Food Preservation by Sulphur Dioxide Enabling Act 1920 (NSW)

FOOD PRESERVATION BY

SULPHUR DIOXIDE

ENABLING ACT.

Act No. 48, 1920.

An A c t to sanct ion and regula te the use o f sulphur
dioxide in the preservat ion o f whole mea ts ,

poul t ry , fish, and o ther ar t ic les o f food ; to

amend the P u b l i c Hea l th Ac t s , the Pure

F o o d A c t , 1 9 0 8 , and cer ta in o ther Acts ; and
for purposes consequent thereon or inc identa l

the re to . [Assented to , 3 1 s t D e c e m b e r , 1 9 2 0 . ]

BE it enacted by the King's Most Excellent Majesty, by and 'with the advice and consent of the Legis­	lative Council and Legislative Assemblv of New Sontli
AVales in Parliament assembled, and by the authority of
the same, as follows :—

1 . This Act may be cited as the " Food Preservation

by Sulphur Dioxide Enabling Act, 1920."

2 . This Act shall commence and take effect on a date to be proclaimed by the Governor.

district outside a municipality or shire means such

3 . In this Act, unless the context or subject-matter otherwise indicates or requires—

" Board " means the Board of Health as constituted

by the Public Health Act, 1002.

" P o o d " means article used for food or drink by

man.

" Local authority " means council of a municipality
or of a shire and "with respect to any police

such member of the police force as may be appointed by the board under the Public Health Act, 1902, to be a local authority.

"Municipality " includes the City of Sydney.

"Off icer" includes any medical officer of health, assistant medical officer of health, officer of the board, or of a local authority or any super­ intendent, inspector, sub-inspector or sergeant

of police or any constable specially authorised

by the Inspector-General or by any superin­

tendent of police.

4 . The addition of sulphur dioxide (or sulphites

calculated as sulphur dioxide) by any person as a

preservative substance to whole meats, poultry, fish or other food is hereby permitted in quantities not

exceeding three and one half grains to the pound
notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Act
or in any regulation made thereunder :

Provided that this section shall not be deemed to

authorise or permit the use of sulphur dioxide for any

of the purposes aforesaid otherwise than in the form of
a sulphur dioxide gas applied in a manner approved by

the board.

5 . Subject to the provisions of the Meat Industry

Act, 1915, any person may sell, dispose of, or otherwise

deal in any whole meats, poultry, fish, or other food, whether cooked or uncooked, to which sulphur dioxide

(or sulphites calculated as sulphur dioxide) has been

added as a preservative substance in accordance with the provisions of section lour of this Act, notwith­ standing anything to the contrary in any Act or in any

regulation made thereunder. 6 . Nothing in this Act contained shall be deemed to	prevent or interfere with the exercise of its powers by
the board or by any local authority or officer in relation to the sale or offer or exposure for sale or the delivery of any adulterated food which is unfit for human con­ sumption, or any food to which a preservative substance has been added or in relation to the inspection or the taking and analysing of samples of food or other its powers in connection with unwholesome or adulterated
food :

Provided

Provided that the addition of sulphur dioxide (or sulphites calculated as sulphur dioxide) as a preservative to whole meats, poultry, fish, or other food in accordance with this Act shall not be deemed to render such whole meats, poultry, fish, or other food an adulterated food

or food unfit for human consumption or dangerous or

injurious to health or unwholesome or unfit for use or a prohibited article within the meaning of the Acts relating to public health or to pure food or any Act amending the same or to be construed in connection therewith.