption the onus of proving that it
was not so intended shall rest upon the person exposing it for
sale.

(5) In this section

"horseflesh" means the flesh of horses, asses and mules, and
includes any such flesh whether cooked or uncooked and whether
alone, or accompanied by, or mixed with, any other substance; and

"flesh" includes any part of any such animal.

Power to provide cold stores.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 26

26. [A district council] may, with the approval of the Ministry,
provide a cold store for the storage and preservation of meat and
other articles of food, and may make charges in respect of the use
of any such store.

S.27 rep. by 1967 c.36 (NI) s.33 sch.3

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 28
Provisions as to suspected food.

28.(1) If [a chief administrative medical officer of a Health and
Social Services Board] has reasonable ground for suspecting that any
food is likely to cause food poisoning, he may give notice to the
person in charge of the food that, until his investigations are
completed, the food, or any specified portion thereof, is not to be
used for human consumption and either is not to be removed, or is
not to be removed except to some place specified in the notice.

(2) A person who uses or removes any food in contravention of the
requirements of a notice given under sub-section (1) shall be guilty
of an offence under this Act.

(3) If, as a result of his investigations, the [chief administrative
medical officer] is satisfied that the food in question, or any
portion thereof, is likely to cause food poisoning, he may deal
with it as food falling within sub-section (1) of section nine and
sub-sections (2) and (3) of that section shall apply accordingly;
but, if he is satisfied that it may safely be used for human
consumption he shall forthwith withdraw his notice.

(4) If a notice given under sub-section (1) is withdrawn by the
[chief administrative medical officer], or if the justice of the
peace before whom any food is brought under this section refuses to
condemn it, the [Health and Social Services Board] shall compensate
the owner of the food to which the notice related for any
depreciation in its value resulting from the action taken by the
[chief administrative medical officer].

(5) For the purposes of sub-section (4) the value of any food
shall not be assessed at a sum exceeding the cost incurred by the
owner in making or purchasing it.

[(5A) Any function of the chief administrative medical officer of a
Health and Social Services Board under this section may be exercised
by such other medical officer of the Health and Social Services
Board as the chief administrative medical officer may authorise in
writing in that behalf.]

(6) In this section

"food poisoning" includes any disease transmissible by food;

["Health and Social Services Board", means a Health and Social
Service Board established under Article 16 of the Health and
Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972.]

District councils responsible for enforcement.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 29

29.(1) It shall be the duty of every [district council] to enforce
and execute in their [district] the provisions of any section of
this Act, or of any regulations made thereunder, with respect to
which the duty is not expressly, or by necessary implication,
imposed on some other authority.

(2) It shall be the duty of the Ministry to enforce and execute
the provisions of any order made under section five.

Subs.(3)(4) rep. by 1967 c.36 (NI) s.33 sch.3

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 30
Meaning of ""authorised officer''.

30.(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, the expression
"authorised officer" means an officer of a [district council]
authorised by that [council] in writing, either generally or
specially, to act in matters of any specified kind or in any
specified matter.

[(2) Any public health inspector of a district council shall be
deemed to be an authorised officer of that council for all purposes
of this Act.]

(3) A member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons employed
by a [district council] for the purpose of inspection of food shall
be deemed to be an authorised officer of the [council] for the
purpose of the examination and seizure of meat under the provisions
of Part I relating to food unfit for human consumption.

(4) An officer of a [district council] shall not be authorised to
act under this Act in relation to the examination and seizure of
meat unless he is

(a)a person deemed to be an authorised officer by virtue of
sub-section (2) or sub-section (3); or

(b)a person having such qualifications as may be prescribed.

Public analysts.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 31

31.(1) Every [district council] shall appoint in accordance with the
provisions of this section one or more than one person (in this
Act referred to as "public analysts") to be analysts of food and
drugs within the [district] of that [council].

(2) A person shall not be appointed a public analyst unless he
possesses

(a)such qualifications as may be prescribed; or

(b)such other qualifications as the Ministry may approve.

(3) A person who is engaged directly or indirectly in any trade or
business connected with the sale of food or drugs in any area
shall not be appointed public analyst for that [district].

(4) The appointment, the terms of appointment, and the removal of a
public analyst shall be subject to the approval of the Ministry.

(5) A [district council] shall pay to a public analyst such
remuneration as may, subject to the approval of the Ministry, be
agreed upon by the [council] and the analyst, and that remuneration
may be expressed to be payable

(a)in addition to any fees received by the analyst under this Act;
or

(b)on condition that any fees received by the analyst under this
Act are paid over by him to the [council].

(6) A [district council] who appoint only one public analyst may
appoint also a deputy to act during any vacancy in the office of
public analyst, or during the absence or incapacity of the holder
of the office, and the provisions of sub-sections (2) to (5) shall
apply in relation to a deputy public analyst as they apply in
relation to a public analyst.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 32
Facilities for examination of food and drugs.

32. A [district council] may, with the approval of the Ministry,
provide facilities for bacteriological and other examinations of
samples of food and drugs.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 33
Powers of sampling.

33.(1) An authorised officer of a [district council] may exercise
such powers of procuring samples for analysis, or for bacteriological
or other examination, as are conferred upon him by this section,
and any such officer is in this Act referred to as a "sampling
officer".

(2) Subject to sub-section (3), a sampling officer may purchase
samples of any food..., or of any substance capable of being used
in the preparation of food.

Subs.(3) rep. by 1968 c.67 s.135(4) sch.8

(4) Subject to the provisions of this section, a sampling officer
may take a sample of any food, or of any substance capable of
being used in the preparation of food which

(a)appears to him to be intended for sale for human consumption; or

(b)appears to him to have been sold for human consumption; or

(c)is found by him on or in any premises, stall, vehicle or place
other than premises which he is authorised to enter for the
purposes of the execution of this Act.

(5) A sampling officer shall not, without the consent of the
purchaser,

(a)take a sample of any food or substance (other than milk) which
appears to him to have been sold by retail, either while the food
or substance is in the course of delivery to the purchaser, or at
any time after such delivery;

(b)take a sample of milk which appears to him to have been sold
by retail at any time after the milk has been delivered to the
purchaser.

(6) Any power of an authorised officer to procure samples of milk
may be exercised at a place outside the [district of the district
council] by whom that authorised officer was appointed, if the
[district council of the district] within which the place is
situated have consented to samples of milk being procured within
their [district] by officers of the first-mentioned [council].

(7) For the purposes of this Act any sample procured in accordance
with sub-section (6) shall be deemed to have been procured within
the [district] for which the officer in question acts.

