S.I. No. 26/1925 - Agricultural Produce (Eggs) Act, 1924.

STATUTORY RULES AND ORDERS. 1925. No. 26.

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE (EGGS) ACT, 1924.

REGULATIONS MADE BY THE MINISTER FOR LANDS AND AGRICULTURE UNDER THE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE (EGGS) ACT, 1924 .

Dated the 31st day of July, 1925.

I, PATRICK HOGAN, Minister for Lands and Agriculture, in virtue of the powers conferred on me by Section 20 of the Agricultural Produce (Eggs) Act, 1924 , and of all other powers in that behalf enabling me, do by this Order make the following regulations, that is to say:—

I.— SHORT TITLE.

(1) These Regulations may be cited as Agricultural Produce (Eggs) Regulations, 1925.

II.—DEFINITIONS.

(1) The expression "the Act" means the Agricultural Produce (Eggs) Act, 1924 .

(2) The expression "the Department" means the Department of Lands and Agriculture.

(3) The expression "approved" means approved by the Minister for Lands and Agriculture.

(4) The expression "great hundred" means 120 eggs.

(5) Words and expressions used in these Regulations which are defined or used in the Act shall in these Regulations have the same meanings as they respectively have in the Act.

—REGULATIONS APPLYING TO PREMISES REGISTERED IN THE REGISTER OF EXPORTERS.

1. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO REGISTRATION.—In addition to such other conditions as are required by the Act, premises, in order to be eligible for registration in the Register of Exporters, shall comply with the following conditions:—

(1) The premises shall be properly equipped with the following appliances and requisites, all of which shall comply with the specifications (if any) set out in the Third Schedule hereto, subject to such modifications as may be approved of in any particular case—

Grading Trays,

Testing Tables,

Grading Tables,

Packing Tables,

Spring Balances,

Testing Lamps,

Shears,

Stencilling, Branding or Stamping Appliances,

Coats or Overalls for Staff.

(2) The premises shall contain adequate and suitable accommodation for the proper storage of a quantity of packages and packing materials sufficient to supply for the periods applicable as set forth hereunder the ordinary requirements of the business of testing, grading, and packing eggs as carried on upon the premises, that is to say—

(a) at premises where the total quantity of eggs tested, graded and packed in any one week does not exceed 300 great hundreds, accommodation shall be provided for 21 days' supply of packages and packing materials;

(b) at premises where the total quantity of eggs tested, graded and packed in any one week exceeds 300 great hundreds but does not exceed 900 great hundreds accommodation shall be provided for 14 days' supply of packages and packing materials;

(c) at premises where the total quantity of eggs tested, graded and packed in any one week exceeds 900 great hundreds accommodation shall be provided for 7 days' supply of packages and packing materials.

(3) The quantity of eggs tested, graded and packed upon the premises during each week in which any eggs are tested, graded or packed shall be not less than thirty dozen.

2. TESTING, GRADING AND PACKING.—All eggs intended for export shall be tested, graded and packed upon the registered premises from which they are to be exported, in accordance with the following regulations:—

(1) Testing.—The eggs shall be tested for quality, soundness and cleanliness within a period of 48 hours prior to despatch from the premises. The eggs shall he tested by means of a testing lamp of an approved type in a room from which light has been sufficiently excluded or by means of a similar lamp enclosed in a special type of framework known to the trade as a daylight tester, each egg being held with the large end against the beam of light from the lamp and turned completely round so as to permit of the whole of the egg being examined. During the period 1st January to 30th April in any year, the eggs may be tested on premises where such appliances are installed by placing 120 eggs on a tray and holding the latter over a brilliant light capable of indicating to the tester the presence of any spotted or bad eggs. At premises where such appliances are not installed, the testing shall be carried out all the year round by means of a testing lamp described in the first paragraph hereof.

(2) Grading.—Eggs shall be graded into the following classes:—

FRESH EGGS.

"Extra Selected."

"Selected."

"Medium."

PRESERVED EGGS.

"Extra Selected Cold Stored."

"Selected Cold Stored."

"Extra Selected Pickled."

"Selected Pickled."

TRADE EGGS.

"Trade."

"Trade Cold Stored."

"Trade Pickled."

DUCK EGGS.

"Ducks."

