''Regina v. Woodrow'', 15 M. & W. 404 (Exch. 1846) was a

case Case or CASE may refer to: Containers * Case (goods), a package of related merchandise * Cartridge case or casing, a firearm cartridge component * Bookcase, a piece of furniture used to store books * Briefcase or attaché case, a narrow box to c ...

decided by the English Court of Exchequer Chamber that first adopted a

strict liability In criminal and civil law, strict liability is a standard of liability under which a person is legally responsible for the consequences flowing from an activity even in the absence of fault or criminal intent on the part of the defendant. ...

standard for the criminal offence of selling impure foods.

Decision

The defendant was charged with violating a

statute A statute is a formal written enactment of a legislative authority that governs the legal entities of a city, state, or country by way of consent. Typically, statutes command or prohibit something, or declare policy. Statutes are rules made by le ...

that prohibited possession of adulterated tobacco. The court held the defendant criminally

liable In law, liable means "responsible or answerable in law; legally obligated". Legal liability concerns both civil law and criminal law and can arise from various areas of law, such as contracts, torts, taxes, or fines given by government agencie ...

even though he had no knowledge or reason to suspect the adulteration. The court justified this adoption of strict liability as being in the interests of convenient prosecution. This decision overruled '' Rex v. Dixon'', which had included a

mens rea In criminal law, (; Law Latin for "guilty mind") is the mental element of a person's intention to commit a crime; or knowledge that one's action (or lack of action) would cause a crime to be committed. It is considered a necessary element ...

requirement.Bonnie, p. 252

References

W 1846 in case law 1846 in England Court of Exchequer Chamber cases Food safety scandals Tobacco in the United Kingdom Food safety in the United Kingdom 1846 in British law {{England-law-stub