CAP. 291, FOOD AND DRUGS ACT BELIZE
FOOD AND DRUGS ACT
CHAPTER 291
REVISED EDITION 2000
SHOWING THE LAW AS AT 31ST DECEMBER, 2000
This is a revised edition of the law, prepared by the Law Revision Commissioner
under the authority of the Law Revision Act, Chapter 3 of the Laws of Belize,
Revised Edition 1980 - 1990.
This edition contains a consolidation of the following laws- Page
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 3
FOOD AND DRUGS ACT 9
Amendments in force as at 31st December, 2000.
BELIZE
FOOD AND DRUGS ACT
CHAPTER 291
REVISED EDITION 2000
SHOWING THE LAW AS AT 31ST DECEMBER, 2000
This is a revised edition of the law, prepared by the Law Revision Commissioner
under the authority of the Law Revision Act, Chapter 3 of the Laws of Belize,
Revised Edition 1980 - 1990.
This edition contains a consolidation of the following laws- Page
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 3
FOOD AND DRUGS ACT 9
Amendments in force as at 31st December, 2000.
THE SUBSTANTIVE LAWS OF BELIZE REVISED EDITION 2000
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the Government of Belize.
Food and Drugs [CAP. 291
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CHAPTER 291
FOOD AND DRUGS
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
PART I
Preliminary
1. Short title.
2. Interpretation.
3. Appointment of authorised officers.
PART II
General Provisions as to Food and Drugs
Composition of Food and Drugs
4. Restrictions on the addition of other substances to any food or drug.
5. Restrictions on the abstraction from any food of any constituent
thereof.
6. Prohibition against sale of any food or drug not of the nature, sub-
stance or quality demanded.
7. Defences available in proceedings under section 6.
8. Provisions as to labels.
9. Labels and advertisements describing incorrectly food or drug.
10. Presumptive evidence as to injurious nature of food.
Regulations as to Food
11. Regulations as to food hygiene.
Unsound Food
12. Penalty for sale, etc., of unsound food.
13. Examination of food and seizure of unsound food.
14. Provisions as to food offered as prizes, etc.
15. Power to examine food in course of transit.
Precautions against Contamination of Food
16. Provisions as to rooms where food intended for sale is prepared or
stored, etc.
17. Registration of premises used in connection with the manufacture or
sale of ice-cream or preserved food, etc.
18. By-laws with respect to the handling, wrapping, etc., of food and
the sale of food in open air.
19. Notices to be displayed by persons selling ice-cream, etc., from
stalls, carts, baskets, etc.
Food Poisoning
20. Notification of cases of food poisoning.
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21. Provisions as to suspected food.
PART III
Provisions as to Milk, Dairies and Artificial Cream
Milk and Dairies
22. Regulations.
23. Certain additions not to be made to milk, and certain liquids not
to be sold as milk.
24. Prohibition of sale of tuberculous milk, or milk of cows suffering
from tuberculosis, etc.
Artificial Cream
25. Regulation of sale of artificial cream.
PART IV
Provisions as to Other Kinds of Food
Bread and Flour
26. Regulations as to the composition of flour and the addition of
substances to flour.
27. Prohibition of adulterants in bakehouses and mills.
Margarine, Margarine Cheese, Butter and
Milk-Blended Butter
28. Limit of water in butter, etc., and provisions as to butter in
margarine.
Ice-Cream
29. Provisions as to ice-cream likely to cause milk-borne disease.
Imported Food
30. Restrictions on the importation of certain foods.
31. Power of Comptroller of Customs to have imported food sampled.
PART V
Administration
Duty to Execute Act
32. Duty to enforce Act.
33. Provision of officers for executing Act.
Procuring Samples for Analysis
34. Powers of sampling.
35. Right to have samples analysed.
36. Division of, and dealings with, samples.
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37. Special provisions as to the sampling of milk, and proceedings
subsequent thereto.
PART VI
Legal Proceedings and Penalties
Obstruction of Persons Executing Act
38. Penalty for obstructing execution of Act.
39. Power to enter premises.
Legal Proceedings
40. Penalties.
41. Prosecutions.
42. Evidence of certificates of analysis, and presumptions.
43. Power of court to require analysis by Government Chemist.
44. Defence available to defendant where some other person is
responsible for the commission of the offence charged.
45. Conditions under which a warranty may be pleaded as defence.
46. Offences in relation to warranties and certificates of analysis.
Compensation
47. Disputes as to compensation.
PART VII
Slaughterhouse and Knacker’s Yard
48. Slaughterhouses and knacker’s yards to be licensed.
49. Application for grant of licences.
50. Particular grounds for refusal of licence.
51. Duration of licence.
52. Licensed premises to be separate.
53. Restriction on meat entering slaughterhouse.
54. Application.
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FIRST SCHEDULE
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SECOND SCHEDULE
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CHAPTER 291
FOOD AND DRUGS
[9th May, 1953]
PART I
Preliminary
1. This Act may be cited as the Food and Drugs Act.
2.-(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:-
“animal” does not include bird;
“area” in relation to a local authority and to officers of such an authority,
means their district;
“article” in relation to food, does not include a live animal or bird, but except
as aforesaid includes in the case of an animal, bird or fish the whole or any
part thereof;
“artificial cream” means an article of food which, though not cream,
resembles cream and contains no ingredient which is not derived from milk
except water or any substance which may lawfully be contained in an article
sold as cream, being some substance not injurious to health which in the case
of cream may be required for its production or preparation as an article of
commerce in a state fit for carriage or consumption and which has not been
added fraudulently to increase bulk, weight or measure or conceal inferior
quality;
“authorised officer” means a medical officer of health, or any person
Ch. 90,
R.L. 1958.
CAP. 219,
R.E. 1980-1990.
40 of 1963.
31 of 1968.
8 of 1985.
22 of 1987.
Short title.
Interpretation.
31 of 1968.
8 of 1985.
authorised in writing by the Minister or a local authority under section 3 to
exercise any of the powers conferred by this Act;
“Bread and Flour Regulations” means the regulations made under section
26;
“butter” means the substance usually known as butter, made exclusively
from milk with or without salt or other preservative, and with or without the
addition of colouring matter;
“cheese” means the substance usually known as cheese, containing no fat
other than fat derived from milk;
“container” includes a 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;
“dairy” includes any farm, cowshed, milk store, milk shop or other premises
from which milk is supplied on or for sale, or in which milk is kept or used
for purposes of sale or of manufacture into butter, cheese, dried milk or
condensed milk for sale, or in which vessels used for the sale of milk are
kept, but does not include a shop from which milk is supplied only in the
properly closed and unopened vessels in which it is delivered to the shop, or
a shop or other place in which milk is sold for consumption on the premises
only;
“dairyman” includes an occupier of a dairy, a cow-keeper, and a purveyor
of milk;
“district” in relation to a local authority and the officers of such an authority,
means the town or area for which the authority or such officers act;
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“drug” includes medicine for internal or external use;
“food” means any article used as food or drink for human consumption, other
than drugs or water, and includes-
(a) any substance which is intended for use in the
composition or preparation of food;
(b) any flavouring matter or condiment; and
(c) any colouring matter intended for use in food:
Provided that, notwithstanding anything in this definition, the addition
of any colouring or flavouring matter or condiment to an article used as food
or drink shall be deemed to be the addition of a substance to food;
“Food Regulations” means the regulations made under section 11;
“functions” includes powers and duties;
“ice-cream” includes any similar commodity containing any proportion of
milk, powdered milk or condensed milk;
“importer” in relation to an imported article, includes any person who,
whether as owner, consignor, consignee, agent or broker, is in possession of,
or in any way entitled to the custody or control of, the article;
“knacker’s yard” means any premises used in connection with the business of
slaughtering, flaying or cutting up animals the flesh of which is not intended for
human consumption;
“local authority” means-
(a) as respects Belize City, the Belize City Council;
31 of 1968.
(b) as respects the City of Belmopan, the Belmopan City
Council;
(c) as respects any district or area, the Town Council of
that district or area constituted under the Town
Councils Act;
(d) as respects any other part of Belize, such person or
persons, or a Village or Community Council, as may be
appointed by the Minister;
“margarine” means any food, whether mixed with butter or not, which
resembles butter and is not milk-blended butter;
“margarine-cheese” means any substance prepared in imitation of cheese
and containing fat not derived from milk;
“meat” means the edible part of the muscle of any animal which is skeletal or
which is found in the diaphragm, heart or oesophagus with or without the
accompanying and overlying fat and the portions of bone, skin, sinew, nerve
and blood vessels which normally accompany the muscle tissue and which
are not separated from it in the process of dressing, but does not include the
muscle found in the lips, snout or ears;
“medical officer of health” means a medical officer of health within the
meaning of sections 2 and 3 of the Public Health Act, and assigned by the
Minister to discharge the duties of a medical officer of health within the
district of a local authority;
“Milk and Dairies Regulations” means the regulations made under section
22;
“milk-blended butter” means any mixture produced by mixing or blending
butter with milk;
31 of 1968.
CAP. 40.
40 of 1963.
CAP. 87.
