Regular Meat Vehicles After July 1 Must be Closed
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AEAT carriers, and operators of IV1 mobile canteens and shops supplying open food (food not packed in such a way as to exclude all risk of contamination) for immediate consumption, have six months in which to prepare for new standards of hygiene.
As from July 1, " open " meat must not be carried in an open vehicle. If the vehicle is not a van, it must have 'a tilt of canvas or other washable material, supported on a frame. The Lilt must completely enclose the meat but must not, to far as is reasonably practicable, touch it.
The floor must be made of impervious material, or movable duckboards must be used to prevent the meat or its wrappings from touching the floor.
These provisions will not apply to an operator who only occasionally
carries meat, so long as the meat is adequately protected from the risk of contamination.
No exemption is granted from the requirement that, as from July 1, any receptacle or duckboard for meat, and any equipment which, when used for loading and unloading meat, comes into contact with it or its wrappings, shall be kept clean and in a proper state of repai r.
Moreover, all offal, other than that in a carcase, must be carried in separate receptacles made o f impervious materials, which must be kept in good condition, so that they can be thoroughly cleaned.
As from January 1, the crew of a meat vehicle must, when open meat is carried, wear clean, washable overalls and (if the meat is liable to touch the neck or head) clean, washable head
coverings. This provision does not apply to a haulier whose vehicle is not ordinarily used for the transport of meat, so long as "the person carrying the meat takes all such other precau
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tions as are reasonably practicable to prevent the meat coming into contact with an exposed part of his person or with any clothing other than an overall."
A mobile shop or canteen supplying open food for immediate consumption mUst, as from July I, have an adequate supply of clean water, either hot or cold, and sinks or other facilities for washing food and equipment. Soap or other detergents, nail brushes and clean towels must be provided for use by the staff, and separate detergents and cloths for dealing with equipment. The sinks must be kept clean and in efficient working order.
These provisions are contained in the Food Hygiene Regulations, 1955 (Stationery Office, 6d.). The maximum penalty for an offence is a fine of LIN or three months' imprisonment or both.
RECORD REGISTRATIONS IN 1955
ARECORD number of over 146,000 new goods vehicles was registered in 1955, said Mr. T. Stuart Malcolm, president of the Motor Agents' Association, last week. " We must anticipate an even bigger increase iii the year ahead," he stated, and_to this end we must keep on agitating for new roads to. accommodate them."
He advised intending purchasers of vehicles not to delay buying until the busy season.
MEXICO HOLDS MOTOR SHOW MEXICO'S first motor show, which IV." includes commercial vehicles, opened last Sunday and closes on Tuesday. European makers represented include Volvo (Sweden), Motokov (Czechoslovakia), Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz (Germany), and Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Lancia (Italy). The Land-Rover appears among a few British exhibits.