PURE FOOD (AMENDMENT) ACT.
Act No. 5, 1944.
An Act to amend the Pure Food Act, 1908, and
certain other Acts, in certain respects ;
and for purposes connected therewith.
[Assented to, 4th April, 1944.]
B
E it enacted b y t h e King's Most Excellent Majesty,
b y a n d with t h e advice a n d consent of t h e Legis­
lative Council a n d Legislative Assembly or New South
Wales in Parliament assembled, a n d b y t h e a u t h o r i t y of
t h e same, as follows :—
1. (1) This Act m a y be cited as the " P u r e F o o d
( A m e n d m e n t ) Act, 1 9 4 4 . "
(2) This Act (other t h a n section six) shall com­
m e n c e u p o n a d a y to be a p p o i n t e d by the G o v e r n o r a n d
notified by p r o c l a m a t i o n published in the Gazette.
(3) T h e P u r e F o o d Act, 1908, as amended by subse­
q u e n t Acts, is in this Act r e f e r r e d to as the P r i n c i p a l Act.
(4) T h e P r i n c i p a l Act, as amended by this Act, m a y
be cited a s the P u r e F o o d Act, 1908-1944.
2 . T h e P r i n c i p a l Act is a m e n d e d —
( a ) (i) by omitting from section four the definition
of " A p p l i a n c e " a n d by i n s e r t i n g in lieu
thereof the following definition:—
" A p p l i a n c e " includes the whole or a n y
p a r t of a n y utensil, m a c h i n e r y ,
i n s t r u m e n t , a p p a r a t u s or article
used or intended for use in or for
the m a k i n g , m a n u f a c t u r i n g , keep­
ing, p r e s e r v i n g , p r e p a r i n g , h a n d ­
ling, serving, or s u p p l y i n g of a n y
food o r d r u g , or which in the course
of such use m a y come into contact
with a n y food or d r u g ; the t e r m
also includes a n y i n s t r u m e n t o r
contrivance which is held o u t t o
any
a n y p e r s o n or to the public as of
use for c u r a t i v e p u r p o s e s , or i n
relieving h u m a n suffering, or i n
overcoming or alleviating any
physical defect.
(ii) by i n s e r t i n g in the same section a t the end
of the definition of " D r u g " the words " a n d
a n y substance or article for consumption or
use by m a n which the Governor m a y by
p r o c l a m a t i o n published in the G a z e t t e
declare to be a d r u g " ;
(iii) by i n s e r t i n g in the same section a t the e n d
of the definition of " F o o d , " or " a r t i c l e of
f o o d " the w o r d s " a n d a n y substance or
article used for consumption by m a n which
the G o v e r n o r m a y by p r o c l a m a t i o n p u b ­
lished in the Gazette declare to be food or
a n article of f o o d " ;
(iv) (a) by i n s e r t i n g in the same section in the
definition of " T o s e l l " after t h e words
" d e l i v e r for s a l e " the w o r d s " o r
supply a s p a r t of a meal w h e r e con­
sideration is to be received by the s u p ­
plier for such s u p p l y either specifically
or as p a r t of a service contracted f o r " ;
(b) by i n s e r t i n g a t the end of the s a m e
definition the w o r d s " o r for p u r p o s e s
of analysis or other examination in
p u r s u a n c e of this A c t " ;
(b) (i) b y o m i t t i n g from p a r a g r a p h (f) of section
five the w o r d s " o r s t a i n e d " and by i n s e r t i n g
in lieu thereof the w o r d s " s t a i n e d , p r e ­
p a r e d , or t r e a t e d " ;
(ii) by o m i t t i n g from p a r a g r a p h (m) of t h e
same section the w o r d s " a t t a c h e d t h e r e t o "
a n d by i n s e r t i n g in lieu thereof the w o r d s
" o r w r i t t e n m a t t e r a t t a c h e d t h e r e t o or en­
closed t h e r e w i t h " ;
(iii) by i n s e r t i n g in the same p a r a g r a p h a f t e r
the w o r d s " c o n t a i n e d t h e r e i n " the w o r d s
" o r its physiological, c u r a t i v e , or t h e r a ­
peutic effect."
3.