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“officer” includes servant;
“official certificate” means any certificate issued by an authorised officer or
other person performing official functions under this Act or regulations made
thereunder;
“premises” includes messuages, buildings, land, easements and hereditaments
of any tenure;
“prepare”, in relation to food, includes manufacture and “preparation” shall
be construed accordingly;
“public analyst” means the public analyst or other expert referred to in
section 33;
“purveyor” in relation to milk, includes any person who sells milk, whether
wholesale or by retail;
“sampling officer” means an authorised officer exercising the powers
conferred upon him by section 34;
“sanitary convenience” means a closet, privy or urinal;
“separated” in relation to milk, includes skimmed;
“shop” means any premises where any retail or wholesale trade or business is
carried on and includes any warehouse occupied for the purposes of his
trade by any person carrying on any retail trade or business or by any
wholesale dealer or merchant;
“slaughterhouse” means any premises in any area to which the Slaughter of
Animals Act applies, used for slaughtering animals, the flesh of which is
intended for sale for human consumption, and includes any place available in
connection therewith for the confinement of animals while awaiting slaughter
31 of 1968.
CAP. 154.
8 of 1985.
there or for keeping, or subjecting to any treatment or process, products of
the slaughtering of animals there and includes any place available in
connection with a slaughterhouse and used for the manufacture of bacon,
ham, sausages, meat pies or other manufactured meat products or for the
storage of meat used in such manufacture;
“substance” includes a liquid;
“transit” includes all stages of transit from the dairy, place of manufacture or
other source of origin, to the consumer;
“vessel” includes a receptacle of any kind, whether open or closed.
(2) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-
(a) any reference to milk shall be construed as including a
reference to cream and to separated milk, but not as
including a reference to dried milk or to condensed
milk; and
(b) any reference to food of any kind sold, or offered,
exposed, intended, or in preparation, for sale for
human consumption, shall be construed as including a
reference to that food sold, or offered, exposed,
intended, or in preparation, for sale for the manufacture
of products for human consumption.
3.-(1) The Minister may designate in writing any person who is a Veterinary
Officer, Meat Inspector, Medical Officer or Public Health Inspector an
authorised officer for the purposes of this Act. A local authority may
appoint suitably qualified persons to be authorised officers for the purposes
of this Act.
(2) An authorisation made under subsection (1) may either be to
Appointment of
authorised
officers.
31 of 1968.
8 of 1985.
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exercise all the powers conferred upon authorised officers by this Act or may
specify the particular powers exercisable by such officer:
Provided that no authorised officer appointed by a local authority
have power to inspect animals before slaughter or the carcasses of animals
after slaughter in any slaughterhouse licensed under this Act or the premises
of any such slaughterhouse.
(3) Such authorised officers while performing any functions under this
Act shall be identified by the wording ‘Meat Inspector’ or ‘Veterinary
Officer’ as the case may be, displayed in a prominent position on the front of
their protective clothing and/or headgear.
PART II
General Provisions as to Food and Drugs
Composition of Food and Drugs
4.-(1) No person shall add, or direct or permit any other person to add-
(a) any substance to any food so as to render the food
injurious to health; or
(b) any substance to any drug so as to affect injuriously the
quality or potency of the drug,
with the intent that the food or drug may be sold in that state.
(2) No person shall sell, or have in his possession for the purpose of
sale, any food or drug to which any substance has been so added.
(3) A person who contravenes any of the provisions of this section
commits an offence.
Restrictions on
the addition of
other substances
to any food or
drug.
5.-(1) No person shall abstract, or direct or permit any other person to
abstract, from any food any constituent thereof so as to affect injuriously the
nature, substance or quality of the food with intent that it may be sold in its
altered state-
(a) without notice to the purchaser of the alteration; or
(b) whether with or without such notice, if in that state the
food does not comply with any relevant provisions
contained in regulations made under this Act for
prescribing the composition of food.
(2) A person who contravenes any of the provisions of this section
commits an offence.
6.-(1) If a person sells to the prejudice of the purchaser any food or drug
which is not of the nature or not of the substance, or not of the quality, of the
food or drug demanded by the purchaser, he shall, subject to section 7, be
guilty of an offence.
(2) Where regulations made under this Act contain provisions pres-
cribing the composition of, or prohibiting or restricting the addition of any
substance to, any food, a purchaser of that food shall, unless the contrary is
proved, be deemed for the purposes of this section to have demanded food
complying with the provisions of the regulations.
(3) In proceedings under this section, it shall not be a defence to
allege that the purchaser bought for analysis or examination and therefore
was not prejudiced.
7. In proceedings under section 6, it shall be a defence for the
defendant to prove-
(1) where some substance has been added to the food or drug in
Prohibition
against sale of
any food or drug
not of the nature,
substance or
quality demanded.
Defences avail-
able in proceed-
ings under
section 6.
Restrictions on
the abstraction
from any food of
any constituent
thereof.
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question-
(a) in the case of a food, that the substance is not, and its
addition has not rendered the food, injurious to health
or, in the case of a drug, that the addition has not
affected injuriously the quality or potency of the drug;
and
(b) that the addition was not made fraudulently to increase
the bulk, weight or measure, or conceal the inferior
quality, of the food or drug; and
(c) either-
(i) that the addition was required for the production
or preparation of the food or drug as an article
of commerce in a state fit for carriage or con-
sumption; or
(ii) that a label satisfying the requirements of section
8 was attached to, or printed on the wrapper or
container of, the article sold;
(2) where some constituent has been abstracted from the food or
drug in question-
(a) that the abstraction has not rendered the food injurious
to health or, as the case may be, affected injuriously the
quality or potency of the drug, and was not made
fraudulently to conceal the inferior quality of the food or
drug; and
(b) either-
(i) that the abstraction was required for the
production or preparation of the food or drug
as an article of commerce in a state fit for
carriage or consumption; or
(ii) that a label satisfying the requirements of
section 8 was attached to, or printed on the
wrapper or container of, the article sold;
(3) where the food or drug in question is the subject of a patent in
force, that it was supplied in the state required by the specification of the
patent;
(4) where the food or drug in question contains some extraneous
matter, that the presence of that matter was an unavoidable consequence of
the process of collection or preparation;
(5) that the article supplied was a proprietary medicine and was
supplied in response to a demand for that medicine;
(6) where the proceedings are in respect of diluted whisky, brandy,
rum or gin, that the spirit in question had been diluted with water only and
that its strength was still not below the proof strength permitted by law to be
sold for human consumption:
Provided that-
(a) none of the defences specified in paragraphs (1) to (4)
shall be available in the case of any food which does
not comply with any relevant provisions contained in
regulations made under this Act for prescribing the
composition of, or prohibiting or restricting the addition
of any substance to, food; and
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(b) nothing in paragraph (6) shall affect the provisions of
any law with respect to the dilution of spirits after
computation of duty.
8.-(1) A label shall afford no defence under paragraph (1) (c) (ii) or para-
graph (2) (b) (ii) of section 7 unless the following requirements are satisfied -
(a) the label must state explicitly what substance has been
added to, or what constituent has been abstracted from,
the food or drug; and
(b) it must be of adequate size, and have the notice of
addition or abstraction distinctly and legibly printed and
conspicuously visible.
(2) Notwithstanding anything in subsection (1), the requirements
thereof shall, as respects a mixture, be deemed to be satisfied by a label
which has been continuously in use without any material variation for a period
not less than fifty years and bears a statement to the effect that the article in
question is mixed, or by a label which has been continuously in use without
any material variation for a period of not less than twenty-five years and
bears such a statement distinctly and legibly printed and unobscured by other
matter on the label.
9.-(1) A person who gives with any food or drug sold by him a label,
whether attached to or printed on the wrapper or container or not, which
falsely describes that food or drug, or is otherwise calculated to mislead as to
its nature, substance or quality commits an offence, unless he proves that he
did not know, and could not with reasonable diligence have ascertained, that
the label was of such a character as aforesaid.
(2) A person who publishes or is a party to the publication of an
advertisement (not being such a label so given by him as aforesaid) which
falsely describes any food or drug, or is otherwise calculated to mislead as to
Provisions as to
labels.
Labels and
advertisements
describing
incorrectly food
or drug.
its nature, substance or quality, commits an offence.
(3) In proceedings under subsection (2), it shall be a defence for the
defendant 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 aforesaid; 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.
(4) In any such proceedings as aforesaid against the manufacturer,
producer or importer of the food or drug, it shall rest on the defendant to
prove that he did not publish, and was not a party to the publication of, the
advertisement.
10. Where regulations made under this Act contain provisions
prohibiting or restricting the addition of any substance to any food, the
addition of that substance-
(a) if made in contravention of any of the regulations which
is expressed to be made for the prevention of danger to
health, shall; and
(b) if made to an amount not exceeding the limit, if any,
specified by any of the regulations, shall not,
for the purposes of this Part, be deemed to render the food injurious to
health.
Presumptive
evidence as to
injurious nature of
food.
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Regulations as to Food
11.-(1) The Minister may make such regulations as appear to him 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 importation, exportation, preparation, transport,
storage, packaging, wrapping, exposure for sale, service
or delivery of food intended for sale or sold for human
consumption, or otherwise for the protection of the
public health in connection with the matters aforesaid.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), regula-
tions made under this section may make provision-
(a) for imposing requirements as to the construction, lay-
out, drainage, equipment, maintenance, cleanliness,
ventilation, lighting, water-supply, and use of slaughter-
houses and knacker’s yard and all other premises in, at
or from which food is sold for human consumption, or
offered, exposed, stored or prepared for sale for human
consumption (including any parts of such premises in
which apparatus and utensils are cleansed, or in which
refuse is disposed of or stored);
(b) for imposing requirements as to the provision, main-
tenance and cleanliness of sanitary and washing facilities
in connection with such premises (including slaughter-
houses and knacker’s yard) the disposal of refuse and
the maintenance and cleanliness of apparatus, equip-
ment, furnishings and utensils therein and in particular for
imposing requirements that every sanitary convenience
Regulations as
to food hygiene.
