1960-HKRS30-8-50_Part02 — Page 11

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Swine. Sheep and Goats) Regulations, 1960 (which replace the Keeping of Cattle, Swine, Sheep and Goats By-laws) do not, unlike those By-laws, apply w cows or buffaloes kept in a dairy. This change has been made on account of the fact that it is considered desirable to have all the legislation in respect of dairies in one set of regulations. In particular, this change has necessitated the inclusion in these regulations of certain provisions as to the buildings in which cattle are kept and as to the amount of space which each animal is to have in any such building-see paragraphs (4)(a) and (5) of regulation 12.

3. The remainder of the amendments revise certain of the provisions of the revoked regulations and make certain new provisions. The need for revision and for the new provisions has become apparent during the three years during which the revoked regulations have been in force,

(a) The revised provisions are as follows.

Firstly. The revoked regulations provided that all dairymen shal be licensed and that no building shall be used as a dairy "unless the same is registered (regulations 3 and 8). So far as they went, these provisions were adequate, but serious difficulties have been encountered by reason of a local practice by which more than one dairyman fre quently keeps his animals in the same dairy premises. The difficulties have arisen, particularly, in connexion with the enforcement of tbox provisions of the revoked regulations which relate to the maintenance of such premises in a sanitary condition and to the precautions to be taken in the bandling, processing and storage of milk therein. It is considered that this practice is not one which can be prohibited, and it has, therefore, become necessary to revise the law so as to take account of its existence. These regulations provide that dairymen mul he registered and that dairy premises must be licensed. Under these revised provisions, a dairyman will have to register once only, and responsibility for compliance with the relevant provisions of thes regulations is placed on the licensee of the dairy, notwithstanding that any particular contravention may not be due to his own act or defach. Where more than one dairyman keeps animals in the same dairy premises, it will be for the dairymen concerned to decide which of them is to be the licensee. The provisions as to the registration of dairymen and the licensing of dairy premises are contained in regulation 3 and in regulations 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11, respectively.

Secondly. The need for improvement in the methods of cooling. processing, handling and storage of milk in, and its distribution from dairy premises has become very, apparent during the time that de revoked regulations have been in operation. Regulation 25 of the revoked regulations has, therefore, been expanded considerably-s regulation 19. This regulation, as revised, incorporates certain of the provisions formerly contained in regulation 17 of the revoked regulations and also incorporates some of the provisions of the Milk and Dairie Regulations, 1949 of the United Kingdom, adapted to suit local condi tions. The major change is the requirement that, as soon as an animal has been milked, the milk shall be taken to a milk room, coupled with stringent provisions with respect to the milk room itself-sub-paragraphi (a) to (A) inclusive of paragraph (2) of regulation 19 contain the relevant provisions.

(5) The new provisions are as follows.

Firstly. The method of disposing of the effluent from dairy prem- ises is, in certain instances, most unsatisfactory, and, apart from other considerations, presents a serious risk to public health. It is considered that the problem can best be met by providing that a licence to maintain a dairy shall not be granted or renewed, as the case may be. unless the Director is satisfied as to the method to be used for disposing of the effluent therefrom-sub-paragraph (c) of paragraph (1) of regula tion 10 makes the necessary provisions. In addition, a new regulation. regulation 14, has been included to provide that the effluent from such premises aball, at all times, be disposed of to the satisfaction of the

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Director. In the event of a failure on the part of any licenses to comply with the provisions of this regulation, his licence to maintain the dairy concerned may be cancelled forthwith under the provisions of sub- section (2) of section 11 of the Public Health (Animals and Birds) Ordics.ucc.

Secondly. The revoked regulations did not contain any provisions with respect to the taking of sumples of milk for analysis. This omis sion is remedied by the provisions of regulations 31, 32 and 33. These provisions have been adapted from similar provisions in the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, 1960.

4. The transitional provisions, contained in regulation 15 of these regula- tions, with respect to dairy premises are complicated on account of the complete change in the system for controlling such premises. Their object can, however, he stated simply, namely, to allow persons al present operating dairies time within which to apply for a licence to maintain the same and, at the same time. to ensure that some measure of control can be exorcised in relation to such dairies in the meantime. The latter object is achieved by providing that certain provisions of the revoked regulations shall continue in operation, subject to some minor amendments occasioned by the change from the former requirement that dairymen must be licensed to the new requirement that they must be registered.

(Secretariat L/M G. 9507/59)