(8) A [district council] shall not unreasonably withhold their
consent for the purposes of sub-section (6), and any question as to
the reasonableness of withholding such consent shall be referred to
and determined by the Ministry.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 34
Right to have samples analysed.

34.(1) If a sampling officer who has procured a sample of any
food... or substance considers that it should be analysed, he shall
submit it to be analysed by the public analyst for the [district]
in which the sample was, or is deemed to have been, procured.

(2) A person, other than a sampling officer, who has purchased any
food..., or any substance capable of being used in the preparation
of food, may submit a sample of it to be analysed by the public
analyst for the [district] in which the purchase was made.

(3) The public analyst shall analyse as soon as practicable any
sample submitted to him in pursuance of this section but may, where
the sample is submitted by a person other than an officer of the
[district council], demand in advance the payment of such fee as
may be fixed by the [council].

(4) If

(a)the office of public analyst for [a district] is vacant; or

(b)the public analyst determines that he is for any reason unable
to perform an effective analysis;

(5) A public analyst, or a person approved by the Ministry for the
purposes of sub-section (4), who has analysed a sample shall give
to the person who submitted the sample a certificate, in such form
as may be prescribed, specifying the result of the analysis.

(6) A certificate given under sub-section (5) shall be signed by
the public analyst or person approved by the Ministry for the
purposes of sub-section (4), but the analysis may be made by any
person acting under the direction of that analyst or approved
person.

(7) Where a sample procured by a sampling officer has been analysed
by a public analyst or a person approved by the Ministry for the
purposes of sub-section (4), any person to whom a part of the
sample was given in accordance with provisions of this Act shall be
entitled, on payment of a fee of [5p] to the [district council] by
whose officer the sample was procured, to be supplied with a copy
of the certificate given under sub-section (5).

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 35
Disposal of samples taken for analysis.

35.(1) A sampling officer who procures a sample of any food ... or
substance for the purpose of analysis by a public analyst shall
forthwith divide it into three parts, each part to be marked and
sealed or fastened up in such manner as its nature will permit,
and shall deal with the parts in accordance with the following
provisions of this section.

(2) Subject to the provisions of this section, the sampling officer
shall dispose of one part of the sample as follows, that is to
say

(a)where the sample was purchased by the sampling officer, he shall
give the part to the vendor;

(b)where the sample was of goods consigned from outside Northern
Ireland and was taken by the sampling officer before delivery to
the consignee, he shall give the part to the consignee;

(c)where the sample was taken by the sampling officer with the
consent of a purchaser by retail, not being a sample taken as
mentioned in the preceding paragraph, he shall give the part to the
vendor;

(d)where the sample was of milk taken by the sampling officer
otherwise than as mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, he shall
give the part to the person who caused the milk to be placed in
the container from which the sample was taken;

(e)where the sample was taken in transit by the sampling officer,
otherwise than as mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, he shall
give the part to the consignor;

(f)where the preceding paragraphs do not apply, the sampling officer
shall give the part to the person appearing to be the owner of
the food, drug or substance;

(3) Of the remaining parts of the sample, the sampling officer
shall, unless he decides not to have an analysis made, submit one
for analysis in accordance with section thirty-four, and retain the
other for future comparison.

(4) If it appears to a sampling officer that any food... or
substance of which he has procured a sample for the purpose of
analysis by a public analyst was manufactured or put into its
wrapper or container by a person (not being a person to whom one
part of the sample is required to be given under this section)
having his name and an address in the United Kingdom displayed on
the wrapper or container, the officer shall, unless he decides not
to have an analysis made, within three days of procuring the sample
send to that person a notice informing him that the sample has
been procured by the officer and where the sample was taken or, as
the case may be, from whom it was purchased.

(5) In relation to a sample purchased from an automatic machine,
paragraph (a) of sub-section (2) shall have effect as if for the
reference to the vendor there were substituted a reference

(a)if the name and address (being an address in Northern Ireland)
of a person stated to be the proprietor of the machine appears on
that machine, to that person;

(b)in any other case, to the occupier of the premises on which the
machine stands or to which it is affixed.

(6) Any part of a sample which under this section is to be given
to any person may be given either by delivering it to him or to
his agent or by sending it to him by post in a registered packet.

(7) The provisions of sub-sections (1), (2), (3), (5) and (6) shall
apply to the purchase of samples by any person who is neither a
sampling officer nor a person having the powers of a sampling
officer as they apply in relation to the purchase of samples by a
sampling officer; and references to a sampling officer shall be
construed accordingly.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 36
Special provisions as to sampling of milk.

36.(1) Where a sample of milk is procured [, otherwise than by a
sampling officer,] from a purveyor of milk, [that purveyor] shall,
if required to do so by the person by whom the sample was
procured, state the name and address of the seller or consignor
from whom he received the milk.

(2) Within sixty hours after the sample was procured from the
purveyor he may, subject to sub-sections (3) and (4), serve on

Para.(a) rep. by 1962 c.7 (NI) s.6(1)(b)

(b)the [district council] within whose [district] the sample was
procured...;

(i)the name and address of the seller or consignor from whom he
received the milk; and

(ii)the time and place of delivery to himself of milk from a
corresponding milking;

(3) If a sample of milk from a corresponding milking

(a)has been procured since the procuring of the sample from the
purveyor; or

(b)has been procured within twenty-four hours prior to the sample
being procured from the purveyor;

(4) The purveyor shall not have the right to require that a sample
of milk from a corresponding milking shall be procured if the milk
from which the sample was procured from the purveyor was taken from
a mixture of milk produced on more than one farm.

(5) If

(a)the purveyor has served on the [district council] a notice under
sub-section (2); and

(b)the [council] have, in a case not falling within sub-section (3)
or sub-section (4), omitted to procure in accordance with sub-section
(2) a sample of milk from the seller or consignor in the course
of transit or delivery;

(6) Any sample procured in accordance with sub-section (2) in the
course of transit or delivery shall be submitted for analysis to
the person to whom the sample procured from the purveyor is or was
submitted.

(7) If a prosecution is brought against the purveyor, a copy of
the certificate of the result of the analysis of every sample
procured in accordance with sub-section (2) in the course of transit
or delivery shall be furnished to him, and every such certificate
or copy shall, subject to the provisions of section forty-eight, be
admissible as evidence on any question whether the milk sold by the
purveyor was sold by the purveyor in the same state as it was
when he purchased it.

(8) [The district council]... within whose [district], the sample was
procured from the purveyor may, instead of, or in addition to,
bringing a prosecution against the purveyor, bring a prosecution
against the seller or consignor.