3 . T h e P r i n c i p a l Act is f u r t h e r a m e n d e d —
( a ) by i n s e r t i n g next after section ten the following
new section:—
10A. No p e r s o n shall in or from N e w S o u t h
W a l e s t e n d e r or d e s p a t c h or offer to t e n d e r or
d e s p a t c h for or on sale a n y food, d r u g , or article
which is a d u l t e r a t e d or falsely described, or
which is packed or enclosed for sale or labelled,
b r a n d e d or m a r k e d in a n y m a n n e r c o n t r a r y to
o r not in compliance with a n y provision of this
Act, w h e t h e r the actual sale shall be effected or
is to become effective in New S o u t h W a l e s or
elsewhere:
P r o v i d e d t h a t if the actual sale w a s effective
o r is to be effective elsewhere t h a n in New South
W a l e s it shall be a defence to a c h a r g e of an
offence a g a i n s t this section to p r o v e t h a t the
sale was legally a u t h o r i s e d u n d e r the laws in
force where it was effected or to become
effective.
( b ) by omitting from subsection t h r e e of section
twelve the word " d e f e c t i v e " w h e r e v e r occurring
a n d by i n s e r t i n g in lieu thereof the w o r d
"different";
(c) (i) by i n s e r t i n g in subsection one of section
t h i r t e e n after the w o r d s " s o u n d c o n d i t i o n "
the w o r d s " a n d shall comply with the p r e ­
scribed s t a n d a r d s ' ' ;
(ii) by i n s e r t i n g a t the end of the same section
the following new subsection:—
(3) No person shall sell a n y food or d r u g
which is a m i x t u r e in respect of which a
s t a n d a r d h a s been prescribed u n d e r this
A c t unless the m i x t u r e is in accordance with
such s t a n d a r d .
( d ) (i) by i n s e r t i n g in the short h e a d i n g to section
fourteen after the w o r d " f o o d " the w o r d s
"or drug";
(ii)
(ii) by i n s e r t i n g in subsection one of the same
section after the w o r d " f o o d " w h e r e firstly
a n d secondly o c c u r r i n g the w o r d s " o r
drug";
(iii) by i n s e r t i n g a t the end of the same subsec­
tion the following w o r d s : —
N o p e r s o n shall, after the e x p i r a t i o n of
six m o n t h s from the commencement of the
P u r e F o o d ( A m e n d m e n t ) Act, 1944, sell in
a p a c k a g e a n y d r u g unless such a s t a t e m e n t
or label is w r i t t e n on or attached to such
p a c k a g e as r e q u i r e d by this section.
N o t h i n g in this subsection shall a p p l y t o
a n y p a c k a g e of d r u g w h e r e such d r u g is
supplied by p r e s c r i p t i o n or o r d e r signed by
a legally qualified medical p r a c t i t i o n e r for
a n y p e r s o n then u n d e r his care a n d t r e a t ­
ment.
(iv) b y i n s e r t i n g in subsection t h r e e of the same
section after the w o r d " f o o d " the w o r d s " o r
drugs";
(e) (i) by o m i t t i n g from subsection one of section
seventeen t h e w o r d s " w h i c h by r e a s o n of
its inactivity or inefficiency";
(ii) by omitting from the same subsection the
words "of c u r e " ;
(f) by i n s e r t i n g next after section nineteen the fol­
lowing new section:—
19A. (1) T h e b o a r d m a y by notification in t h e
Gazette prohibit the packing for sale of a n y dis­
infectant or poisonous substance in a n y con­
t a i n e r which b e a r s u p o n it a n y b r a n d , m a r k o r
s t a t e m e n t which m a y be capable of m i s l e a d i n g
a p u r c h a s e r into the belief t h a t the contents of
such container a r e for the p u r p o s e of h u m a n
consumption.
(2) No p e r s o n shall sell or pack for sale
a n y disinfectant or poisonous substance in
respect of which a notification u n d e r subsection
one of this section is in force in a n y c o n t a i n e r
b e a r i n g a n y such b r a n d , m a r k or statement.
(g)
( g ) b y i n s e r t i n g in section t w e n t y after the w o r d s
" i n p r i v a t e " the w o r d s a n d figures " D i v i s i o n 7
of P a r t I I I of the District C o u r t s Act, 19121936, shall a p p l y , m u t a t i s m u t a n d i s , to a n y such
appeal.
T h e j u d g e m a y m a k e such o r d e r for the p a y ­
m e n t of the costs a n d charges of a n d incidental
to the a p p e a l as to him seems j u s t .
