Regulations as to food hygiene

(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. 20 (2) Without prejudice to the generality of sub-section (1), regulations 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, maintenance 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, equipment, furnishings and utensils therein and in particular for imposing requirements that every sanitary convenience 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 consumption 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 therefore; (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 (3) In sub-section (2), “animals” includes poultry. 22 (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 purpose 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 purposes of sub-section (2)(a) or (b), while there is in force a certificate of the local authority to the effect that compliance with those provisions cannot reasonably be required with respect to the premises or any activities carried on therein. (5) If any person who has incurred, or is about to incur, expenditure in securing that the requirements of regulations made under this section, being requirements of a structural character, are complied with in respect of any premises owned or occupied by him claims that the whole or any part of the expenditure ought to be borne by any other person having an interest in the premises, he may apply to the 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 sub-section may direct that any such contract as aforesaid shall cease to have effect in so far as it is inconsistent with the terms of the order. (6) 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 (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 (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. 24 (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, Cap. 67, R. E. 1980-1990, 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. food.