31 of 1968.
situated therein shall be supplied with water through a
suitable flushing appliance;
(c) for prohibiting or regulating the use of any specified
materials, or of materials of any specified class, in the
manufacture of apparatus or utensils designed for use in
the preparation of food for human consumption, and
the sale or importation for sale of apparatus or utensils
designed for such use and containing any specified
materials, or materials of any specified class;
(d) for prohibiting spitting in slaughterhouses, knacker’s
yards and other premises where food is sold for human
consumption, or offered, exposed, stored or prepared
for sale for human consumption (including any parts of
such premises where apparatus and utensils are
cleansed);
(e) for imposing requirements as to the clothing worn by
persons in such premises;
(f) for the conditions to be observed in connection with the
confinement, inspection and treatment of carcasses of
animals for the purpose of ascertaining whether meat or
any other product intended for sale for human con-
sumption is fit for such consumption;
(g) for requiring the staining or sterilization in accordance
with the regulations of meat which is unfit for human
consumption, or which is derived from animals
slaughtered in knacker’s yards or from carcasses
brought into knacker’s yards, or which though not unfit
for human consumption, is not intended therefor;
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(h) for regulating generally the treatment and disposal of any
food unfit for human consumption;
(i) for prohibiting or regulating, or enabling local authorities
to prohibit or regulate, the sale for human consumption,
or the offer, exposure or distribution for sale for human
consumption, of shellfish taken from beds or other
layings for the time being designated by or under the
regulations.
(3) In subsection (2), “animals” includes poultry.
(4) Regulations under this section may make different provisions in
relation to different classes of business; and without prejudice to the fore-
going provisions of this section or any other provisions of this Act, any such
regulations imposing requirements in respect of premises may-
(a) impose 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 pur-
pose to which the regulations apply or permits them to
be so used after notice from the authority charged with
the enforcement of the regulations, responsibility for
compliance with those requirements;
(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 pur-
poses of paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of subsection
(2) while there is in force a certificate of the local
authority to the effect that compliance with those provi-
sions 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 Supreme 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 subsection 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) Regulations made under this section may impose in respect of
vehicles, stalls and places other than premises, any such requirements as
may be imposed thereunder in respect of premises.
(7) Subject as hereinafter provided, references in this section to food
shall be construed as references to food other than milk:
Provided that-
(a) regulations under this section relating to importation
may apply to milk; and
(b) any regulations under this section may apply to any
food containing milk.
(8) The Minister shall from time to time take such steps as he
thinks 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.
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(9) Regulations made under this section may be made so as to apply
throughout the country or to apply only in such area or areas as may be
specified in the said regulations.
(10) Without prejudice to any other power with respect thereto, any
regulations made with respect to slaughterhouses or knacker’s yard under
this section may include provision for the regulations to come into force on
different days fixed by or in an order to be made under these regulations in
respect of different classes or descriptions of premises and different areas,
and for different provisions to come into force on different days.
(11) There may be annexed to the breach of any regulations made
under this section a penalty not exceeding five hundred dollars and in the case
of a continuing offence a further penalty not exceeding fifty dollars for each
day the breach continues.
(12) In so far as any by-laws or other subsidiary legislation made
under the Local Government (District Boards) Act, before its repeal by the
Town Councils Act or under the Town Councils Act or any Act repealing
and replacing the Town Councils Act are in conflict with regulations made
under this section, the regulations made hereunder shall prevail.
Unsound Food
12.-(1) Any person who-
(a) sells, or offers or exposes for sale, or has in his pos-
session 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,
any food intended for, but unfit for, human consumption shall, subject to this
CAP. 87.
Penalty for sale,
etc., of unsound
food.
R.E. 1980-1990. CAP. 67,
section, be guilty of an offence.
(2) Where food in respect of which an offence under subsection
(1) (a) has been committed was sold to the offender by some other person,
that person also shall, subject to this section, be guilty of an offence.
(3) Where a person is charged with an offence under subsection
(1) (b) or under subsection (2) it shall be a defence for him to prove either
that he gave notice to the person with whom he deposited, or to whom he
consigned or sold, the food in question that it was not intended for human
consumption, or that at the time when he delivered or dispatched it to that
person, either it was fit for human consumption or he did not know, and
could not with reasonable diligence have ascertained, that it was unfit for
human consumption.
(4) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable to a fine
not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars or to imprisonment for a term
not exceeding three months, or to both such fine and term of imprisonment.
(5) If a person licensed under the Public Health Act to keep a
slaughterhouse is convicted of an offence under this section, the court may,
in addition to any other penalty, cancel his licence.
13.-(1) An authorised officer 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 magistrate.
(2) An authorised officer who seizes any food under subsection (1)
shall inform the person in whose possession it was found of his intention to
have it dealt with by a magistrate, and any person who under section 12
might be liable to a prosecution in respect of food shall, if he attends before
CAP. 40.
Examination of
food and seizure
of unsound food.
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Food and Drugs [CAP. 291
[ ]
27
the magistrate upon the application for its condemnation, be entitled to be
heard and to call witnesses.
(3) If it appears to a magistrate that any food brought before him,
whether seized under this section or not, 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) If a magistrate refuses to condemn any food seized under this Part
by an authorised officer, he shall assess the depreciation in value resulting
from its seizure, and the local authority shall pay to the owner of the food the
sum of money so assessed as compensation for such depreciation.
(5) In this section, “magistrate” includes a justice of the peace.
14.-(1) The foregoing provisions relating to unsound food shall apply in rela-
tion to any food which is intended for human consumption and is-
(a) offered as a prize or reward in connection with any en-
tertainment to which the public are admitted, whether on
payment of money or not; or
(b) offered as a prize, reward or given away for the purpose
of advertisement, or in furtherance of any trade or
business; or
(c) 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-
(i) in a case falling within paragraph (a), by each
person concerned in the organisation of the
entertainment;
Provisions as to
food offered as
prizes, etc.
(ii) in a case falling within paragraph (b), by the
person offering or giving away the food;
(iii) in a case falling within paragraph (c), by the
occupier of the premises in question.
(2) In this section, “entertainment” includes any social gathering,
amusement, exhibition, performance, game, sport or trial of skill.
15.-(1) If an authorised officer has reason to suspect that any cart, barrow
or other vehicle, or any container contains any food intended for sale for
human consumption, or in the course of delivery after sale for human
consumption, he may examine the contents of the vehicle or, as the case
may be, 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 within section 13 (1) and subsections (2) to (4) 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 subsection (1)
shall authorise the examination of those goods without his consent.
Precautions against Contamination of Food
16.-(1) Subject to subsection (2), the following provisions shall have effect
in relation to every room in which any food intended for human
consumption, other than milk, is prepared for sale or sold, or offered or
exposed for sale, or deposited for the purpose of sale or of preparation for
sale, that is to say-
(a) no sanitary convenience, dustbin or ash-pit shall be
within, or communicate directly with, the room, or be
so placed that offensive odours therefrom can penetrate
Power to examine
food in course of
transit.
Provisions as to
rooms where food
intended for sale
is prepared or
stored, etc.
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Food and Drugs [CAP. 291
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29
into the room;
(b) no cistern for the supply of water to the room shall be in
direct communication with, or discharge directly into, a
sanitary convenience, and there shall not be within the
room any outlet for the ventilation of a drain or, except
with the approval of the local authority, an inlet into any
drain conveying sewage or foul water;
(c) the walls, ceiling, floor, windows and doors of the room
shall be kept in a proper state of repair;
(d) the walls, ceiling and doors of the room shall be painted,
whitewashed, cleansed or purified as often as may be
necessary to keep them clean and the windows of the
room shall be kept clean;
(e) the room shall not be used as a sleeping place and, so
far as may be necessary to prevent risk of infection or
contamination of food in the room, no sleeping place
adjoining the room shall communicate therewith except
through the open air, or through an intervening ventilated
space;
(f) except in the case of an artificially refrigerated room,
suitable and sufficient means of ventilation shall be
provided and suitable and sufficient ventilation shall be
maintained;
(g) no refuse or filth, whether solid or liquid, shall be
deposited or allowed to accumulate in the room, except
so far as may be necessary for the proper carrying on of
the trade or business for which the room is used, and the
floor of the room shall be cleansed as often as may be
necessary to keep it clean;
(h) cleanliness shall be observed by persons employed in
the room, both in regard to the room, and all articles,
apparatus and utensils therein, and in regard to
themselves and their clothing;
(i) there shall be provided in, or within reasonable distance
of, the room, a suitable washing basin or basins and a
sufficient supply of soap, clean towels and clean water
for the use of persons employed in the room; and
(j) a certificate signed by the medical officer of health
containing the names of the persons employed in the
preparation of food in any such room shall be posted
up at a conspicuous place in such room, and it shall not
be lawful for any person whose name does not appear
therein to be in any such room during the time when any
food is being prepared.
(2) Paragraphs (i) and (j) of subsection (1) shall not apply in relation
to a room which is used for the sale or storage, or for the sale and storage,
of food contained in containers of such materials, and so closed, as to
exclude all risk of contamination, but is not otherwise used for any purpose
in connection with the preparation, storage or sale of food.