Such costs a n d charges shall bo taxed by such
officer as the j u d g e directs and m a y be recovered
in like m a n n e r as a n y debt a d j u d g e d by the
j u d g e of a district court to be p a i d can be
recovered."
(h) (i) b y o m i t t i n g from subsection one of section
twenty-one the w o r d s " t h e milk o f " a n d by
i n s e r t i n g in lieu thereof the w o r d s " m i l k or
a n y p r o d u c t thereof f r o m " ;
(ii) by i n s e r t i n g in subsection two of the s a m e
section after the w o r d s " s e l l s m i l k " t h e
words " o r any product thereof";
(iii) by omitting from the same subsection the
w o r d s " t h e milk o f " a n d by i n s e r t i n g in
lieu thereof the w o r d s " t h e milk or a n y
p r o d u c t thereof f r o m " ;
(iv) b y i n s e r t i n g a f t e r the same subsection t h e
following n e w subsection:—
(2A) A p e r s o n who sells milk or a n y p r o ­
duct thereof shall not knowingly allow a n y
diseased cattle to be in his milking h e r d o r
on his d a i r y p r e m i s e s a s defined in the
D a i r i e s S u p e r v i s i o n Act, 1901, a s a m e n d e d
b y subsequent A c t s .
4 . T h e P r i n c i p a l Act is f u r t h e r a m e n d e d —
(a) (i) by i n s e r t i n g a t the end of subsection six of
section twenty-two the w o r d s " a n d w h y he
should n o t be o r d e r e d to p a y the expenses
i n c u r r e d by the officer in the examination,
seizure, a n d d e s t r u c t i o n of the article,
package, or v e s s e l " ;
(ii)
(ii) by i n s e r t i n g in subsection seven of the s a m e
section after the w o r d s " s h a l l be d e s t r o y e d "
the w o r d s " T h e said m a g i s t r a t e 0r j u s t i c e s
m a y f u r t h e r o r d e r t h a t such owner o r
p e r s o n shall p a y the reasonable expenses
i n c u r r e d by the officer in the e x a m i n a t i o n ,
seizure, a n d d e s t r u c t i o n of the article,
package, or v e s s e l " ;
(iii) by i n s e r t i n g in subsection nine of the s a m e
section after the w o r d s " l i c e n s e d h o u s e "
the word " b o a r d i n g - h o u s e " ;
(b) b y o m i t t i n g from subsection two of section
twenty-four the w o r d s " a n d shall r e t a i n one of
the said p a r t s for f u t u r e comparison, a n d submit
the t h i r d p a r t to an a n a l y s t , " a n d by i n s e r t i n g
in lieu thereof the w o r d s ' ' and submit one of t h e
said p a r t s to a n analyst, a n d shall r e t a i n t h e
t h i r d p a r t for f u t u r e comparison a n d for such
examination or analysis as a m a g i s t r a t e m a y
direct."
5. T h e P r i n c i p a l A c t is f u r t h e r a m e n d e d —
(a) by i n s e r t i n g in p a r a g r a p h (a) of section t h i r t y eight after the w o r d " A c t " the words " o r u p o n
d e m a n d by a n officer or a u t h o r i s e d p e r s o n t o
s t a t e his n a m e a n d place of abode refuses so to
do or states a false n a m e or place of a b o d e " ;
(b) by i n s e r t i n g n e x t a f t e r section thirty-nine t h e
following new section:—
39A. ( 1 ) W h e r e a n y p e r s o n engaged in t h e
sale of a n y food, d r u g or article h a s been con­
victed of a n offence a g a i n s t this A c t t h e c o u r t
m a y , on such conviction or a t a n y time t h e r e ­
after, u p o n application m a d e a s in this section
provided, by order, p r o h i b i t such p e r s o n from
e n g a g i n g in the sale of a n y food, d r u g or article
for such p e r i o d a s the court m a y d e t e r m i n e .
(2) A n application for a n o r d e r u n d e r
t h i s section shall be m a d e b y an officer
specifically a u t h o r i s e d in t h a t behalf by t h e
Minister.
An
A n a u t h o r i t y to m a k e such application, p u r p o r t i n g to have been signed by the Minister,
shall be evidence of such a u t h o r i t y without proof
of the M i n i s t e r ' s s i g n a t u r e .