FRESH EGGS.—"Extra Selected" shall mean eggs of reasonably uniform size so selected that, while the weight of each great hundred eggs shall be not less than 16 lbs., no individual egg shall be included which weighs less than 15 lbs. per great hundred. Eggs shall be clean, free from stain, strong and sound in shell with air-space not exceeding three-sixteenths of one inch in depth with white of egg translucent and firm and yolk faintly visible.

"Selected" shall mean eggs of reasonably uniform size and so selected that, while the weight of each great hundred eggs shall be not less than 15 lbs., no individual egg shall be included which weighs less than 14 lbs. per great hundred. Eggs shall be clean, free from stain, strong and sound in shell with air-space not exceeding three-sixteenths of one inch in depth with white of egg translucent and firm and yolk faintly visible.

"Medium" shall mean eggs of commercial size, weighing less than 14 lbs. per great hundred eggs but not less than 13 lbs. per great hundred. Eggs shall be clean, free from stain, strong and sound in shell with air-space not exceeding three-sixteenths of one inch in depth with white of egg translucent and firm and yolk faintly visible.

Eggs, which should properly be packed in any other of the foregoing grades, may not be included in the "Trade" grade.

COLD STORED EGGS.—"Extra Selected Cold Stored" shall mean eggs preserved by means of artificial refrigeration, of reasonably uniform size so selected that while the weight of each great hundred eggs shall be not less than 16 lbs. no individual egg shall be included weighing less than 15 lbs. per great hundred. Eggs shall be clean, free from stain, and sound in shell with air-space not exceeding three-eighths of one inch in depth, with white of egg clear and firm and yolk moderately visible.

"Selected Cold Stored" shall mean eggs preserved by means of artificial refrigeration, of reasonably uniform size so selected that, while the weight of each great hundred eggs shall be not less than 15 lbs., no individual egg shall be included weighing less than 14 lbs. per great hundred. Eggs shall be clean, free from stain, and sound in shell, with air-space not exceeding three-eighths of one inch in depth, with white of egg clear and firm and yolk moderately visible.

Eggs, which should properly be packed in any other of the foregoing grades, may not be included in the "Trade Cold Stored" grade.

PICKLED EGGS.—"Extra Selected Pickled" shall mean eggs preserved by immersion in a saturated solution of lime, waterglass, or other preservative, of reasonably uniform size, so selected that, while the weight of each great hundred eggs shall be not less than 16 lbs., no individual egg shall be included weighing less than 15 lbs. per great hundred. Eggs shall be clean, free from stain, and sound in shell, with air-space not exceeding three-eighths of one inch in depth, with white of egg clear and firm and yolk moderately visible.

"Selected Pickled" shall mean eggs preserved by immersion in a saturated solution of lime, waterglass, or other preservative, of reasonably uniform size so selected that, while the weight of each great hundred eggs shall be not less than 15 lbs., no individual egg shall be included weighing less than 14 lbs. per great hundred. Eggs shall be clean, free from stain, and sound in shell, with air-space not exceeding three-eighths of one inch in depth, with white of egg clear and firm (not weak and watery), and yolk moderately visible.

Eggs which should properly be packed in any other of the foregoing grades may not be included in the "Trade Pickled" grade.

TRADE EGGS.—"Trade" shall mean eggs clean, free from stain, and sound in shell, with air-space not exceeding three-eighths of one inch in depth, white translucent but may be weak, yolk visible, swinging freely but clear of side. No individual egg shall be included which weighs less than 12½ lbs. per great hundred.

"Trade Cold Stored" shall mean eggs preserved by means of artificial refrigeration, clean, free from stain, and sound in shell, white of egg translucent but may be weak, yolk visible, swinging freely but clear of side.

"Trade Pickled" shall mean eggs preserved by immersion in a saturated solution of lime, waterglass, or other preservative, clean, free from stain, and sound in shell, white of egg translucent but may be weak, yolk visible, swinging freely but clear of side.

FRESH DUCK EGGS.—"Ducks" shall mean duck eggs, clean and free from stain, strong and sound in shell, white of egg clear and firm, yolk visible but moving slowly.