(3) If, in the case of a room to which subsection (1) applies-
(a) any of the requirements of that subsection are not
complied with; or
(b) any person does or permits any act or thing in contra-
vention of that subsection, or fails to take all such steps
as may be reasonably necessary to prevent risk of
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Food and Drugs [CAP. 291
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31
contamination of food in the room; or
(c) any person prevents the owner of the room from
executing any work necessary to make the room comply
with the said requirements,
then, in the first-mentioned case, the occupier of the room and, in the other
cases mentioned, the person in question, whether he be the occupier or not,
commits an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars
and to a further fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars for each day during
which the offence continues after conviction therefor.
(4) If, in the case of a room to which subsection (1) applies, any of the
requirements specified in paragraphs (a), (b), (c) or (f) of that subsection is
not complied with, then, in so far as that requirement is of a structural charac-
ter, the owner of the room shall, if he let it for the purpose of being used for
the preparation, sale or storage of food or, if not having so let it, he permits it
to be so used after receiving notice from the local authority, be guilty of an
offence and liable to the penalty mentioned in subsection (3), but without pre-
judice to the liability of the occupier under that subsection.
(5) Where the owner of a room who did not let it for the purpose of
being used for the preparation, sale or storage of food executes any work
necessary to make the room comply with the requirements of subsection (1),
he may recover the expenses incurred by him in so doing from the occupier
of the room summarily as a civil debt.
(6) In this section, “room” includes a shop or cellar or any other part
of a building, and a shed, store or outbuilding or any part thereof, and this
section, except paragraphs (a) and (f) of subsection (1) thereof, shall, so far
as applicable, apply in relation to a yard, forecourt or area as they apply in
relation to a room.
(7) Except in so far as may be expressly provided by Food Regula-
tions, neither this nor section 17 shall apply in relation to premises which are
used for the preparation, sale or storage of articles prepared from, or con-
sisting of, materials other than those of animal or vegetable origin, but are
not otherwise used for any purpose in connection with the preparation,
storage or sale of food.
17.-(1) Subject to this section and of section 16 (7), no premises shall be
used for-
(a) the sale, or the manufacture for the purpose of sale, of
ice-cream, or the storage of ice-cream intended for
sale; or
(b) the preparation or manufacture of sausages or potted,
pressed, pickled or preserved food intended for sale,
unless they are registered under this section for that purpose by the local
authority, and a person who uses any premises in contravention of this
subsection commits an offence.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the preparation of meat or
fish by any process of cooking shall be deemed to be preservation thereof.
(3) Subject to the following provisions of this section, the local
authority shall, on the application of the occupier of, or of a person pro-
posing to occupy, any premises, register those premises for the purposes of
this section.
(4) If it appears to the local authority that any premises for the
registration of which application has been made under this section, or which
are registered under this section, do not satisfy the requirements of section
16 or are otherwise unsuitable for use for the purpose for which they are
Registration of
premises used in
connection with
the manufacture
or sale of ice-
cream or
preserved food,
etc.
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Food and Drugs [CAP. 291
[ ]
33
proposed to be used or are being used, the authority shall serve on the
applicant for registration or, as the case may be, on the occupier for the time
being of the premises, a notice stating the place and time, not being less than
seven days after the date of the service of the notice, at which it proposes to
take the matter into consideration and informing him that he may attend
before it, with any witnesses whom he desires to call, at the place and time
mentioned, to show cause why the authority should not, for reasons specified
in the notice, refuse the application or, as the case may be, cancel the
registration of the premises.
(5) If a person on whom a notice is served under subsection (4) fails
to show cause to the satisfaction of the local authority, it may refuse the
application or, as the case may be, cancel the registration of the premises,
and shall forthwith give notice to him of its decision in the matter, and shall, if
so required by him within fourteen days of its decision, give to him within
forty-eight hours a statement of the grounds on which it was based.
(6) A person aggrieved by the decision of a local authority under this
section to refuse to register any premises, or to cancel the registration of any
premises, may appeal to the Supreme Court in the same manner and under
the same provisions as if the decision of the local authority were the decision
of a district court.
(7) Upon any change in the occupation of premises registered under
this section, the incoming occupier shall, if he intends to use them for the
purpose for which they are registered, forthwith give notice of the change to
the local authority, which shall thereupon make any necessary alteration in its
register.
(8) If a person required to give a notice under subsection (7) fails to
do so, he shall be liable to a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars.
(9) This section shall not apply in relation to premises used primarily
as a club, hotel or restaurant, and in relation to premises used as a theatre,
cinematograph theatre, music hall or concert hall shall have effect as if in
subsection (1) (a) the words “the sale, or” and the words “or the storage of
ice-cream intended for sale”, were omitted.
18.-(1) A local authority may, with the approval of the Minister, make by-
laws 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.
(2) If and so far as a by-law made under this section is inconsistent
with any regulations made under this Act, the latter shall prevail.
19.-(1) Every dealer in ice-cream who in a street or other place of public
resort sells, or offers or exposes for sale, ice-cream from a stall, or from a
cart, barrow or other vehicle, or from a basket, pail, tray or other container
used without a stall or vehicle, shall have his name and address legibly and
conspicuously displayed on the stall, vehicle or container, as the case may
be and, if he fails to comply with the requirements of this section, he
commits an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding ten dollars.
(2) A local authority may at any time resolve that, as from such
date, not being less than four weeks from the passing of the resolution, as
may be specified therein and until the resolution is revoked, this section shall
apply within their district in relation to all kinds of food, or to any kinds of
food specified in the resolution, as it applies in relation to ice-cream, and
while any such resolution is in force, this section shall apply accordingly.
(3) Nothing in subsection (2) shall have effect in relation to milk.
(4) A local authority shall forthwith give notice to the Minister of the
passing or revocation of a resolution under this section, and shall take such
steps as he may direct for publishing notice of the coming into operation, or
Notices to be
displayed by
persons selling
ice-cream, etc.,
from stalls, carts,
baskets, etc.
By-laws with res-
pect to the hand-
ling, wrapping,
etc., of food and
the sale of food in
open air.
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Food and Drugs [CAP. 291
[ ]
35
revocation, of any such resolution.
Food Poisoning
20.-(1) If a registered medical practitioner becomes aware, or suspects, that
a patient whom he is attending within the district of any local authority is
suffering from food poisoning, he shall forthwith send to the medical officer of
health of that district a certificate stating-
(a) the name, age and sex of the patient, and the address of
the premises where the patient is; and
(b) particulars of the food poisoning from which he is, or is
suspected to be, suffering,
and also stating whether the case occurs in the private practice of the prac-
titioner, or in his practice as medical officer of a public body or institution.
(2) A local authority shall pay to a registered medical practitioner for
each certificate duly sent by him under subsection (1) to its medical officer of
health a fee of two dollars if the case occurs in his private practice, and a fee
of one dollar if it occurs in his practice as medical officer of any public body
or institution.
(3) The acceptance by a medical practitioner of a fee under this sec-
tion shall not subject him to disqualification from being a member of any
authority or holding any other public office.
21.-(1) If the medical officer of health of a district has reasonable ground
for suspecting that any food of which he, or any other officer of the local
authority of the district, has procured a sample under this Act 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
Provisions as to
suspected food.
Notification of
cases of food
poisoning.
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 subsection (1) commits an offence and
is liable to a fine not exceeding fifty dollars.
(3) If, as a result of his investigations, the 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 section 13 (1) and
subsections (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 subsection (1) is withdrawn by the me-
dical officer of health, or if the magistrate before whom any food is brought
under this section refuses to condemn it, the local authority 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 medical officer, the amount of
such compensation being fixed by the magistrate of the district upon appli-
cation by the owner of such food.
PART III
Provisions as to Milk, Dairies and Artificial Cream
Milk and Dairies
22.-(1) The Minister may make regulations for all or any of the purposes
mentioned in any of the following paragraphs-
(a) for the registration by the Minister of persons carrying
on or proposing to carry on the trade of a dairy farmer
or to operate a milk processing plant and the regis-
Regulations.
31 of 1968.
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Food and Drugs [CAP. 291
[ ]
37
tration of dairies and milk processing plants and for
prohibiting any person from carrying on the trade or
operating such plant unless he and the premises used as
a dairy or milk processing plant are registered and for
the refusal or cancellation of registration for such
reasons as the Minister shall think fit;
(b) for the prohibition of sale of any milk or milk product
produced in Belize unless such milk or milk product
comes from a registered dairy farm;
(c) for the prohibition of the use in any milk processing plant
of any milk produced in Belize unless such milk comes
from a registered dairy farm;
(d) for the inspection of dairies and milk processing plants
and of persons employed therein or who have access to
any milk, churns, vessels, plant equipment or machinery
used therein;
(e) for imposing obligations on dairy farmers and persons
operating milk processing plants and their employees
with regard to infectious illnesses;
(f) or securing the cleanliness of churns, vessels or other
appliances or any plant equipment or machinery used in
any dairy or milk processing plant;
(g) with respect to the lighting, ventilation, cleansing, drain-
age, water supply, layout construction and sanitary and
washing facilities of dairies and milk processing plants;
(h) for the inspection of cattle on dairy farms;
(i) for preventing danger to health from the sale of
infected, contaminated or dirty milk and, in particular,
for prohi-biting the supply or sale of milk suspected of
being infected;
(j) prescribing the methods to be used in the pasteurisation
of milk;
(k) prescribing precautions to be taken for protecting milk
or milk products against infection or contamination;
(l) regulating the cooling, conveyance, distribution and
storage of milk;
(m) prescribing the records to be kept in respect of any
dairy or milk processing plant or of any process carried
on therein;
(n) for the labelling, marking, or identification of any milk
or milk product produced in a dairy or milk processing
plant and the sealing or closing of churns and other
vessels used for the conveyance of milk, the labelling of
vessels in which milk is sold, exposed or offered for
sale or delivered, and the display of the vendor’s name
and address on any stall or any cart, barrow or other
vehicle from which milk is sold or delivered;
(o) prohibiting or restricting the addition to or abstraction
of fat or any other constituent from milk or the sale of
milk to which any such addition or from which any such
abstraction has been made or which has been other-
wise artificially treated; and
(p) for preventing danger to health from the importation of
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Food and Drugs [CAP. 291
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milk.