( 3 ) A n y p e r s o n who engages in the sale
of a n y food, d r u g or article in c o n t r a v e n t i o n of
a n o r d e r m a d e u n d e r t h i s section shall be guilty
of a n offence a g a i n s t this Act a n d shall be liable
to a p e n a l t y not exceeding one h u n d r e d p o u n d s .
(4) A n y p e r s o n dissatisfied w i t h a n
o r d e r m a d e u n d e r subsection one of this section
m a y a p p e a l from the same u n d e r a n d in accord­
ance with P a r t V of the J u s t i c e s Act, 1902, as
amended by subsequent Acts, a n d the provisions
of t h a t P a r t shall, m u t a t i s m u t a n d i s , a p p l y to
a n d in respect of such a p p e a l as if the same
were a n a p p e a l from a d e t e r m i n a t i o n or o r d e r
of a justice or justices.
(c) by i n s e r t i n g in section forty-four after the word
" a n a l y s i s " the w o r d s " o r e x a m i n a t i o n " ;
(d) by omitting from subsection t h r e e of section
fifty-one the w o r d s " t e n p o u n d s " a n d by insert­
ing in lieu thereof the w o r d s " t w e n t y p o u n d s " ;
(e) by i n s e r t i n g in section fifty-two after the w o r d
" f o o d " w h e r e v e r occurring the w o r d s " o r
drug";
(f) (i) by omitting from subsection one of section
fifty-four
the w o r d s " a r t i c l e s of food, or
to packages containing such a r t i c l e s , " a n d
by i n s e r t i n g in lieu thereof the w o r d s " a n y
food or d r u g , or to packages containing a n y
food or d r u g " ;
(ii) by i n s e r t i n g in the same subsection after the
w o r d s " p a y m e n t of a n a l y s t s " the follow­
ing new p a r a g r a p h : —
p r o h i b i t i n g the publication, use or exhibi­
tion in a n y m a n n e r whatsoever, of
a n y p r i n t e d or pictorial m a t t e r w i t h
respect to a n y food or d r u g which i s
false or m i s l e a d i n g or likely to m i s ­
lead ;
(iii)
(iii) by i n s e r t i n g a t the end of the same subsec­
tion the following new p a r a g r a p h s : —
p r e s c r i b i n g r e q u i r e m e n t s to be observed
a s to the situation a n d construction of
p r e m i s e s u s e d for the m a n u f a c t u r e ,
p r e p a r a t i o n , s t o r a g e or p a c k i n g of
a n y food, d r u g or article, a n d secur­
ing the s a n i t a t i o n of such p r e m i s e s ,
a n d the provision of s a t i s f a c t o r y
facilities for p r o t e c t i n g such food o r
d r u g from c o n t a m i n a t i o n ;
p r o h i b i t i n g the placing in food for sale
or in p a c k a g e s of such food, of a n y
toy, coin or o t h e r thing, which, if
swallowed or taken into the m o u t h ,
m i g h t bo h a r m f u l or injurious to the
consumer.
6.
(1) The P r i n c i p a l A c t is f u r t h e r a m e n d e d —
(a) by o m i t t i n g section forty-seven a n d by i n s e r t i n g
in lieu thereof the following section:—
47. (1) W h e r e a n y p e r s o n is p r o s e c u t e d
u n d e r this A c t for the sale of a n y food, or d r u g ,
o r article which is a d u l t e r a t e d or falsely
described, or is mixed, coloured, composed, o r
constituted in c o n t r a v e n t i o n of any provision of
this Act, he shall be entitled to be d i s c h a r g e d
from such prosecution upon p r o v i n g —
( a ) t h a t he h a s received from the p e r s o n
from whom he p u r c h a s e d such food, or
d r u g , or article, or his duly a u t h o r i s e d
agent, a g u a r a n t e e in w r i t i n g t h a t t h e
same is n o t a d u l t e r a t e d o r falsely
described, or mixed, coloured, composed,
or constituted as a f o r e s a i d ; a n d
(b) t h a t he h a d no r e a s o n to believe t h a t
the same w a s a d u l t e r a t e d o r falsely
described, or mixed, coloured, composed,
or constituted as a f o r e s a i d ; a n d
(c) t h a t he sold it in the same s t a t e as w h e n
he p u r c h a s e d it,
subject,
subject, however, to the following conditions:—
(i) T h e p e r s o n giving
be r e s i d e n t in N e w
a company, m u s t
office in N e w South
m u s t have a place
South Wales.
the g u a r a n t e e m u s t
South W a l e s , or, if
have a r e g i s t e r e d
W a l e s , or, if a firm,
of business in New
(ii) T h e g u a r a n t e e m u s t state the n a m e a n d
the place of business of the g u a r a n t o r ,
a n d the n a m e u n d e r which he t r a d e s .