(3) Packing.—The eggs shall be packed by hand only in packages herein styled "standard cases" constructed in accordance with the specifications contained in the First Schedule to these Regulations, and the method of packing eggs in such cases shall be such as is prescribed in that schedule in respect of each standard case.

Except in the case of packages used for the conveyance of eggs from registered premises to other premises in the same town area, which packages shall have the words "not for export" branded on both ends in letters at least 3 inches in height, a standard package shall not be used by registered exporters a second time for the conveyance of eggs. For the purposes of this regulation "town area" shall mean any town in the Free State and its immediate suburbs and in case of Dublin it shall include Dublin and the contiguous townships.

In any package there shall not be packed any eggs other than eggs of one particular grade.

Duck eggs shall not be packed in the same package as hen eggs.

3. Eggs which are for any reason ineligible for inclusion in any of the grades specified in Article 2 (2) of these regulations shall not be packed.

4. There shall not be brought on to any premises registered in the Register of Exporters any eggs other than eggs produced in Ireland.

5. MARKING OF PACKAGES.—(1) Every package of eggs exported from the premises shall bear the following marks:

(a) Such one of the following descriptions as is appropriate to the grade of eggs contained in the package:—

Extra Selected.

Selected.

Medium.

Extra Selected Cold Stored.

Selected Cold Stored.

Extra Selected Pickled.

Selected Pickled.

Trade.

Trade Cold Stored.

Trade Pickled.

Ducks.

(b) The words "Eggs." "This Side Up."

(c) Design A, as illustrated in the Second Schedule hereto and of the dimensions therein indicated, if the package is a standard case No. 1 or standard case No. 2.

(d) Design B, as illustrated in the Second Schedule hereto and of the dimensions therein indicated if the package is a standard case No. 3.

(e) The identification letter and number assigned to the premises from which eggs are exported.

(f) The quantity of eggs in the case.

(g) The date of despatch of the package from the registered premises.

(2) The aforesaid marks shall be plainly burned, stamped or stencilled in black on the package itself and not affixed thereto by means of a label or otherwise.

(3) The description of the grade shall be plainly burned, stamped or stencilled as aforesaid on each end on the upper portion of the end board or boards of the package in block capital letters at least one inch in height. In the case of cold stored or pickled eggs, the description "Cold Stored" or "Pickled" as the case may be, shall in addition be plainly burned, stamped or stencilled on the inside of the end board or boards of the package.

(4) The description "Eggs. This Side Up" shall be plainly burned, stamped or stencilled on the top boards of the package in block capital letters at least one inch in height.

(5) Design A shall be plainly burned, stamped or stencilled on each end in the middle of the lower end board of the package, if the package is a standard case No. 1 or a standard case No. 2.

(6) Design B shall be plainly burned, stamped or stencilled in the middle of the centre board of each end of the package if the package is standard case No. 3.

(7) The identification letter assigned to the premises from which the package is exported shall be plainly burned, stamped or stencilled in the space indicated at "C" in the illustrations of the designs A and B in the Second Schedule hereto, and shall be in block capital type at least one inch in height.

(8) The identification number assigned to the premises from which the package is exported shall be plainly burned, stamped or stencilled in the space indicated at "D" in the illustrations of the designs A and B in the Second Schedule hereto and shall be in block capital type at least one inch in height.

(9) The description of the quantity of eggs in the case shall be plainly burned, stamped or stencilled on the left-hand bottom corner of the end board or lower end board as the case may be.

(10) The figure or figures or letters indicating the date of despatch from the registered premises shall be plainly burned, stamped or stencilled on the bottom side board of each compartment if the package is a No. 1 standard case and on the bottom side board of the package if the package is a No. 2 or No. 3 standard case.

6. FEES.—(1) For the purpose of ascertaining the annual fee payable under Section 9 of the Act, the quantity of eggs exported from any premises registered in the Register of Exporters shall be ascertained in all or any of the following ways—from the returns to be made by the registered proprietor under sub-section (7) of Section 9 of the Act; from the inspection of the register required to be kept on the registered premises under Section 13 of the Act or from such other sources of information as the Minister may, from time to time, deem necessary in any particular case.

(2) The registered proprietor of every premises registered in the Register of Exporters shall make to the Minister at his Office in Dublin a return each month in the form prescribed in the Fourth Schedule hereto not later than seven days after the expiry of the period to which the return relates.