(2) Regulations made under this section may be general regulations or
regulations limited to a specified area.
(3) Any regulations made under this section providing for the refusal
or cancellation of any registration shall-
(a) require notice to be given to the person affected of any
intention to refuse or cancel the registration, stating the
grounds on which it is alleged that the regulations cannot
be or are not being complied with, as the case may be,
and his rights of making objections and representations
in accordance with the regulations;
(b) enable the person described in paragraph (a), within the
time prescribed by the regulations (which shall not be
less, in the case of a refusal, than twenty-eight days or,
in the case of a cancellation, than twenty-one days, from
the date of the service of the said notice), to object, in
respect of all or any of the grounds stated in the notice,
that the regulations can be or are being complied with,
as the case may be;
(c) provide for the reference of any such objection to a
tribunal and for the setting up of and procedure in such
tribunal;
(d) provide for entitling the person objecting to appear
before a tribunal with any witnesses he desires to call,
and request the tribunal to inspect the premises to which
the objections relate;
(e) require the tribunal to determine whether the objections
are made out and, if not, on which of the grounds in
respect of which they are made they are not made out;
(f) provide that the determinations of the tribunal as stated
in the report shall, for the purpose of the proposal to
refuse or cancel registration, be conclusive evidence of
the facts found thereby;
(g) provide that no registration shall be cancelled:-
(i) in any case, until the expiration of the
prescribed time for making objections or
representations under the regulations;
(ii) in a case where an objection is made within that
time, until the determination of the tribunal.
(4) Any regulations made under this section shall be laid before the
House of Representatives as soon as may be after the making thereof and if
the House by resolution request that such regulations laid before it be
rescinded, such regulations shall be rescinded by the Minister, but without
prejudice to the validity of anything done thereunder or the making of new
regulations.
(5) In this section -
“dairy” includes any dairy farm, cowshed, milking house, milk store, milk
shop or other premises from which milk is supplied on or for sale, or in
which milk is kept or used for purposes of sale or for the purpose of
manufacture into butter, cheese, condensed milk or dried milk or in which
vessels used for the sale of milk are kept, but does not include a shop from
which milk is supplied only in properly closed vessels in which it is delivered
to the shop, or a shop or other place in which milk is sold for consumption
on the premises only;
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Food and Drugs [CAP. 291
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41
“dairy farm” means any farm, cowshed or other premises being a dairy on
which milk is produced from cows;
“dairy farmer” means any person who produces milk from cows.
23.-(1) No person shall:-
(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
(b) add any separated milk, or mixture of cream and
separated milk, to unseparated milk intended for such
sale; or
(c) sell, or offer or expose for sale, or have in his posses-
sion for the purpose of sale, for human consumption any
milk to which any addition has been made in contraven-
tion of this subsection.
(2) No person shall sell, or offer or expose for sale under the desig-
nation of milk any liquid in the making of which any separated milk or dried
or condensed milk has been used.
(3) Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of this section
commits an offence.
24.-(1) No person shall -
(a) sell, or offer, or expose for sale, for human consumption;
or
(b) use in the manufacture of products for sale for human
consumption,
Prohibition of
sale of tuber-
culous milk, of
milk of cows
suffering from
tuberculosis, etc.
Certain additions
not to be made
to milk, and
certain liquids
not to be sold as
milk.
the milk of any cow which to his knowledge has given tuberculous milk, or
is suffering from emaciation due to tubercolosis, or from tuberculosis of the
udder or any other disease of cows to which this section applies.
(2) In proceedings under this section, the defendant shall be deemed
to have known that a cow had given tuberculous milk, or was so suffering as
described in subsection (1), if he could with ordinary care have ascertained
the fact.
(3) A person who contravenes any of the provisions of this section
commits an offence.
(4) The disease of cows to which this section applies are those
specified in Part I of the First Schedule and any other disease to which the
provisions of this section are extended by Milk and Dairies Regulations.
(5) It shall be the duty of the local authority of every district to
enforce this section.
Artificial Cream
25.-(1) No person shall sell, or offer or expose for sale, for human
consumption under a description or designation including the word “cream”
any substance purporting to be cream or artificial cream, unless -
(a) the substance is cream; or
(b) where the substance is artificial cream, the word
“cream” is immediately preceded by the word
“artificial”.
(2) No person shall use any vessel for conveying artificial cream
intended for sale for human consumption, or for containing artificial cream at
any time when it is exposed for such sale, unless the words “artificial cream”
Regulations of
sale of artificial
cream.
Part I
First Schedule.
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Food and Drugs [CAP. 291
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43
are printed in large and legible letters of uniform size and conspicuously
visible either on the vessel itself, or on a label securely attached thereto.
(3) Any person who contravenes this section commits an offence.
PART IV
Provisions as to Other Kinds of Foods
Bread and Flour
26.-(1) The Minister may make “Bread and Flour Regulations” for all or any
of the purposes mentioned in any of the following paragraphs, that is to say-
(a) prescribing the kinds of flour and the other substances
which may be used in the making of bread for sale;
(b) prescribing the descriptions under which bread made of
flour other than wheat flour may be sold, and the manner
in which any such bread is to be marked;
(c) prohibiting, prescribing, or restricting the addition of any
substance, or the application of any treatment, to flour
intended for sale or for use in the making of bread for
sale;
(d) prescribing the descriptions under which, and conditions
subject to which, flour may be sold; and
(e) for regulating the importation, preparation, transport,
storage, exposure for sale and delivery of bread or flour.
(2) Regulations shall not be made for any of the purposes mentioned
in subsection (1)(a) or (c) unless they are expressed to be, in the opinion of
Regulations as
to the composi-
tion of flour and
the addition of
substances to
flour.
the Minister, necessary or expedient for promoting health or nutritional
value, or otherwise for protecting purchasers.
27. If any flour or other substance which under Bread and Flour
Regulations may not be used in the making of bread for sale, is found in a
bakehouse, or any substance which under those regulations may not be
added to flour is found in a flourmill, the occupier of the bakehouse or mill,
as the case may be, commits an offence, unless he proves that the substance
in question was not intended to be used in the making of bread for sale, or
as the case may be, was not intended to be added to any flour intended for
sale.
Margarine, Margarine Cheese, Butter and Milk-Blended Butter
28.-(1) Every person who sells, or offers or exposes for sale, or has in his
possession for the purpose of sale -
(a) any butter which contains more than sixteen per
centum of water; or
(b) any margarine which contains more than sixteen per
centum of water, or the fat of which contains more than
ten per centum of fat derived from milk; or
(c) any milk-blended butter which contains more than
twenty-four per centum of water,
commits an offence.
(2) Any label or advertisement which states or suggests that
margarine with which it is given, or to which it relates, contains butter shall
state the percentage of butter which it contains:
Provided that no offence shall be deemed to have been committed
Prohibition of
adulterants in
bakehouses and
mills.
Limit of water in
butter, etc., and
provisions as to
butter in
margarine.
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Food and Drugs [CAP. 291
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45
under this subsection, if the figure stated as the percentage of butter does not
differ by more than two from the actual percentage.
(3) A person who gives with any margarine sold by him a label,
whether attached to or printed on the wrapper or container or not, which
does not comply with the requirements of subsection (2), or who publishes,
or is a party to the publication of, an advertisement which does not comply
therewith, commits an offence.
Ice-Cream
29.-(1) Every manufacturer of, or dealer in, ice-cream shall, upon the
occurrence of any milk-borne disease among the persons living or working in
or about the premises on which the ice-cream is manufactured, stored or
sold, forthwith give notice thereof to the medical officer of health of the
district and, if he fails to do so, he commits an offence and is liable to a fine
not exceeding twenty-five dollars.
(2) If the medical officer of health of a district has reasonable ground
for suspecting that any ice-cream, or substance intended for use in the manu-
facture of ice-cream, is likely to cause any milk-borne disease, he may give
notice to the person in charge thereof that, until further notice, the ice-cream
or substance in question, or any specified portion thereof, shall not be used
for human consumption and either shall not be removed, or shall not be
removed except to some place specified in the notice.
(3) A person who uses or removes any ice-cream or substance in
contravention of the requirements of a notice given under subsection (2)
commits an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding fifty dollars.
(4) If, on further investigation, the medical officer is satisfied that the
ice-cream or substance in question may safely be used for human consump-
tion, he shall forthwith withdraw his notice, but, if he is not so satisfied, he
shall cause it to be destroyed, and he shall also cause to be destroyed any
Provisions as to
ice-cream likely
to cause milk-
borne disease.
other ice-cream or such substance as aforesaid then on the premises as to
which he is not so satisfied.