(9) If a sample of milk of cows kept on any premises is procured
in course of transit or delivery from those premises, the occupier
of those premises may, within sixty hours after the sample was
procured, serve on the [district council] by whose officer the
sample was procured a notice requesting the [council] to take
immediate steps to procure, as soon as practicable, a sample of
milk from a corresponding milking of the cows and thereupon

(a)sub-sections (3) to (7) shall, so far as applicable, apply with
any necessary modifications; and

(b)the person procuring the sample of milk from a corresponding
milking of the cows shall be empowered to take any such steps at
the premises on which the cows are kept as may be necessary to
satisfy him that the sample is a fair sample of the milk of the
cows when properly and fully milked.

(10) It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence
under this Act, or under regulations made thereunder, in respect of
a sample of milk taken [, otherwise than by a sampling officer,]
after the milk had left [the possession of the person charged] to
prove that the container from which the sample was taken was
effectively closed and sealed at the time when it left his
possession, but had been opened before the person by whom the
sample was taken had access to it.[

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 36A
Special provisions as to sampling of milk by sampling officers.

36A.(1) Where a sample of milk is procured by a sampling officer
from a purveyor of milk, that purveyor shall, if required to do so
by the sampling officer, state

(a)the name and address of the seller or consignor from whom he
received the milk;

(b)the time and place of delivery to him by the seller or
consignor of milk from a corresponding milking.

(2) Subject to sub-section (3), the [district council] by whose
officer the sample was procured shall not bring a prosecution under
this Act against the purveyor in respect of the sample procured
from him unless the [council] have within

(a)twenty-four hours prior to the sample being procured from the
purveyor; or

(b)one hundred and twenty hours after the sample was procured from
the purveyor;

(3) It shall not be necessary for the [district council] to procure
a sample of milk from a corresponding milking if the milk from
which the sample was procured from the purveyor was taken from a
mixture of milk produced on more than one farm.

(4) Any sample procured in accordance with sub-section (2) in the
course of transit or delivery shall be submitted for analysis to
the person to whom the sample procured from the purveyor is or was
submitted.

(5) If a prosecution is brought against the purveyor, a copy of
the certificate of the result of the analysis of every sample
procured in accordance with sub-section (2) in the course of transit
or delivery shall be furnished to him, and every such certificate
or copy shall, subject to the provisions of section forty-eight, be
admissible as evidence on any question whether the milk sold by the
purveyor was sold by the purveyor in the same state as it was
when he purchased it.

(6) The [district council] by whose officer the sample was procured
from the purveyor may, instead of, or in addition to, bringing a
prosecution against the purveyor, bring a prosecution against the
seller or consignor.

(7) If a sample of milk of cows kept on any premises is procured
in course of transit or delivery from those premises, the occupier
of those premises may, within sixty hours after the sample was
procured, serve on the [district council] by whose officer the
sample was procured a notice requesting the [council] to take
immediate steps to procure, as soon as practicable, a sample of
milk from a corresponding milking of the cows and thereupon

(a)sub-sections (2) to (5) shall, so far as applicable, apply with
any necessary modifications; and

(b)the sampling officer procuring the sample of milk from a
corresponding milking of the cows shall be empowered to take any
such steps at the premises on which the cows are kept as may be
necessary to satisfy him that the sample is a fair sample of the
milk of the cows when properly and fully milked.

(8) It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence
under this Act, or under regulations made thereunder, in respect of
a sample of milk taken by a sampling officer after the milk had
left the possession of the person charged to prove that the
container from which the sample was taken was effectively closed and
sealed at the time when it left his possession, but had been
opened before the sampling officer had access to it.]

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 37
Power of Ministry to have foods analysed and examined.

37.(1) In relation to any matter appearing to the Ministry to
affect the general interests of consumers, the Ministry may direct
an officer of the Ministry authorised in writing to procure samples
of any food specified in that authorisation, and thereupon the
officer shall have all the powers of a sampling officer, and this
Act shall apply as if he were a sampling officer.

(2) In relation to any matter appearing to the Ministry of
Agriculture to affect the general interests of consumers of cream or
ice-cream, that Ministry may exercise the powers conferred upon the
Ministry by sub-section (1), and the provisions of this Act shall
have effect accordingly.

(3) Any fee payable for the analysis of a sample procured in
accordance with the provisions of this section shall be payable by
the Ministry or, as the case may be, the Ministry of Agriculture,
out of moneys provided by Parliament.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 38
Provision for cases in which division into parts is impracticable.

38. Where any person procures a sample consisting of a food... or
substance contained in unopened containers, and the division into
parts of the food... or substance contained in those containers

(a)is not reasonably practicable; or

(b)might affect the composition or impede the proper analysis of the
contents;

Examination by district councils of food not for sale.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 39

39.(1) A [district council] may, at the request of a person who
has in his possession any food which has not been sold, and which
is not intended for sale, arrange to have that food examined on
payment by that person of such fee, if any, as may be fixed by
that [council].

(2) Subject to the provisions of section twenty-eight, where any
food examined in pursuance of sub-section (1) is found to be unfit
for human consumption, the [district council] may, with the consent
of the person referred to in that sub-section, arrange for the
disposal of the food.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 40
Quarterly reports of analysts.

40.(1) Every public analyst shall, as soon as may be after the
last day of March, the last day of June, the last day of
September and the last day of December in every year, report to
the [district council] by whom he was appointed the number of
articles which have been analysed by him or on his behalf in his
capacity as public analyst for the [district of that council] during
the preceding quarter of a year, and the result of each analysis.

(2) Every [district council] shall transmit to the Ministry, at such
times as the Ministry may direct, a copy of each quarterly report
received by them from a public analyst, together with details of
any action taken in each case.

Power to enter premises.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 41

41.(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, an authorised
officer of a [district council] shall, on producing, if so required,
some duly authenticated document showing his authority, have a right
to enter any premises at all reasonable hours

(a)for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is or has been on,
or in connection with, the premises any contravention of the
provisions of this Act or of any regulations or byelaws made
thereunder, being provisions which the [council] are required or
empowered to enforce; and

(b)generally for the purpose of the performance by the [council] of
their functions under this Act, or any such regulations or byelaws.

(2) Admission to any premises used only as a private dwelling-house
shall not be demanded under sub-section (1) as of right unless
twenty-four hours' notice of the intended entry has been given to
the occupier.