IV. —MISCELLANEOUS AND GENERAL.

APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OR ALTERATION OR CANCELLATION OF LICENCE.

1. (a) Every application for the registration of any premises under the Act shall be made on such one of the forms A or B set forth in the Fifth Schedule hereto as may be applicable to the case with such alterations as the case may require.

(b) Every application for the alteration or cancellation of any such registration shall be made on such one of the forms C or D set forth in the Fifth Schedule hereto as may be applicable to the case with such alterations as the case may require.

(c) The appropriate Form of Application duly completed by the Applicant, together with the fee specified in the Schedule to the Act if the application is for the registration of any premises in the Register of Exporters, shall be lodged with the Minister at his office in Dublin.

2. Licence to Export Eggs.—(a) Every application under subsection (1) of Section 5 of the Act, for a licence, shall be in the form specified in the Sixth Schedule hereto.

(b) The aforesaid Form of Application duly completed by the applicant together with the fees specified in the Schedule to the Act shall be lodged with the Minister at his office in Dublin not later than six days prior to the date on which the applicant desires to export the eggs to which the application relates.

3. Prescribed Fees for inspection of register, copy of entry in register and certificate.—(a) The prescribed fee for the purpose of paragraph (a) of sub-section (4) of Section 12 of the Act shall be one shilling.

(b) The prescribed fee for the purpose of paragraph (b) of subsection (4) of Section 12 of the Act shall be sixpence.

(c) The prescribed fee for the purpose of paragraph (c) of subsection (4) of Section 12 of the Act shall be two shillings and sixpence.

4. Register of Eggs Exported.—The registered proprietor of every premises registered in the Register of Exporters or in the Register of Preserves shall keep or cause to be kept on the said premises a register in the form set out in the Seventh Schedule hereto of all consignments of eggs despatched from the premises.

5. Prescribed maximum and marking of eggs exported for incubation.—For the purpose of Section 3 (5) (c) of the Act the prescribed maximum shall be ten dozen eggs and the prescribed mark to be placed on the package shall be " EGGS FOR HATCHING," plainly inscribed in red in block capital letters at least one inch in height on the top of the package containing the eggs, or the mark may be affixed by means of an adhesive label printed in red block capital letters at least one inch in height.

6. The following regulations as to packages, packing materials, methods and manners of packing, storing and transport of eggs shall apply to all eggs intended for sale by way of wholesale in circumstances to which the regulations applying to premises registered in the Register of Exporters do not apply:—

(a) The stores or other places in which such eggs are kept shall be cool, dry, well-ventilated and so situated and used that the eggs shall not be exposed to contamination from any materials, such as onions, paints, oils, fish, fruit or other substances having a pronounced odour or taint.

(b) The eggs shall without exception be adequately protected from wet, damp, dirt or contamination during the course of packing or transport.

(c) The packing materials used shall be clean, dry and free from objectionable odour.

7. Eggs shall not be sold or offered for sale, exchanged or bartered in uncovered spaces.

REGULATIONS AS TO PRESERVING EGGS.

8. Every person carrying on the business of preserving eggs (whether by cold-storing, pickling or otherwise), but not the business or any part of the business of testing, grading and packing eggs for export shall comply with the following regulations:—

(a) Every package containing eggs despatched from the premises on which the business is carried on, shall bear the following marks if the package contains or is capable of containing any quantity of eggs amounting to or exceeding thirty dozen:—

(1) Such one of the following descriptions as is appropriate to the class of eggs contained in the package:—

Cold Stored,

Pickled,

Preserved.

(2) An identification mark which will be assigned to the premises by the Minister on the registration of the premises in the Resister of Preservers.

Given under my seal of office this thirty-first day of July, 1925.

(Signed) P. HOGAN,

Minister for Lands and Agriculture.

I, Earnán de Blaghd, Minister for Finance, hereby approve of the foregoing Regulations in so far as the same relate to fees.

(Signed) EARNÁN DE BLAGHD.

FIRST SCHEDULE.

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION OF STANDARD CASES.

No. 1 STANDARD CASE.

With ends and sides consisting of two boards spaced horizontally and with eight corner angle posts.