(iii) A g u a r a n t e e m a y be g e n e r a l or specific.
(iv) A g e n e r a l g u a r a n t e e shall a p p l y to t h e
sale of the description of goods or
classes of goods n a m e d therein.
(v) A specific g u a r a n t e e shall a p p l y to the
sale of specific goods a n d shall refer to
a sale note, bill of sale, invoice, bill of
lading, or o t h e r document d e s c r i b i n g
the goods a n d the weight, m e a s u r e , and
n u m b e r of the same.
(vi) A guarantee, g e n e r a l or specific, shall
n o t be available as a defence unless the
d e f e n d a n t h a s , within seven d a y s a f t e r
service of the summons, sent to the in­
f o r m a n t a copy of such g u a r a n t e e with
a w r i t t e n notice s t a t i n g t h a t he i n t e n d s
to rely o n the same a s a defence, and
specifying the n a m e a n d place of busi­
ness of the p e r s o n g i v i n g the guarantee,
a n d the n a m e u n d e r which he t r a d e s ,
a n d h a s also sent a like notice of his
intention to the p e r s o n g i v i n g the
guarantee.
The person by w h o m a n y g u a r a n t e e is alleged
to have been given u n d e r this section shall be
entitled to offer evidence a t the h e a r i n g , and
the court m a y , if it thinks fit, a d j o u r n the hear­
i n g to enable him to do so.
The form of a n y g u a r a n t e e u n d e r this section
may be prescribed.
(2)
(2) A n y p e r s o n who gives a n y such
g u a r a n t e e which is false shall, in addition to a n y
p e n a l t y for the sale of a n y food, or d r u g , or
article in c o n t r a v e n t i o n of this Act, be guilty of
a n offence a g a i n s t this Act, unless he p r o v e s
t h a t when he gave the g u a r a n t e e he h a d reason­
able g r o u n d s for believing a n d did in fact believe
t h a t the s t a t e m e n t s or descriptions contained
therein were t r u e .
A prosecution of a n y p e r s o n for a n offence
a g a i n s t this Act by r e a s o n of giving a false
g u a r a n t e e m a y be commenced at a n y time after
t h e g i v i n g of such g u a r a n t e e n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g
a n y limit of time p r e s c r i b e d by this or a n y
o t h e r Act for i n s t i t u t i n g prosecutions.
(3) P r o c e e d i n g s u n d e r subsection two
of this section a g a i n s t the p e r s o n who has given
the g u a r a n t e e m a y be t a k e n before a court
h a v i n g jurisdiction in the place w h e r e the food,
or d r u g , or article w a s sold, o r before a court
h a v i n g j u r i s d i c t i o n in the place w h e r e the
g u a r a n t e e w a s given.
(4) No p e r s o n shall, after a date to be
a p p o i n t e d by the Governor a n d notified by
p r o c l a m a t i o n published in the Gazette, place on
a n y p a c k a g e of goods sold by him a n y serial
n u m b e r allotted to a g u a r a n t e e in p u r s u a n c e of
p a r a g r a p h (d) of subsection one of the section
which this section replaces, or the words
" G u a r a n t e e d u n d e r t h e P u r e F o o d Act, 1908",
or w o r d s of similar i m p o r t , o r a n y words or
expression signifying, suggesting, or implying
t h a t the contents of any such p a c k a g e are
g u a r a n t e e d u n d e r the provisions of this Act or
the r e g u l a t i o n s , or a n y o t h e r law.
(b) by i n s e r t i n g in section fifty after the w o r d s
" f a l s e l y d e s c r i b e d " where secondly o c c u r r i n g the
w o r d s " o r w a s mixed, coloured, composed or
constituted in c o n t r a v e n t i o n of a n y provision of
this A c t " .
(2)
(2) -Subsection one of this section shall commence
upon a day to be appointed by the Governor and notified
by proclamation published in the Gazette. The day so
appointed shall be a day subsequent to the day appointed
pursuant to subsection two of section one of this Act.