(3) If a justice of the peace, on sworn information in writing,

(a)is satisfied that there is reasonable ground for entry into any
premises for any such purpose as aforesaid; and

(b)is also satisfied either

(i)that admission to the premises has been refused, or a refusal is
apprehended and that notice of the intention to apply for a warrant
has been given to the occupier; or

(ii)that an application for admission, or the giving of such a
notice, would defeat the object of the entry, or that the case is
one of urgency, or that the premises are unoccupied or that the
occupier is temporarily absent;

(4) An authorised officer entering any premises by virtue of this
section, or of a warrant issued thereunder, may take with him such
other persons as may be necessary, and on leaving any unoccupied
premises which he has entered by virtue of such a warrant shall
leave them as effectively secured against trespassers as he found
them.

(5) Every warrant granted under this section shall continue in force
for a period of one month.

(6) If any person who, in compliance with the provisions of this
section, or of any warrant issued thereunder, is admitted into a
factory or workplace, discloses to any person any information
obtained by him in the factory or workplace with regard to any
manufacturing process or trade secret, he shall, unless the
disclosure was made in the performance of his duty, be guilty of
an offence under this Act.

(7) Nothing in this section shall authorise any person, except with
the permission of the Ministry of Agriculture under the Diseases of
Animals Act (Northern Ireland), 1958, to enter any cowshed or other
place in which an animal affected, or suspected of being affected,
with any disease to which that Act applies is kept.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 42
Power to enter vehicles, etc.

42.(1) An authorised officer of a [district council] shall, on
producing, if so required, some duly authenticated document showing
his authority, have a right at all reasonable hours to enter any
vehicle, stall or place other than premises, for any purpose for
which he is authorised under section forty-one to enter premises.

(2) Sub-sections (3) to (5), and sub-section (7), of section
forty-one shall apply in relation to any vehicle, stall or place
other than premises which may be entered under the powers conferred
by sub-section (1) as they apply in relation to premises, and as
if any reference to the occupier of premises were a reference to
the person in charge of the vehicle, stall or place.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 43
Powers of entry of Ministry's officers.

43. An officer of the Ministry or of the Ministry of Agriculture
authorised in writing shall, for the purpose of ascertaining whether
there is or has been any contravention of the provisions of this
Act or of any regulation or order made thereunder, being provisions
which that Ministry is required or empowered to enforce, have the
like powers of entry as are exercisable under section forty-one or
section forty-two by an authorised officer of a [district council];
and in relation to such an authorised officer of the Ministry or
of the Ministry of Agriculture, the reference in sub-section (3) of
section forty-one to the [council] shall be construed as a reference
to the Ministry or, as the case may be, the Ministry of
Agriculture.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 44
Persons obstructing execution of Act.

44.(1) A person who wilfully obstructs any person acting in the
execution of this Act, or of any regulation, byelaw, order or
warrant made or issued thereunder, shall be guilty of an offence
under this Act.

(2) If

(a)a sampling officer applies to purchase any food.... or substance
exposed for sale, or on sale by retail, and tenders the price for
the quantity which he requires as a sample, and the person exposing
the food.... or substance for sale, or having it for sale, refuses
to sell to the officer such quantity thereof as aforesaid; or

(b)the seller or consignor of any article or substance of which the
officer has power to take a sample, or a person having the charge
for the time being of such an article or substance, refuses to
allow the officer to take the quantity which he requires as a
sample;

(3) Where any food.... or substance is exposed for sale in an
unopened container duly labelled, a person shall not be required to
sell that food.... or substance except in the unopened container in
which it is contained.

(4) A person who fails to give to any person acting in the
execution of this Act, or of any regulation, byelaw, order or
warrant made or issued thereunder, any assistance which that person
may reasonably request him to give, or any information which that
person is expressly authorised by this Act to call for or may
reasonably require, or who, when required to give any such
information, knowingly makes any misstatement in respect thereof,
shall, subject to sub-section (5), be guilty of an offence under
this Act.

(5) Nothing in sub-section (4) shall be construed as requiring a
person to answer any question or give any information, if so to do
might incriminate him.

Penalties.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 45

45. A person guilty of an offence under this Act shall be liable
on summary conviction

(a)to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds or to imprisonment
for a term not exceeding three months, or to both such fine and
such imprisonment; and

(b)in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not
exceeding five pounds for each day during which the offence
continues after conviction.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 46
Prosecutions.

46.(1) Notwithstanding any provision in any enactment prescribing the
period within which summary proceedings may be commenced, where a
sample has been procured under this Act, a prosecution in respect
of the article or substance sampled shall not be begun

(a)where the sample was of milk, after the expiration of the period
of twenty-eight days beginning with the date on which the sample
was procured;

(b)where the sample was not of milk, after the expiration of the
period of two months beginning with the date on which the sample
was procured;

(2) Where a certificate issued under sub-section (1) relates to a
prosecution in respect of a sample of milk, that prosecution shall
not in any case be begun after the expiration of forty-two days
beginning with the date on which the sample was procured.

(3) Notwithstanding any provision in any enactment prescribing the
period within which summary proceedings may be commenced, a
prosecution under section fifty-three in respect of giving a false
warranty may be begun within twelve months from the date of the
commission of the offence.

(4) Where a sample has been procured under this Act, any
prosecution in respect of the article or substance sampled shall,
subject to sub-sections (5) and (6), be brought before a court
having jurisdiction in the place where the sample was procured.

(5) Where a sample procured within one [district] is for the
purposes of this Act deemed to have been procured within another
[district], a prosecution may be brought either before the court
having jurisdiction in any part of the [district] within which the
sample was procured, or before a court having jurisdiction in any
part of the [district] within which the sample is deemed to have
been procured.

(6) Where an article or a substance sampled under this Act was
sold and actually delivered to the purchaser, a prosecution may be
brought before a court having jurisdiction at the place of delivery.

(7) Any prosecution under this Act [or any regulations made
thereunder] in respect of an article or substance which has been
sampled shall not be heard or determined earlier than fourteen days
after the date of service of the summons, and in any such
proceedings a copy of

(a)any certificate of analysis obtained on behalf of the prosecutor;
and

(b)any certificate given by a justice of the peace under sub-section
(1);

(8) In any prosecution under this Act [or any regulations made
thereunder] where a sample has been procured in such circumstances
that its division into parts is required by this Act, the part of
the sample retained by the person who procured it shall be produced
at the hearing.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 47
Institution of proceedings by the Ministry.

47.(1) Without prejudice to the provisions of this Act relating to
the enforcement thereof, the Ministry may, where it is of opinion
that the general interests of consumers are affected, prosecute for
offences under sections one, two or six, and for offences under any
regulations made under sections four and seven....