(5) Subject as hereinafter provided, where a notice given under
subsection (2) is withdrawn by the medical officer, or the medical officer
acting under subsection (4) causes any ice-cream or other substance to be
destroyed, the local authority shall compensate the owner of the ice-cream
or other substance in question for any depreciation in its value resulting from
the action taken by the medical officer or, as the case may be, for the loss of
its value, the amount of such compensation being fixed by the magistrate of
the district upon application by the owner of such ice-cream or other
substance:
Provided that -
(a) no compensation shall be payable under this section in
respect of the destruction of any ice-cream or
substance if the local authority proves that it was likely
to cause any milk borne disease;
(b) no compensation shall in any case be payable under this
section -
(i) in respect of any ice-cream or substance
manufactured on, or brought within, any
premises while a notice given under subsection
(2) with respect to anything on those premises
was operative; or
(ii) in any case where the owner of the ice-cream
or substance in question has failed to give a
notice which he was required by subsection (1)
to give.
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(6) For the purposes of subsection (5), the value of any ice-cream or
other substance shall not be assessed at a sum exceeding the cost incurred by
the owner in making or purchasing it.
(7) In this section, “milk-borne disease” means any disease specified
in Part II of the First Schedule and any other disease which the Minister may
by Order declare to be for the purposes of this section a milk-borne disease.
Imported Food
30. If there is imported into Belize, within the meaning of that expression
as used in the Customs Regulation Act -
(a) any margarine or magarine-cheese, except in containers
conspicuously marked “Margarine” or “Margarine-
Cheese”, as the case may require;
(b) any adulterated or impoverished milk, except in
containers conspicuously marked with a name or
description indicating that the milk has been so treated;
(c) any other adulterated or impoverished food to which the
Minister may by Order direct that this section shall be
applied, except in containers conspicuously marked with
a name or description indicating that the food has been
so treated;
(d) any milk-blended butter, except in containers
conspicuously marked with a name approved for the
purpose by the Minister, not being a name which refers
to, or is suggestive of, butter or anything connected with
the dairy interest;
(e) any butter, margarine or milk-blended butter the sale of
Restrictions on
the importation
of certain foods.
CAP. 49.
Part II
First Schedule.
which would be an offence under section 28(1);
(f) any food which does not comply with any relevant
provisions contained in regulations made under this, or
any other, Act with respect to the importation of food,
the importer commits an offence under this Part.
31.-(1) The Comptroller of Customs shall take such samples of
consignments of imported food as may be necessary for the enforcement of
the provisions of this Part.
(2) Where the Comptroller of Customs takes a sample of any
consignment, he shall divide it into not less than three parts, and send one
part to the importer and one part to a public analyst and retain one part.
(3) Where a sample taken under this section has been analysed and
it appears from the certificate of the public analyst that an offence under this
Part has been committed, the Comptroller of Customs shall forthwith send a
copy of the certificate to the importer.
PART V
Administration
Duty to Execute Act
32.-(1) It shall be the duty of every local authority within its area to carry
into execution and enforce the provisions of -
(a) sections 4 to 10 (which relate to the composition of
food and drugs);
(b) section 23 (which relates to additions not to be made
Power of
Comptroller of
Customs to have
imported food
sampled.
Duty to enforce
Act.
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to milk and liquids not to be sold as milk);
(c) section 25 (which relates to artificial cream);
(d) section 28 (which relates to margarine, margarine-
cheese, butter and milk-blended butter); and
(e) any other section of this Act which it is specifically
directed by the Minister to enforce,
with a view to securing that food and drugs are sold only in a pure and
genuine condition.
(2) It shall be the duty of every local authority within its district or area
to carry into execution and enforce any section of this Act with respect to
which the duty is not expressly, or by necessary implication, imposed on
some other authority.
(3) A local authority may institute proceedings under any section of, or
regulation made under, this Act.
33.-(1) The Minister may assign a medical officer of health for duty in
respect of the execution of this Act within the district of any local authority.
(2) The Public Services Commission may -
(a) appoint any qualified person or persons a public analyst
or analysts for the purpose of making analyses of any
food, drug or other substance, samples of which may be
taken by any person under this Act;
(b) declare any qualified person or persons a bacteriologist,
veterinary surgeon or meat inspector for the purpose of
making bacteriological and other examinations of any
Provision of
officers for
executing Act.
food and drug or other substance taken by sampling
officers, or other food, drug or other substance which
may be submitted for examination under this Act by a
purchaser or of any sample of imported food taken by
the Comptroller of Customs under this Act.
(3) A public analyst may be appointed to act for one or more local
authorities.
(4) Section 36(1), (2) and (4) of the Evidence Act, shall apply and
have effect in any proceedings under this Act in which it is material to give in
evidence the result of any analysis or examination made pursuant to this Act.
Procuring Samples for Analysis
34.-(1) A sampling officer may exercise such powers of procuring samples
of food and drugs for analysis, or for bacteriological or other examination,
as are conferred upon him by this section.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), a sampling officer may purchase
samples of any food or drug.
(3) Nothing in subsection (2) shall be construed as authorising any
purchase or sale of drugs in contravention of the Misuse of Drugs Act, or
regulations made thereunder.
(4) A sampling officer may take samples of -
(a) any butter or cheese, or substances resembling butter
or cheese, exposed for sale and not marked in the
manner in which margarine, milk-blended butter or
margarine-cheese is required to be marked under this
Act;
CAP. 95.
Powers of
sampling.
CAP. 103.
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(b) any food, or substance capable of being used in the
preparation of food, found on premises which he has
entered in the execution of his duties under this Act.
(5) A sampling officer may take samples of milk at any dairy, or at any
time while it is in transit, or at the place of delivery to the purchaser, cosignee
or consumer.
(6) Where milk sold or exposed for sale within the area of any local
authority is obtained from a dairy situate outside that area, the medical officer
of health or any other authorised officer may by notice in writing to the
medical officer of health or other authorised officer within whose area the
dairy is situate, or through whose area the milk passes in transit, request him
to procure samples of the milk at that dairy, or while it is in transit, and it shall
be the duty of the medical officer of health or other authorised officer who
receives such a notice to procure, as soon as is practicable, samples of the
milk in question and to forward those samples to the officer who gave the
notice, or to such person as the first-mentioned medical officer of health or
other authorised officer may direct and, for the purposes of this Act, samples
so procured shall be deemed to have been procured within the area for
which the first-mentioned officer acts.
(7) Any power of an authorised officer in respect of procuring
samples of milk may be exercised at a place outside the area of the local
authority whose officer he is, if the local authority of that area within which
that place is situate has consented to samples of milk being procured within
its area by authorised officers of the first-mentioned local authority and, for
the purposes of this Act, any samples so procured shall be deemed to have
been procured within the area for which the authorised officer in question
acts.
(8) A local authority shall not unreasonably withhold consent for the
purposes of subsection (7), and any question whether or not consent is
unreasonably withheld shall be referred to and determined by the Minister.
(9) Subject to subsection (10), a sampling officer may, at the request
or with the consent of the purchaser, consignee or consumer, take at the
place of delivery samples of any food delivered, or about to be delivered, to
the purchaser, consignee or consumer in pursuance of a contract for the sale
thereof to him.
(10) Subsection (9) shall not apply in relation to milk.
(11) If a sampling officer has reason to believe that any container
forwarded by a public conveyance contains margarine, margarine-cheese or
milk-blended butter which is not consigned in accordance with this Act, he
may examine and take samples of the contents of that container.
35.-(1) If a sampling officer who has procured a sample of any food or
drug considers that it should be analysed, he shall submit it to be analysed
by a public analyst.
(2) A person, other than a sampling officer, who has purchased any
food or drug may submit a sample of it to be analysed by a public analyst.
36.-(1) A person purchasing a sample of any food or drug with the
intention of submitting it to be analysed by a public analyst, or taking a
sample of food on any premises with the intention of submitting it to be so
analysed shall, after the purchase has been completed or the sample has
been taken, forthwith inform the seller or his agent who sold the sample or,
as the case may be, the occupier of the premises or the person for the time
being in charge thereof, of his intention to have the sample analysed by the
public analyst, and shall then and there 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 -
(a) deliver one part to the seller or his agent or, as the case
may be, to the occupier of the premises or the person
for the time being in charge thereof;
Right to have
samples analysed.
Division of, and
dealings with,
samples.
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(b) retain one part for future comparison; and
(c) if he thinks fit to have an analysis made, submit one part
to the public analyst:
Provided that, in relation to samples taken in such circumstances as
are mentioned in subsection (2), the foregoing provisions with respect to the
giving of information and the manner of dealing with samples shall have effect
as modified by that subsection.
(2) A person taking a sample of any food while it is in transit, or at the
place of delivery to the purchaser, consignee or consumer shall, if he intends
to submit it to be analysed by a public analyst, deal with it in the manner
provided by subsection (1), except that he shall retain the first-mentioned
part of the sample unless the name and address of the consignor appear in
the container containing the article sampled, in which case he shall forward
that part of the sample to the consignor by registered post or otherwise,
together with a notice informing that person that he intends to have part of the
sample analysed by the public analyst.