Standard 6 Hhd. Egg Case to be used for not more than 6 hhd. (720) hen eggs, less than 18 lb. per 120, or 5 hhd. (600) hen eggs weighing 18 lb. or more per 120, or 5 hhd. (600) duck eggs weighing 18 lb. or more per 120.

Description.

The case shall be made in two compartments, each compartment to hold 3 hhd. (360) hen eggs, less than 18 lb. per 120, packed in three layers, each containing 10 rows of eggs with 12 eggs in each row; or 2½ hhd. (300) hen eggs weighing 18 lb. or more per 120; or 2½ hhd. (300) duck eggs weighing 18 lb. or more per 120. packed in three layers, each containing 9 rows of eggs with 11 eggs in each row and one odd.

The following method of construction shall he adopted:—

STANDARD CASE No. 1.

The internal dimensions and thickness of timber mentioned in the specifications for Cases Nos. 1 and 2, are Minimum dimensions; all timber thicknesses are Actual, not nominal.

Timber.

The wood shall be well seasoned, clean, dry, and free from bark, wane and feather, and large knots.

Corner Angle Posts.

All corner angle posts shall be of the full internal depth of the case, cut diagonally from a post 2 inches square. Square cut corner posts are not permissible.

Ends and Centre Divisions.

The case shall have two centre divisions, each centre division and each end consisting of two boards; no board shall be less than 23 inches by three inches by ⁵/₈-inch. If end boards of greater thickness than ⁵/₈-inch are used, care should be taken to ensure that the internal length of each compartment be not less than the required 26 inches. Alternatively the centre division and ends may consist of one board not less than 23 inches by 8 inches by ⁵/₈-inch.

Sides.

The side boards shall be of the full outside length of the case; no side board shall be less than 3 inches wide, nor less than ³/₈-inch thick.

The side boards must be so fixed that the top edge of the upper board, and the bottom edge of the lower board, will be level with the top and bottom edges, respectively, of the end boards.

Tops and Bottoms.

Top and bottom boards shall be not less than 4 inches wide, and not less than ³/₈ inch thick.

The outer edges of the outside top boards and bottom boards, when nailed on, shall be flush with the outer sides of the side boards.

The top and bottom boards shall be of the full outside length of the case, and be nailed into the end boards.

*Nails and Nailing.

The nails used shall be of sizes not less than the following:—

Not less than two nails shall be used in each end of each board, and an additional nail shall be used at each end of a board for every 3 inches or part of 3 inches by which the board exceeds 5 inches in width. This also applies to the nailing of the centre division boards. Each end of each side board shall be secured by at least 2 nails driven into the end boards, and at least 1 nail driven into the corner post.

In nailing top and bottom boards to centre division boards, care should be exercised to place the nails in rows with at least ³/₈ inch space between the rows, to allow for the free working of a saw when the case is being divided.

STANDARD CASE No. 2.

Standard 3 hhd. Egg Case, to be used for not more than 3 hhd. (360) hen eggs, less than 18 lb. per 120, or 2½ hhd. (300) hen eggs weighing 18 lb. or more per 120, or 2½ hhd. (300) duck eggs, weighing 18 lb. or more per 120.

Description.

The case shall be made in one compartment to hold 3 hhd. (360) hen eggs, less than 18 lb. per 120, packed in 3 layers, each containing 10 rows of eggs with 12 eggs in each row; or 2½ hhd. (300) hen eggs weighing 18 lb. or more per 120; or 2½ hhd. (300) duck eggs weighing 18 lb. or more per 120, packed in 3 layers, each containing 9 rows of eggs with 11 eggs in each row, and 1 odd.

This case, which is one-half of the No. 1 Standard Case, may be made according to the following construction:—

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*NOTE.—It is recommended that cement-coated wire nails be used, and that, so far as possible, nails should be driven askew the grain of the wood.

The internal dimensions and thicknesses of timber mentioned in the specifications for Case No. 2 are Minimum dimensions; all timber thicknesses, are Actual not nominal.

Timber.

The wood must be well seasoned, clean, dry and free from knots, bark, wane and feather.

Corner Angle Posts.

All corner angle posts must be made of the full internal depth of the case, cut diagonally from a post 2 inches square. Square cut corner posts are not permissible.

Ends.