(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of this Act relating to the
enforcement thereof, the Ministry of Agriculture may, where it is of
opinion that the general interests of consumers of cream or
ice-cream are affected, prosecute for offences under any regulations
made under sections four and seven, so far as those regulations
relate to cream or ice-cream.

(3) [A district council] shall not prosecute

(a)for an offence against section six....;

(b)except so far as may be otherwise prescribed by regulations made
by the Ministry under section seven, for an offence against any of
those regulations;

(4) A certificate of the Ministry that the requirements of
sub-section (3) have been complied with in relation to any
prosecution shall be conclusive evidence that they have been complied
with in relation thereto.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 48
Evidence of analysis.

48.(1) In any prosecution under this Act [or any regulations made
thereunder], the production by one of the parties of

(a)a document purporting to be a certificate of a public analyst in
the form prescribed under sub-section (5) of section thirty-four; or

(b)a document supplied to him by the other party as being a copy
of such a certificate;

(2) In any prosecution under this Act [or any regulations made
thereunder], if a defendant intends

(a)to produce a certificate of a public analyst; or

(b)under sub-section (1) to require that a public analyst shall be
called as a witness;

(3) In sub-sections (1) and (2), references to a public analyst
include

(a)references to a person approved by the Ministry under sub-section
(4) of section thirty-four; and

(b)references to a public analyst within the meaning of the Food
and Drugs Act, 1955, and the Food and Drugs (Scotland) Act, 1956.

(4) Regulations made under section four or section seven may
prescribe a method of analysis for the purpose of ascertaining the
presence in, or absence from, any food of any substance specified
in the regulations, or the quantity of any such substance which is
present in any food.

(5) In any prosecution...

(a)for a contravention of any regulations made under section four or
section seven; or

(b)for an offence under section two or section six;

Presumptions.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 49

49. For the purposes of this Act and of any regulations or byelaws
made thereunder

(a)any article commonly used for human consumption shall, if sold or
offered, exposed or kept for sale, be presumed, until the contrary
is proved, to have been sold, or, as the case may be to have
been intended for sale, for human consumption;

(b)any article commonly used for human consumption which is found on
premises or on any vehicle, stall or place other than premises used
for the preparation, storage, or sale of that article shall be
presumed, until the contrary is proved, to be intended for sale for
human consumption;

(c)any article commonly used for the manufacture of products for
human consumption which is found on premises or on any vehicle,
stall or place other than premises used for the preparation,
storage, or sale of those products shall be presumed, until the
contrary is proved, to be intended for manufacturing products for
sale for human consumption;

(d)any substance capable of being used in the composition or
preparation of any article commonly used for human consumption which
is found on premises or on any vehicle, stall or place other than
premises on which that article is prepared shall, until the contrary
is proved, be presumed to be intended for such use.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 50
Power of court to require analysis by Government Chemist.

50.(1) The court before which any prosecution is brought under this
Act [or any regulations made thereunder] may, if it thinks fit, and
upon the request of either party shall, cause the part of any
sample produced before the court under sub-section (8) of section
forty-six to be sent to the Government Chemist, who shall make an
analysis and transmit to the court a certificate of the result
thereof, and the costs of the analysis shall be paid by the
complainant or the defendant as the court may order.

(2) If, in a case where an appeal is brought, action has not been
taken under sub-section (1), the provisions of that sub-section shall
apply also in relation to the court by which the appeal is heard.

(3) Any certificate of the results of an analysis transmitted by
the Government Chemist under this section shall be signed by or on
behalf of the Government Chemist, but the analysis may be made by
any person acting under the direction of the person by whom the
certificate is signed.

(4) Any certificate of the results of an analysis transmitted by
the Government Chemist under this section shall be evidence of the
facts stated therein unless any party to the prosecution requires
that the person by whom it is signed shall be called as a
witness.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 51
Contravention due to default of some other person.

51.(1) Where a contravention of any provision of this Act, or of
any regulation, order or byelaw made thereunder, for which any
person is liable to a penalty was due to an act or default of
any other person, then, whether or not a prosecution is brought
against the first-mentioned person, that other person may be charged
with and convicted of the contravention and shall be liable on
conviction to the same punishment as might have been imposed on the
first-mentioned person if he had been convicted of the contravention.

(2) Where a person who is charged with a contravention of this
Act, or of any regulation, order or byelaw made thereunder, proves
to the satisfaction of the court that he has used all due
diligence to secure that the provision in question was complied with
and that the contravention was due to the act or default of some
other person, the first-mentioned person shall be acquitted of the
contravention.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 52
Conditions under which warranty may be pleaded as defence.

52.(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, in any prosecution
for an offence under this Act or any regulations made thereunder,
being an offence consisting of selling, or offering, exposing or
advertising for sale, or having in possession for the purpose of
sale, any article or substance, it shall be a defence for the
defendant to prove

(a)that he purchased it as being an article or substance which
could lawfully be sold or otherwise dealt with as aforesaid, or, as
the case may be, could lawfully be so sold or dealt with under
the name or description or for the purpose under or for which he
sold or dealt with it, and with a written warranty to that effect;
and

(b)that he had no reason to believe at the time of the commission
of the alleged offence that it was otherwise; and

(c)that it was then in the same state as when he purchased it.

(2) A warranty shall only be a defence in a prosecution under this
Act [or any regulations made thereunder] if

(a)the defendant

(i)has, within seven days, or such longer period as the court may
allow, of the service of the summons, sent to the prosecutor a
copy of the warranty with a notice stating that he intends to rely
on it and specifying the name and address of the person from whom
he received it; and

(ii)has also sent a like notice of his intention to that person;
and

(b)where the warranty was given by a person resident outside the
United Kingdom, the defendant proves that he had taken reasonable
steps to ascertain, and did in fact believe in, the accuracy of
the statement contained therein; and

(c)where the prosecution is in respect of a sample of milk procured
from him [otherwise than by a sampling officer], the defendant
either

(i)has within sixty hours after the sample was procured served such
a notice as is mentioned in [sub-section (2)] of section thirty-six;
or

(ii)not having served such a notice, proves that he had reasonable
cause to believe that such a notice would have been of no effect
by reason of the fact that the milk in question was a mixture of
milk produced on more than one farm.

(3) Where the defendant is a servant of the person who purchased
the article or substance under a warranty, he shall be entitled to
rely on the provisions of this section in the same way as his
employer would have been entitled to do if he had been the
defendant.

(4) The person by whom the warranty is alleged to have been given
shall be entitled to appear at the hearing and to give evidence,
and the court may, if it thinks fit, adjourn the hearing to enable
him to do so.