37.-(1) The provisions of this Act relating to the procuring of samples by
sampling officers, and proceedings in connection therewith shall, in relation to
milk, have effect subject to the Second Schedule.
(2) It shall be a defence for a defendant charged with any offence
under this Act, or under Milk and Dairies Regulations or Food Regulations,
in respect of a sample of milk taken after the milk has left his possession, to
prove that the churn or other vessel in which the milk was contained 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.
(3) So much of any contract as requires a purveyor of milk, on a
sample of milk being procured under this Act, to send to the person from
Special provi-
sions as to the
sampling of milk
and proceedings
subsequent
thereto. Second Schedule.
whom he obtained the milk any part of such sample, or to give to that
person notice that a sample has been so procured, shall be void.
PART VI
Legal Proceedings and Penalties
Obstruction of Persons Executing Act
38.-(1) A person who wilfully obstructs any person acting in the execution
of this Act or of any regulations, by-laws, Order or warrant made or issued
thereunder commits an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding one
hundred dollars.
(2) If, in any proceedings under subsection (1), the court is satisfied
that the offender committed the offence with intent to prevent the discovery
of some other offence under this Act, or if he has within the twelve months
last preceding been convicted of an offence under subsection (1), he shall
be liable to a fine not exceeding three hundred dollars or to imprisonment
for a term not exceeding six months.
(3) If a sampling officer applies to purchase any food or drug
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 drug for
sale, or having it for sale, refuses to sell to the officer the quantity thereof as
required, or if the seller or consignor, or any person having for the time
being the charge, of any food or drug of which an officer is empowered to
take a sample, refuses to allow the officer to take the quantity which he
requires as a sample, the person so refusing shall, for the purposes of
subsection (1), be deemed to have wilfully obstructed the officer.
(4) Where any food or drug is exposed for sale in an unopened
container duly labelled, no person shall be required to sell it except in the
unopened container in which it is contained.
Penalty for
obstructing
execution of Act.
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(5) A person who fails to give to any person acting in the execution of
this Act or of any regulations, by-laws, 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
information, knowingly makes any mis-statement in respect thereof, shall be
liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars.
(6) Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring a person to
answer any question or give any information, if to do so might incriminate
him.
39.-(1) Subject to this section, an authorised officer 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 this Act or of any regulations or by-
laws made thereunder;
(b) to inspect animals before slaughter for the purpose of
ascertaining whether such animals may be passed for
slaughter and to examine the carcasses of animals after
slaughter to determine whether such carcass or any part
or product thereof may be passed as fit for human
consumption; and
(c) generally for the purpose of the performance of any
local authority of its functions under this Act or any such
regulations or by-laws.
(2) Admission to any premises used only as a private dwelling house
shall not be demanded as of right unless twenty-four hours’ notice of the
Power to enter
premises.
31 of 1968.
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 mentioned in
subsection (1); and
(b) is also satisfied either:-
(i) that admission to the premises has been
refused, or a refusal is reasonably 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 the occupier
temporarily absent,
he may by warrant under his hand authorise any authorised
officer to enter the premises, if need be by force.
(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 occupied premises which
he has entered by virtue of such a warrant shall leave them as effectively
secured against trespasses as he found them.
(5) Every warrant granted under this section shall continue in force
for a period of one month.
(6) A police officer shall have all the powers conferred upon an
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authorised officer by this section.
Legal Proceedings
40. Any person who commits an offence under this Act shall, unless a
special penalty for that offence is provided by this Act, be liable on
conviction, in the case of a first offence, to a fine not exceeding one hundred
dollars and, in the case of a subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding five
hundred dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to
both such fine and term of imprisonment.
41.-(1) Subject to this Act, all offences under this Act and regulations and
by-laws made thereunder may be prosecuted under the Summary Jurisdiction
Acts.
(2) Where a sample has been procured under this Act, no prosecution
in respect of the article sampled shall be commenced after the expiration of
sixty days from the time when the sample was procured unless the magistrate
before whom the information is laid, on being satisfied on oath that having
regard to the circumstances of the particular case it was not practicable to lay
the information at an earlier date, gives a certificate to that effect, and in no
case shall the prosecution be commenced after the expiration of ninety days
from the said time.
(3) The time within which a prosecution may be commenced under
section 46 in respect of the giving of a false warranty shall be twelve months
instead of six months.
(4) Subject to subsections (5) and (6), where a sample has been
procured under this Act, any proceedings in respect of the article sampled
shall be taken before a court having jurisdiction in the place where the sample
was procured.
(5) Where a sample procured within one area is for the purposes of
Prosecutions.
CAP. 98.
CAP. 99.
Penalties.
this Act deemed to have been procured within another area, proceedings
may, at the option of the prosecutor, be taken either before a court having
jurisdiction within the area within which the sample was procured, or before
a court having jurisdiction within the area within which it is deemed to have
been procured.
(6) Where the article sampled was sold and actually delivered to the
purchaser, proceedings may, if the prosecutor so elects, be taken before a
court having jurisdiction at the place of delivery.
(7) In any proceedings under this Act in respect of an article
sampled, the summons shall not be made returnable less than fourteen days
from the day on which it is served, and a copy of any certificate of analysis
obtained on behalf of the prosecutor, and of any certificate given by a
magistrate under subsection (2), shall be served with the summons.
(8) In any proceedings under this Act, 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.
42.-(1) In any proceedings under this Act, the production by one of the
parties of a document purporting to be a certificate of a public analyst in the
prescribed form, or of a document supplied to him by the other party as
being a copy of such a certificate, shall be sufficient evidence of the facts
stated therein, unless, in the first-mentioned case, the other party requires
that the analyst shall be called as a witness.
(2) In any such proceedings, if a sample of milk has been taken by
an officer of one authority at the request of an officer of another authority, a
document purporting to be a certificate signed by the officer who took the
sample and stating that the provisions of this Act with respect to the manner
in which samples are to be dealt with were complied with shall, if a copy
thereof has been served on the defendant with the summons, be sufficient
Evidence of
certificates of
analysis, and
presumptions.
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evidence of compliance with those provisions, unless the defendant requires
that the officer shall be called as a witness.
(3) In any such proceedings, if a defendant intends to produce a
certificate of a public analyst, or under subsection (1), to require that the
public analyst shall be called as a witness, or under subsection (2) to require
that a sampling officer shall be called as a witness, notice of his intention,
together, in the first-mentioned case, with a copy of the certificate, shall be
given to the other party at least three clear days before the day on which the
summons is returnable and, if this requirement is not complied with, the court
may, if it thinks fit, adjourn the hearing on such terms as it deems proper.
(4) For the purposes of this Act and of any regulations made there-
under-
(a) articles 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 or to be intended for sale,
for human consumption
(b) any article commonly used for human consumption
which is found on premises used for the preparation,
storage or sale of that article and any article commonly
used in the manufacture of products for human con-
sumption which is found on premises used for the pre-
paration, storage or sale of those products, shall be
presumed, until the contrary is proved, to be intended
for sale, or for manufacturing products for sale, for
human consumption;
(c) any substance capable of being used in the composition
or preparation of any article commonly used for human
consumption which is found on premises on which that
article is prepared shall, until the contrary is proved, be
presumed to be intended for such use.
43.-(1) The court before which any proceedings are taken under this Act
may, if it thinks fit, and upon the request of either party shall, cause the part
of any sample produced before the court under section 41 (8) to be sent to
a public analyst, 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 prosecutor or the defendant as the court may order.
(2) If, in a case where an appeal is brought, no action has been taken
under subsection (1), the provisions thereof shall apply also in relation to the
court by which the appeal is heard.
44.-(1) A person against whom proceedings are brought under this Act
shall, upon complaint duly laid by him and on giving to the prosecution not
less than three clear days’ notice of his intention, be entitled to have any
person to whose act or default he alleges that the contravention of the pro-
visions in question was due brought before the court in the proceedings,
and, if, after the contravention has been proved, the original defendant
proves that the contravention was due to the act or default of that other
person, that other person may be convicted of the offence and, if the original
defendant further proves that he has used all due diligence to secure that the
provisions in question were complied with, he shall be acquitted of the
offence.
(2) Where a defendant seeks to avail himself of the provisions of
subsection (1)-
(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;
Defence available
to defendant
where some other
person is
responsible for
the commission of
the offence
charged.
Power of court to
require analysis
by Government
Chemist.
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(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.
(3) Where it appears to the local authority concerned that an offence
had been committed in respect of which proceedings might be taken under
this Act against some person and the local authority is reasonably satisfied
that the offence of which complaint is made was due to an act or default of
some other person and that the first-mentioned person could establish a
defence under subsection (1), the local authority may cause proceedings to
be taken against that other person without first causing proceedings to be
taken against the first-mentioned person.
(4) In any such proceedings, the defendant may be charged with and,
on proof that the contravention was due to his act or default, be convicted of,
the offence with which the first-mentioned person might have been charged.
45.-(1) Subject to this section, in the case of any prosecution under Part II,
Part III, or Part IV in respect of selling, exposing or offering for sale, or
having in possession for sale, an article which was not of a nature, substance
or quality entitling a person to sell or otherwise deal with it under the descrip-
tion or in the manner under, or in, which the defendant dealt with it, it shall be
a defence for the defendant to prove—
(a) that he purchased it as being an article of such a nature,
substance and quality as would have so entitled him and
with a written warranty to that effect; and
(b) that he had no reason to believe at the time of the com-
mission of the alleged offence that it was otherwise; and
(c) that it was then in the same state as when he purchased
it.