The case shall have two boards in each end; no board shall be less than 23 inches by 3 inches by ⁵/₈ inch. If end boards of greater thickness than ⁵/₈ inch are used, care should be taken to ensure that the internal length of each compartment be not less than the required 26 inches. Alternatively the ends may consist of one board not less than 23 inches by 8 inches by ⁵/₈ inch.

Sides.

The side boards shall be of the full outside length of the case; no side board shall be less than 3 inches wide nor less than ³/₈ inch thick.

The side boards shall be so fixed that the top edge of the upper board, and the bottom edge of the lower board, will be level with the top and bottom edges, respectively, of the end boards.

Tops and Bottoms.

Top and bottom boards shall be not less than 4 inches wide and not less than ³/₈ inch thick.

The outer edges of the outside top boards and bottom boards, when nailed on, shall be flush with the outer sides of the side boards. The top and bottom boards shall be of the full outside length of the case, and be nailed into the end boards.

*Nails and Nailing.

The nails used shall be of sizes not less than the following:—

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* NOTE.—It is recommended that cement-coated wire nails be used, and that, so far as possible, nails should be driven askew the grain of the wood.

Not less than two nails must be used in each end of each board, and an additional nail must be used at each end of a board for every 3 inches or part of 3 inches by which the board exceeds 5 inches in width. Each end of each side board must be secured by at least 2 nails driven into the end boards, and at least 1 nail driven into the corner post.

STANDARD CASE No. 3.

Standard 3 hhd. (360) Egg Case, fitted with suitable fillers, for graded eggs, not exceeding 16 lb. per 120.

Description.

The case shall be made in two compartments, each compartment to take 180 eggs packed in clean, dry, whole fillers with flats between the fillers and four pads of suitable material at top and bottom.

STANDARD CASE No. 3.

Ends.

Each end board shall be 13½ inches deep by 11 ⁵/₈ inches wide, by not less than 7/16 inch thick. If made of two or more boards, the boards shall be fixed upright; no end board shall be less than 3 inches wide. The end board shall be nailed to cross-battens measuring not less than 12 ¹/₈ inches by 2½ inches by 7/16 inch thick, two on each end, fixed externally, one across the bottoms of the end boards and the other as close to the tops of the end boards as the construction of the lid permits. The battens shall be flush with the outer sides of the side boards.

Centre Division.

Each board shall be 13½ inches deep and 11 ⁵/₈ inches wide, and not less than 7/16 inch thick. The division shall be fixed in the centre of the case, secured by nails driven through the side and bottom boards.

Sides, Tops and Bottoms.

Each board shall be not less than ¼ inch thick, and not less than 3 inches in width.

* Spacing.

The spacing between any two adjoining boards throughout the case shall nowhere exceed ⁵/₈ inch. When spacing is provided between any two side boards, it should be arranged so as to prevent any of the flats working through and the eggs coming in contact.

Fillers.

The fillers shall be of white wood pulp of calibre not less than .030, or other suitable material 2½ inches in depth; each division shall be 1¾ inches square; the extreme width of a filler to be 11½ inches, a flat of the same material shall be placed between each filler. A flat must be placed underneath the bottom filler and another above the top filler, thus using 10 fillers and 12 flats.

A layer of fine wood wool, corrugated paper, or of neatly drawn straw of even thickness throughout, or pads of such material shall be placed underneath each lowest filler and above each uppermost filler. These layers shall be of such thickness that each will be ¼ inch thick when the case is closed down. In which case 8 flats only are needed.

† Nails and Nailing.

Not less than two nails must be used in each end of each board, and an additional nail must be used at each end of a board for every 3 inches or part of 3 inches by which the board exceeds 5 inches in width.

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* NOTE.—When not intended for cold storing, spacing between boards is not essential.

† NOTE.—It is recommended that cement-coated wire nails be used, and that, so far as possible, nails should be driven askew the grain of the wood.

The nails for making up case No. 3 must be not less than 1½ inches of 14 gauge.

All timber thicknesses specified are actual and not nominal.

MANNER OF PACKING EGGS IN STANDARD CASES.

STANDARD CASES Nos. 1 AND 2.