(5) For the purposes of this section and section fifty-three, a
name or description entered in an invoice shall be deemed to be a
written warranty that the article or substance to which the entry
refers can be sold or otherwise dealt with under that name or
description by any person without contravening any of the provisions
of this Act or of regulations made thereunder.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 53
Offences in relation to warranties and certificates of analysis.

53.(1) A defendant who in any prosecution under this Act [or any
regulations made thereunder] wilfully applies to any article or
substance a warranty or certificate of analysis given in relation to
any other article or substance shall be guilty of an offence under
this Act.

(2) A person who, in respect of any article or substance sold by
him, being an article or substance in respect of which a warranty
might be pleaded under section fifty-two, gives to the purchaser a
false warranty in writing, shall be guilty of an offence under this
Act, unless he proves that when he gave the warranty he had reason
to believe that the statements or descriptions contained thereon were
accurate.

(3) Where the defendant in a prosecution under this Act [or any
regulations made thereunder] relies successfully on a warranty given
to him or to his employer, any prosecution under sub-section (2) in
respect of the warranty may be brought either before a court having
jurisdiction in the place where a sample of the article or
substance to which the warranty relates was procured, or before a
court having jurisdiction in the place where the warranty was given.

Disputes as to compensation under Part I.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 54

54.(1) Where by Part I provision is made for the payment of
compensation to any person any dispute arising as to the fact of
damage or loss, or as to the amount of compensation, shall, subject
to sub-section (2), be determined by a single arbitrator appointed
by agreement between the parties, or, in default of agreement, by
the Minister of Health and Local Government; and the provisions of
the Arbitration Act (Northern Ireland), 1937, shall apply accordingly.

(2) If the compensation claimed does not exceed

(a)fifty pounds, all questions as to the fact of damage or loss,
liability to pay compensation and the amount of compensation may on
the application of either party be determined by, and any
compensation may be recovered before, a court of summary
jurisdiction;

(b)three hundred pounds, all questions referred to in paragraph (a)
may on the application of either party be determined by, and any
compensation may be recovered before, a county court.

Right to carry on business pending appeal.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 55

55.(1) Where

(a)a decision of a [district council] under this Act, or under any
regulations made thereunder, refusing, cancelling, suspending, or
revoking, registration or a licence; or

(b)a decision of a court of summary jurisdiction on appeal against
any such decision;

(i)to carry on any business which he, or his immediate predecessor
in the business, was lawfully carrying on at the date when the
decision of the [council] was given; or

(ii)to use any premises for any purpose for which he, or his
immediate predecessor in the business, was lawfully using those
premises at the said date;

(2) Sub-section (1) shall apply also where an order of a court
made under section fourteen makes it unlawful for a person to use
any premises for the purpose of a business carried on at those
premises immediately before the making of that order.

Temporary continuance of licence on death.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 56

56. Where a person who holds a licence under any regulations made
under this Act dies, the licence shall, unless previously revoked or
cancelled, enure for the benefit of his personal representative, or
of his widow or any other member of his family, until the
expiration of

(a)two months from his death; or

(b)such longer period as the licensing authority may allow.

Application to Crown.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 57

57.(1) The Governor may by Order in Council provide for the
application to the Crown of such of the provisions of this Act and
of any regulations or order made thereunder as may be specified in
the Order, with such exceptions, adaptations and modifications as may
be so specified.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of sub-section (1), an Order
made under this section may make special provision for the
enforcement of any provisions applied by the Order, and where any
such provision imposes a liability on a person by reason that he
is

(a)the owner or occupier of premises; or

(b)the owner of a business; or

(c)the principal on whose behalf any transaction is carried out;

(3) An Order in Council made under this section shall be subject
to negative resolution.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 58
Application of Act for purposes of importation orders and
regulations.

58. The provisions of the Second Schedule shall apply for the
purposes of the enforcement and execution of any order or regulation
made under the Food and Drugs Act, 1955, and applying to Northern
Ireland.

S.59 rep. by SRO (NI) 1973/211

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 60
Notices, etc., to be in writing; forms of notices, etc.

60.(1) All notices, consents and other documents authorised or
required by or under this Act to be given by a [district council],
and all notices and applications authorised or required by or under
this Act to be made to, or to any officer of, a [district
council], shall be in writing.

(2) The form of any notice, certificate or other document to be
used for any of the purposes of this Act shall be such as may be
prescribed.

S.61 rep. by SRO (NI) 1973/211

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 62
Proof of resolutions, etc.

62. In any proceedings under this Act [or any regulations made
thereunder] a document purporting to be certified by the [clerk of
a district council] as a copy of

(a)a resolution passed or order made by that [council] on a
specified date; or

(b)the appointment of, or any authorisation given to, an officer of
that [council] on a specified date;

Protection for officers acting in good faith.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 63

63.(1) An officer of a [district council] shall not be personally
liable in respect of any act done by him in the execution or
purported execution of this Act and within the scope of his
employment, if he did that act in the honest belief that his duty
under this Act required or entitled him to do it.

(2) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall be construed as relieving a
[district council] from any liability in respect of acts of their
officers.

(3) Where

(a)an action has been brought against an officer of a [district
council] in respect of an act done by him in execution or
purported execution of this Act; and

(b)the circumstances are such that he is not legally entitled to
require the [council] to indemnify him;

(i)the act complained of was within the scope of his employment;
and

(ii)his duty under the Act required or entitled him to do it.

(4) For the purposes of this section

(a)a public analyst appointed by a [district council], whether or
not he is employed full-time; and

(b)a person approved by the Ministry for the purposes of sub-section
(4) of section thirty-four;

Default of district councils.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 64

64.(1) If the Ministry, after communication with a [district
council], is of opinion that the [council] have failed to exercise
any of their functions under this Act, the Ministry may by order
empower an officer of the Ministry to exercise, or procure the
exercise of, that function.

(2) Any expenses incurred by the Ministry or by an officer of the
Ministry under any order made under sub-section (1) shall, in the
first instance, be defrayed out of moneys provided by Parliament but

(a)the amount of those expenses as certified by the Ministry shall,
on demand, be paid to the Ministry by the [district council];

(b)any sum demanded under paragraph (a) shall be recoverable by the
Ministry from the [district council] as a civil debt due to the
Crown.

Para.(c) rep. by SRO (NI) 1973/211

(3) Nothing in this section shall affect any other power exercisable
by the Ministry with respect to defaults of [district councils].

