Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1878

Power of medical officer of health to inspect meat, &c.

132. Any sanitary officer of the sanitary authority may at all reasonable times inspect and examine any animal carcase meat poultry game flesh fish fruit vegetables corn bread flour milk or butter exposed or being conveyed for sale, or deposited in any place for the purpose of sale, or of preparation for sale, and intended for the food of man, the proof that the same was not exposed or being conveyed or deposited for any such purpose, or was not intended for the food of man, resting with the party charged; and if any such animal carcase meat poultry game flesh fish fruit vegetables corn bread flour milk or butter appears to such sanitary officer to be diseased, or unsound, or unwholesome, or unfit for the food of man, he may seize and carry away the same himself, or by an assistant, in order to have the same dealt with by a justice; and should he seize the same in a public thoroughfare, may require the person conveying the same to give his own name and address and that of the owner of the article seized, and in default, or if the officer have reasonable ground for suspecting the names or addresses so given to be false, may detain such person and give him into custody until his real name and address be ascertained. Any person giving a false name or address to any officer authorised to demand the same under this section shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding five pounds.