All packing materials used shall be clean, dry and free from pronounced odour and consist only of any of the following materials:—

(a) Straw, flexible and free from coarseness and weeds;

(b) White wood wool not less than ¹/₈ inch in calibre; or

(c) Both straw and white wood wool.

The minimum quantity of packing material used shall be at the rate of 8 lbs. of straw or 8 lbs. of straw and wood wool or 6 lbs. of wood wool only for each thirty dozen of eggs in a case.

The packing material shall be evenly spread between each layer of eggs and at the top, bottom, sides and ends of the case in sufficient thickness to prevent any layer of eggs moving in the ordinary course of transit.

Hen eggs shall be packed by hand in layers of 120 eggs, each layer to consist of 10 rows of eggs with 12 eggs in each row. Duck eggs shall be packed by hand in layers of 100 eggs, each layer to consist of 9 rows of eggs with 11 eggs in each row and one odd egg.

STANDARD CASE No. 3.

The packing material shall be clean, dry whole fillers and flats of white wood pulp of calibre and quality not less than .030; each compartment of the filler to be one and three-quarter inches square, and two and one-half inches in depth, extreme width of filler and flat being not less than eleven and a-half inches, each flat having one corner cut off diagonally for a depth of five-eighths of one inch. A layer or pad of fine wood wool, corrugated paper, or neatly-drawn flexible straw, or other suitable material approved by the Minister, shall be placed underneath each lowest filler and above each uppermost filler.

SECOND SCHEDULE.

Designs "A" and "B" referred to in Sections III, 5 (5) and III. 5 (6).

SECOND SCHEDULE—DESIGN "A."

THIRD SCHEDULE.

Appliances and requisites for testing, grading and packing eggs.

An adequate supply of grading-trays of the following type, or of such type as may be specifically approved in any particular case; each tray to consist of a varnished leather board top, so mounted on a wooden frame of a total depth of 3½ inches that the edges of the frame project ½ inch above the level of leather board top; outside dimensions of top to be 26 inches long and 22 inches wide, top to be perforated with holes 1¼ inch in diameter to hold 120 eggs in 12 rows of 10 eggs each, rows to be equally spaced, and to allow a clear margin of 1 inch between edge of outer row of perforations and inner side of frame.

One or more testing tables, one or more grading tables, and one or more packing tables of the following type, or of such type as may be specifically approved in any particular case: each table to be 6 feet 6 inches long by 2 feet 3 inches broad by 2 feet high, top of table to be constructed of 1-inch timber, and mounted on three equally spaced frames or trestles of scantling 3 inches by 3 inches, or on such other adequate supports as may be approved in any particular case; alternatively in lieu of packing-tables suitable trestles may be used.

Spring balance provided with arms or leaf large enough to accommodate a grading-tray, and capable of weighing accurately from 1 lb. by ½ lb. to 50 lbs.

One or more testing-lamps of the following type, or of such type as may be specifically approved in any particular case, viz., an oil, gas, or electric lamp of at least 25 candle-power, fitted into an opaque, rectangular, or cylindrical shield or box having one or two circular openings, each of 1 inch diameter opposite the centre of the source of illumination; where two openings are fitted, the openings shall be fitted in opposite sides of a rectangular box, and in the case of a cylindrical box, the openings shall be equally spaced; each such opening shall be rimmed with asbestos-packing or similar material, non-conducting of heat, in such manner that when an egg is held against the opening, all the light coming through the opening shall pass through the egg.

Shears or blade for trimming straw.

Efficient appliances for stencilling or printing in black, or for branding on packages the following descriptions:—

Extra selected.

Selected.

Medium.

Trade.

Ducks.

Eggs—This side up.

Cold stored (if cold stored eggs are dealt with on the premises).

Pickled (if pickled eggs are dealt with on the premises).

Figures 0 to 9; ½; letters Hhd.

All letters must be at least 1 inch high; every part of every letter must be at least ¹/₈th of an inch broad, and the total width of the space taken by every letter must be half-an-inch, except in the case of the letter I, while the space between adjoining letters must be half-an-inch.

Efficient appliances for stencilling or painting in black, or for branding on packages the distinctive design A or B, as the case may be hereinbefore prescribed, and the mark or marks assigned to a registered exporter indicating the premises on which the eggs were packed.

Overalls for all persons engaged in the business of testing or grading or packing eggs.

