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(1) Detachment of peritoneal membrane will be
permitted in the case of pig meat comprising the abdomen.
(ii) In place of the existing reference to certain
lymphatic glands, it is proposed to provide that the removal of any lymphatic gland shall bring meat into the prohibited category.
specified
6. It appears that meat products (rendered animal fats and certain pig products) are exported from Hong Kong and the Minister would be glad, therefore, if the Government of that country could be informed of the position. An Official Certificate under the existing Regulations has been recogniseċ for lard, dripping, edible tallow and similar rendered fats exported from Hong Kong, but when the new Regulations come into operation the recognition which has been given to Official Certificates under the present Regulations will cease to have effect. The Minister will be prepared, however, to recognise an Official Certificate under the new Regulations both for rendered animal fats and for other meat products from Hong Kong on being informed of the classes of article in respect of which the Certificate is required and subject to an assurance that the Certificate will be given by the same Authority as at present; that the same general conditions as to ante- and post-mortem inspection of animals and as to inspection of the processes of preparing and packing will apply; and that in the case of small cuts of meat packed in wrappers and all meat products there will be continuous_supervision from the time of slaughtering to that of packing if any amendment in the form of the present Certificate is thought to be necessary, full particulars of the alterations should be given, and six specimens of the suggested Certificate should be forwarded to this Department.
7. Copies of a Memorandum with regard to the recognition of Official Certificates generally are enclosed, and it is suggested that a copy should be sent to the Government of Hong Kong.
8.
The proposed new Regulations will not affect in any way the application of any Regulations or Orders which are in force, or may be made, regarding the restriction of supplies of imported meat, or of any Orders relating to the marking of imported meat for the purpose of the Merchandise Marks Acts.
9. The Secretary of State will observe that it is proposed that the Amendment Regulations shall come into operation on the 1st March, 1935, and in order to avoid any possibility of interference with trade, it is, of course, desirable that the arrangements for the recognition of the necessary Official Certificates shall be completed well in advance of that date. The importance of giving prompt attention to the matter will, therefore, no doubt be impressed on the competent authorities of the Government of Hong Kong.
10. The Minister understands that draft Regulations of similar effect are being published by the Department of Health for Scotland, and I am to request that you will be good enough to cause copies of any despatches, etc., received from Hong Kong relating to the draft Regulations
/and
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