Powers under Act to be cumulative.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 65

65. All functions conferred by this Act shall be deemed to be in
addition to, and not in derogation of, any other functions conferred
by any enactment, law or custom, and, subject to any repeal
effected by, or other express provision of, this Act, all such
other functions may or, as the case may be, shall, be exercised in
the same manner as if this Act had not been passed.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 66
Judges and justices of the peace not to be disqualified by
liability to rates.

66. A judge of any court or a justice of the peace shall not be
disqualified from acting in cases arising under this Act by reason
only of his being as one of several ratepayers, or as one of any
other class of persons, liable in common with others to contribute
to, or to be benefited by, any rate or fund out of which any
expenses of a [district council] are to be defrayed.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 67
Power of Ministry to hold inquiries and investigations.

67. The Ministry may cause inquiries or investigations to be held
in any case where it appears to the Ministry advisable to do so
in connection with any matter arising under this Act.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 68
Orders and regulations.

68.(1) The Ministry may make regulations prescribing anything which
is to be prescribed under this Act.

(2) Before making any regulations under this Act, and before making
an order under section five or section eighteen the Ministry shall,
subject to sub-section (3), consult with such organisations as appear
to the Ministry to be representative of interests substantially
affected by the regulations or by the order.

(3) Sub-section (2) shall not apply in relation to the making of
regulations which reproduce, without substantive modification, any
provisions in force immediately before the tenth day of December,
nineteen hundred and fifty-six.

(4) Regulations made under this Act may, without prejudice to the
generality of the provisions under which they are made,

(a)modify for the purposes of the regulations any provisions of this
Act relating to the procuring, analysis and examination of samples;

(b)apply, as respects matters to be dealt with by the regulations,
any provision in any Act (including this Act) dealing with the like
matters, with the necessary modifications and adaptations;

(c)provide for an appeal to a court of summary jurisdiction against
any refusal or other decision of an authority by whom the
regulations are to be enforced and executed, and for a further
appeal to the county court from any decision of a court of summary
jurisdiction on any such appeal;

(d)authorise the making of charges for the purposes of the
regulations, or for any services performed thereunder, and provide
for the recovery of charges so made;

(e)contain provisions for imposing on persons offending against the
regulations penalties not exceeding the maximum penalties specified in
section forty-five;

(f)require persons carrying on any activity to which the regulations
apply to keep and produce records and furnish returns;

(g)make such consequential, ancillary and incidental provisions as
appear to the Ministry to be necessary or desirable.

(5) Sub-section (4) shall apply to an order made under section five
or section twenty-nine as it applies to regulations made under this
Act.

(6) Any regulations made under this Act shall be subject to
negative resolution.[

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 68A
Regulations for application of Community provisions.

68A.(1) The Ministry may, as respects any directly applicable
Community provision relating to food for which, in its opinion, it
is appropriate to make provision under this Act, by regulations make
such provision as it considers necessary or expedient for the
purpose of securing that the Community provision is administered,
executed and enforced under this Act, and may apply such of the
provisions of this Act as may be specified in the regulations in
relation to the Community provision with such modifications, if any,
as may be so specified.

(2) For the purpose of complying with any Community obligation, or
for conformity with any provision made for that purpose, the
Ministry may by regulations make provision as to

(a)the manner of sampling any food specified in the regulations, and
the manner in which samples are to be dealt with; and

(b)the method to be used in analysing, testing or examining samples
of any food so specified;

Expenses.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 69

69.Subs.(1) rep. by SLR 1976; subs.(2) rep. by SRO (NI) 1973/211

(3) Any expense incurred under this Act by a sampling officer in
procuring samples and causing samples to be analysed shall be
defrayed by the authority whose officer he is.

Interpretation.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 70

70.(1) In this Act

"advertisement" includes any notice, circular, label, wrapper, invoice
or other document, and any public announcement made orally or by
any means of producing or transmitting light or sound;

"analysis" includes micro-biological assay but no other form of
biological assay;

"animal" does not include bird or fish;

"article" does not include a live animal or bird;

"authorised officer" has the meaning assigned to that expression by
section thirty;

"business" includes the undertaking of a canteen, club, school,
hospital or institution, whether carried on for profit or not, and
any undertaking or activity carried on by a [district council or
other public authority];

"container" includes any basket, pail, tray, package or receptacle of
any kind, whether open or closed;

"cream" means that part of milk rich in fat which has been
separated by skimming or otherwise;

"drug" includes medicine for internal or external use;

"food" includes drink, chewing gum, and other products of a like
nature and use, and articles and substances used as ingredients in
the preparation of food or drink or all such products, but does
not include

(a)water, live animals or birds;

(b)fodder or feeding stuffs for animals, birds or fish; or

(c)articles or substances used only as drugs;

"food business" means any business for the purposes of which food
intended for sale, or sold, for human consumption, is prepared,
transported, stored, packaged, wrapped, exposed for sale, served or
delivered;

Definition rep. by SRO (NI) 1973/211

"human consumption" includes use in the preparation of food for
human consumption;

"ice-cream" includes any similar commodity;

"knackery" has the meaning assigned to that expression by sub-section
(3) of section twelve;

"milk" includes cream and separated milk, but does not include dried
milk or condensed milk;

"the Ministry" has the meaning assigned to that expression by
sub-section (1) of section four;

"officer" includes servant;

"premises" means a building or part of a building, and any
forecourt, yard or place of storage used in connection with a
building or part of a building;

"preparation", in relation to food, includes manufacture and any form
of treatment, and "preparation for sale" includes packaging;

"prescribed" means prescribed by regulations made by the Ministry;

"public analyst" has the meaning assigned to that expression by
section thirty-one;

"purveyor", in relation to milk includes any person who sells milk,
whether wholesale or by retail;

"sampling officer" has the meaning assigned to that expression by
section thirty-three;

"sanitary convenience" means a closet, privy or urinal;

"separated", in relation to milk, includes skimmed;

"substance" includes a liquid.

(2) For the purposes of this Act, other than sections fourteen and
seventeen, and paragraph (b) of sub-section (1) of section eighteen,

(a)the supply of food for human consumption, otherwise than by sale,
at, in or from any place where food is supplied in the course of
a business, shall be deemed to be a sale of that food, and
references to purchasers shall be construed accordingly;

(b)where in connection with any business in the course of which
food is supplied the place where the food is served is different
from the place where the food is consumed, both those places shall
be deemed to be places in which food is sold.

S.71(1) amends s.128 of 1847 c.34; subs.(2) rep. by SLR 1973

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 72
Repeal or amendment of local enactments.

72.(1) The Ministry may, on the application of [a district council],
by order wholly or partially repeal or amend any local enactment
which is in force in the [district of that council], or in any
part thereof, and which relates to the subject matter of this Act
or of any order or regulation made thereunder.