Conditions
under which a
warranty may be
pleaded as
defence.
(2) A warranty shall only be a defence to proceedings under this Act
if-
(a) the defendant has within seven days 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 has also sent a like
notice of his intention to that person; and
(b) in the case of a warranty given by a person resident
outside Belize, 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) in the case of a prosecution in respect of a sample of
milk, the defendant has within seventy-two hours after
the sample was procured served such a notice as is
mentioned in paragraph (2) of the Second Schedule.
(3) Where the defendant is a servant of the person who purchased
the article 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 46, a name or
description entered in an invoice shall be deemed to be a written warranty
that the food or drug to which the entry refers is of such a nature, substance
and quality that a person can sell, or otherwise deal with it, under the name
or descrip-tion without contravening any of the provisions of this Act or of
regulations made thereunder.
Second Schedule.
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46.-(1) A defendant who in any proceedings under this Act wilfully applies to
any food or drug a warranty or certificate of analysis given in relation to any
other food or drug commits an offence.
(2) A person who, in respect of any food or drug sold by him, gives
to the purchaser a false warranty in writing commits an offence, unless he
proves that when he gave the warranty he had reason to believe that the
statements or description contained therein were accurate.
(3) Where the defendant in a prosecution under this Act relies suc-
cessfully on a warranty given to him or to his employer, any proceedings
under subsection (2) in respect of the warranty may, at the option of the
prosecutor, be taken either before a court having jurisdiction in the place
where a sample of the food or drug to which the warranty relates was
procured, or before a court having jurisdiction in the place where the
warranty was given.
Compensation
47. Where by any of the foregoing provisions of this Act provision is
made for the payment of compensation to any person, any dispute arising as
to liability to pay compensation, the fact of damage or loss, or as to the
amount of compensation, shall be determined by, and any compensation
awarded may be recovered before, a court of summary jurisdiction in the
place where the liability is alleged to have arisen.
PART VII
Slaughter House and Knacker’s Yard
48.-(1) It shall not be lawful-
(a) for the occupier of any premises to use them as a
slaughter house or knacker’s yard, or to permit them to
Disputes as to
compensation.
Slaughterhouses
and knacker’s
yards to be
licensed.
31 of 1968.
Offences in
relation to
warranties and
certificates of
analysis.
be so used, unless he holds a licence under this Part
authorising him to keep those premises as a slaughter-
house or, as the case may be, a knacker’s yard; or
(b) for any person other than the occupier to use any
premises as a slaughter house or knacker’s yard, unless
the occupier of the premises held in respect thereof a
licence under this Part.
(2) Licences under this Part shall be granted by the Minister, sub-
ject to and in accordance with this Part.
(3) In relation to the use of any premises for or in connection with the
slaughter of horses, asses or mules, a licence under this Part shall be of no
effect unless the licence expressly authorises the use of the premises for that
purpose.
(4) A person who uses any premises as a slaughter house or
knacker’s yard in contravention of this section, or permits any premises to
be so used, commits an offence.
49.-(1) Subject to this Part, the Minister, on receiving from the occupier of,
or a person proposing to occupy, any premises on application for the grant
or renewal of a licence authorising him to keep those premises as a
slaughterhouse or as a knacker’s yard, may grant or renew to him a licence
in respect of those premises.
(2) The Minister shall not grant or renew a licence for the premises
named in the application until the buildings, equipment and facilities (for
hygiene) have been inspected and examined by the authorised officer and
are found to be satisfactory in compliance with the regulations and a report
in writing is made to the Minister accordingly.
(3) Where any premises used or to be used for the confinement of
Application for
grant of licences.
,
No. 1 Power Lane,
Belmopan, by the authority of
the Government of Belize.
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animals awaiting slaughter in a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard are situated
outside the curtilage of the premises used or to be used for the slaughter,
separate licences may be granted under this Part authorising the use of those
premises for the purposes of the confinement and the slaughter respectively.
(4) The Minister may require a person who applies for a grant or
renewal of a licence under this Part to give to him, before his application is
considered, information as to any other licence in respect of a slaughterhouse
or knacker’s yard which he holds or has held; and if an applicant who is so
required gives to the Minister any information which is false in a material
respect, he commits an offence.
(5) In the case of an application for the construction of new premises
for use as a slaughterhouse or a knacker’s yard or the modification thereof,
the person proposing to construct or modify such premises shall submit an
application and plans of the proposed premises and of the site to the
Minister. Such plans of the premises shall show the layout of the rooms and
their functions, the provision for the drainage, water supply, hygiene facilities,
toilet facilities and rest rooms and facilities for handling and treatment of offals
as required by the Act and regulations. Further, the site plan shall show the
location of buildings, location of lairage for the animals, the location of
drainage, grease catchment basins and the like, the location of wells and/or
water supplies and access roads:
Provided that no licence shall be granted or renewed under this section
if the slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard will constitute an environmental
hazard or nuisance to the residents of the area.
50. Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions of this Part, the
Minister shall refuse an application made to him for the grant or renewal of a
licence under this Part in respect of any premises if he is not satisfied that the
requirements of any regulations in force under section 11 and made for the
purposes of subsection (2) (a) or (b) of that section are complied with in
respect of those premises, or will be complied with before the date on which
8 of 1985.
Particular
grounds for
refusal of
licence.
the licence or renewed licence comes into force.
51. A licence granted under this Part shall expire on 31st December of
the year in which it was granted.
52. Any premises licensed under this Part shall be kept and maintained
entirely separate from any other premises whether so licensed or not.
53. No meat or meat product shall be admitted to any slaughterhouse
licensed under this Act unless such meat or meat product emanates from
some other slaughterhouse licensed under this Act.
54. Nothing in this Part shall apply to any slaughterhouses which are
maintained at public expense.
_____________
FIRST SCHEDULE
[Sections 24 (4), 29 (7)]
PART I
Diseases of Cows to which Section 24 Applies
Acute mastitis.
Actinomycosis of the udder.
Suppuration of the udder.
Any infection of the udder or teats which is likely to convey disease.
Any comatose condition.
Any septic condition of the uterus.
Anthrax.
Foot and mouth disease.
Licensed premises
to be separate.
Restriction on
meat entering
slaughterhouses.
Application.
Duration of
licence.
,
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Belmopan, by the authority of
the Government of Belize.
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PART II
Milk-Borne Diseases
Enteric fever (including typhoid and paratyphoid fevers).
Dysentery.
Diphtheria.
Scarlet fever.
Acute inflammation of the throat.
Gastro-enteritis.
Undulant fever.
__________-
SECOND SCHEDULE
[Sections 37 (1), 45 (2) (c)]
Special Provisions as to the Sampling of Milk
(1) Where a sample of milk is procured from a purveyor of milk, he
shall, if required to do so by the person by whom or on whose behalf the
sample was procured, state the name and address of the seller or consignor
from whom he received the milk.
(2) Within seventy-two hours after the sample was procured from the
purveyor, he may serve on the local authority by whose officer it was pro-
cured, or, if it was not procured by an officer of any local authority, on the
local authority within whose area it was procured, a notice stating the name
and address of the seller or consignor from whom he received the milk and
the time and place of delivery to himself of milk from a corresponding
milking, and requesting the authority to take immediate steps to procure, as
soon as practicable, a sample of milk from a corresponding milking in the
course of transit or delivery to himself from the seller or consignor:
Provided that-
(a) if such a sample has been so procured since the sample
in question was procured, or had been so procured
within twenty-four hours prior to that sample being
procured, it shall not be necessary for the local
authority to procure another sample in accordance with
the notice; and
(b) the purveyor shall have no right to require that such a
sample be procured if the milk from which the sample
procured from him was taken was a mixture of milk
obtained by him from more than one person.
(3) If a purveyor has served on the authority such a notice as afore-
said and the local authority has, in a case not falling within proviso (a) to
paragraph (2), omitted to procure a sample of milk from the seller or
consignor in accordance with the foregoing provisions, no proceedings
under this Act shall be taken against the purveyor in respect of the sample
procured from him.
(4) Any sample so procured in the course of transit or delivery shall
be submitted for analysis to the analyst to whom the sample procured from
the purveyor is or was submitted.
(5) If proceedings are taken against the purveyor, a copy of the
certificate of the result of the analysis of every sample so procured in the
course of transit or delivery shall be furnished to him, and every such
certificate and copy shall, subject to the provisions of section 42 of this
Act, be admissible as evidence on any question whether the milk sold by the
purveyor was sold in the same state as it was in when he purchased it.
(6) The local authority by whose officer, or within whose area, the
first-mentioned sample was procured may, instead of, or in addition to,
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No. 1 Power Lane,
Belmopan, by the authority of
the Government of Belize.
Food and Drugs [CAP. 291
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69
taking proceedings against the purveyor, take proceedings against the seller
or consignor.
(7) If a sample of milk of cows in any dairy is procured in course of
transit or delivery from that dairy, the dairyman may, within seventy-two
hours after the sample was procured, serve on the local authority by whose
officer the sample was procured, a notice requesting them to take immediate
steps to procure as soon as practicable a sample of milk from a corres-
ponding milking of the cows and, thereupon, paragraphs (2) to (5) of this
Schedule shall, so far as applicable, apply with any necessary modifications:
Provided that the person procuring the sample shall be empowered to
take any such steps at the dairy 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.