Section 9 (7).

FOURTH SCHEDULE.

MONTHLY RETURN TO BE MADE BY REGISTERED EXPORTER.

(This return should be posted so as to reach the Department's offices not later than seven days following the end of the month to which the return relates).

To the Secretary,

Department of Agriculture,

Upper Merrion Street,

Dublin.

FIFTH SCHEDULE.

FORM OF APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF PREMISES IN REGISTER OF EXPORTERS.

Agricultural Produce (Eggs) Act, 1924.

The dimensions of that portion of the above-mentioned premises normally used for grading and packing eggs are:—

The testing of eggs is (c) not carried on in the same portion of the premises as is used for grading and packing. The dimensions of the apartment provided for testing are:—

The dimensions of that portion of the premises normally used for the storage of packages and packing materials are:—

The storage accommodation is/is not (d) permanently divided from the portions(s) of the premises used for testing, grading and packing.

The equipment used for testing, grading and packing is(e)

The normal quantity of packages and packing materials (f) usually kept in store is:

The quantity of eggs despatched from the above-named premises for export during each week from 1st January to 31st December, 1924, was:

Total........................ gt. hhds.

I/We enclose amount of fee, £ : : .

I hereby certify that the particulars given above are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Signature*..........................................................

Date...................................................

To the Secretary,

Department of Agriculture,

Upper Merrion Street,

Dublin.

(a) If a limited liability company the full description of the company should be given, together with the name of the Secretary. If not a limited liability company the full name(s) of the proprietor(s) should be given.

(b) If it be desired to have more than one premises registered, separate application must be made in respect of each separate premises.

(c) Strike out whichever is inapplicable. Dimensions should only be given where a separate apartment is provided for testing.

(d) Strike out whichever is inapplicable

(e) Specify testing, grading and packing tables, scales, testing lamps, grading trays, etc. etc.

(f) Specify numbers of different types of cases, viz., 6 hhd. and 3 hhd. filler, also quantity of straw, wood, wool, etc.

*To be signed in the case of a limited liability company by a Director or Secretary, and in the case of a firm not being a limited liability company by the proprietor or proprietors.

FIFTH SCHEDULE.

FORM OF APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF PREMISES IN REGISTER OF PRESERVERS.

Agricultural Produce (Eggs) Act, 1924.

To the Secretary,

Department of Agriculture,

Upper Merrion Street,

Dublin.

*In the case of a limited liability company, the full designation of the company should be given, together with the name of the Secretary. In all other cases the name (s) of the proprietor(s).

FIFTH SCHEDULE.

FORM OF APPLICATION FOR ALTERATION OR CANCELLATION OF PREMISES REGISTERED IN THE REGISTER OF EXPORTERS.

Agricultural Produce (Eggs) Act, 1924.

Signature......................................................

Date.......................................

To the Secretary,

Department of Agriculture,

Upper Merrion Street,

Dublin.

† If application is for alteration of registration state nature of alteration desired in Register.

‡ Change in ownership, acquisition of additional premises, surrender of part premises, etc.

FIFTH SCHEDULE.

FORM OF APPLICATION FOR ALTERATION OR CANCELLATION OF PREMISES REGISTERED IN THE REGISTER OF PRESERVERS.

Agricultural Produce (Eggs) Act, 1924 .

Signature............................................................ ........................

Date.........................................

To the Secretary,

Department of Agriculture,

Upper Merrion Street,

Dublin.

*In the case of a limited liability company, the full designation of the company should be given, together with the name of the Secretary. In all other cases the name (s) of the proprietor(s).

†If application is for alteration of registration, state nature of alteration desired in Register.

‡Change in ownership, acquisition of additional premises, surrender of part premises, etc.

Section 5 (1).

SIXTH SCHEDULE.

FORM OF APPLICATION FOR LICENCE TO EXPORT EGGS.

Agricultural Produce (Eggs) Act, 1924.

I/We enclose amount of fee, viz.: £ : :

Signature............................................................ ...

Date.......................................

To the Secretary,

Department of Agriculture,

Upper Merrion Street.

Dublin.

*State description of eggs, e.g., whether hen eggs or duck, whether fresh or pickled, or whether hen eggs or duck intended for hatching.