(2) An order made under sub-section (1) shall be subject to
affirmative resolution.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 73
Savings.

73.Subs.(1) rep. by SLR 1973

(2) In the application of section twenty-nine of the Interpretation
Act (Northern Ireland), 1954, to any repeal made by or under this
Act, sub-section (1) and paragraph (a) of sub-section (3) shall have
effect with the omission of the word "statutory" wherever that word
occurs.

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1958 - SECT 74
1954 c.33

74.(1) This Act may be cited as the Food and Drugs Act (Northern
Ireland), 1958.

(2) Commencement.

1.(1) In this Schedule

"the Act of 1955" means the Food and Drugs Act, 1955;

"the Minister" means the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food;

"order" and "regulations" mean, respectively, an order or regulations
made under the Act of 1955 and applying to Northern Ireland;

"ship" includes any boat or craft.

(2) In any provision of this Act applied for the purpose of the
enforcement and execution of any order or regulation the expression
"sampling officer" shall include an officer authorised in that behalf
by the Minister.

2. It shall be the duty of the Minister to enforce and execute
the provisions of any order.

3. For the purpose of ascertaining whether there is or has been
any contravention of the provisions of any order or regulations an
inspector of the Minister shall have the like powers of entry as
are exercisable under section forty-one and section forty-two by an
authorised officer of a [district council]; and in relation to any
such inspector the reference in sub-section (3) of section forty-one
to the [council] shall be construed as a reference to the Minister.

4.(1) Without prejudice to the application of sub-sections (2) and
(3) of section twenty of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland),
1954 (which relate to offences committed by bodies corporate), in
relation to offences under this Act, or any regulations, order or
byelaw made thereunder, sub-section (2) of the said section twenty
shall, with the omission of the words "subject to sub-section (3)",
apply in relation to offences committed by bodies corporate against
any provision of any order or regulations.

(2) In the application by sub-paragraph (1) of sub-section (2) of
section twenty of the said Act of 1954 the expression "director",
in relation to any body corporate established by or under any
enactment for the purpose of carrying on under national ownership
any industry or part of an industry or undertaking, being a body
corporate whose affairs are managed by the members thereof, means a
member of that body corporate.

5.(1) The Minister may, where he is of opinion that the general
interests of consumers are affected, institute proceedings for an
offence against any provision of regulations made under section four
or section seven of the Act of 1955, other than any such provision
which it is the duty of a [district council] to enforce and
execute.

(2) A [district council] shall not, except so far as may be
otherwise prescribed by regulations made under section seven of the
Act of 1955, institute proceedings for an offence against any
provision of those regulations unless they have given to the
Minister fourteen days' notice of their intention to institute the
proceedings, together with a summary of the facts on which the
charge is founded.

(3) A certificate of the Minister that the requirements of
sub-paragraph (2) have been complied with in relation to any
proceedings shall be conclusive evidence that they have been complied
with in relation thereto; and any document purporting to be such a
certificate as aforesaid and to be signed by or on behalf of the
Minister shall be deemed to be such a certificate until the
contrary is shown.

6.(1) A person against whom proceedings are brought in respect of a
contravention of any order or regulation shall upon complaint duly
made by him, and on giving not less than three clear days' notice
of his intention, be entitled to have brought before the court in
the proceedings any person to whose act or default he alleges that
the contravention of the provisions in question was due, and the
following provisions of this paragraph shall have effect accordingly.

(2) Where, in accordance with sub-paragraph (1), another person has
been brought before the court and

(a)the contravention of the provisions in question has been proved;
and

(b)the original defendant proves that the contravention was due to
the act or default of that other person;

(3) Where

(a)another person brought before the court in accordance with
sub-paragraph (1) has been convicted of the offence in accordance
with sub-paragraph (2); and

(b)the original defendant proves that he used all due diligence to
secure that the provisions in question were complied with;

(4) Where a defendant seeks to avail himself of the foregoing
provisions of this paragraph

(a)the prosecution, as well as the person whom the defendant charges
with the offence, shall have the right to cross-examine him, if he
gives evidence, and any witness called by him in support of his
pleas, and to call rebutting evidence;

(b)the court may make such order as it thinks fit for the payment
of costs by any party to the proceedings to any other party
thereto.

(5) Where it appears to the Minister or, as the case may be, a
[district council] that an offence against any provision of an order
or regulation has been committed in respect of which proceedings
might be taken against some person, and the Minister or the
[council] are reasonably satisfied that

(a)the offence was due to an act or default of some other person;
and

(b)the first-mentioned person could establish a defence in accordance
with the foregoing provisions of this paragraph;

7. The provisions of this Act which are specified in the first
column of the following Table shall, subject to the modifications
specified in relation thereto in the second column of that Table,
apply for the purposes of the enforcement and execution of any
order or regulation.

"(4A) Without prejudice to sub-section (4) a sampling officer

(a)may take a sample of milk while at any dairy, or while
deposited for collection, or at any time before it is delivered to
a consumer in pursuance of a sale by retail;

(b)may, at the request of a person to whom any food or substance
is, or is to be, delivered in pursuance of a contract of sale,
take a sample of that food or substance in the course of delivery,
or at the place of delivery.";

"(5) Except as provided by sub-section (4A), or with the consent of
the purchaser, a sampling officer shall not take a sample of any
food or substance which appears to him to have been sold by
retail, either while the food or substance is in the course of
delivery to the purchaser, or at any time after such delivery; and
nothing in this section shall authorise a sampling officer to take
a sample of any food or substance in a ship (not being a
home-going ship within the meaning of the Food and Drugs Act, 1955)
or in any aircraft, other than food imported as part of the cargo
of that ship or aircraft.".

(7):

"(1A) An authorised officer of a [district council] shall, on
producing if so required, some duly authenticated document showing
his authority, have a right at all reasonable hours to enter any
ship or aircraft for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is
in the ship or aircraft any food imported as a part of the cargo
in contravention of the provisions of regulations made under Part I
of the Food and Drugs Act, 1955, and applying to Northern Ireland,
being provisions which the [district council] are required or
empowered to enforce.".

"(2) Sub-sections (3) to (5) of section forty-one shall apply in
relation to any ship, aircraft, vehicle, stall or place which may
be entered under the powers conferred by sub-sections (1) and (1A)
of this section, and as if any reference to the occupier of
premises were a reference to the master, commander or other person
in charge of the ship, aircraft, vehicle, stall or place.".

Third and Fourth Schedules rep. by SLR 1973

1954 c.33


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