The organization conducting the enforcement of the Pure Food Law includes: (1) Inspectors who procure samples for analysis and informa tion regarding the manufacture and sale of food and drugs; (2) chemists and clerks, in the laboratories of the Bureau of Chemistry in Washington and in the branch laboratories in other cities, of which 19 are in operation; (3) Board of Food and Drug Inspection, whose duties are to consider all questions arising in the enforcement of the Food and Drugs Act, upon which the decision of the Secretary of Agriculture is necessary; to consider and super vise all correspondence involving interpreta tions of the law; and to conduct hearings based upon alleged violations of the Food and Drugs Act. Information secured by the inspectors and laboratories regarding violations of the law is reported by the chief of the Bureau of Chemistry to the Board of Food and Drug In spection which, when the charges appear to be sustained, makes recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture regarding the ex clusion of adulterated and misbranded food and drugs offered for importation, and prose cutions for the sale of domestic goods in vio lation of the law. All persons charged with violations of the law are afforded a hearing at which they may introduce testimony. When requested, the hearing is conducted personally by the Secretary of Agriculture. The act pro vides that its penalties shall not be visited upon dealers protected by a guaranty by a resident of the United States that the articles com plained of are in accordance with the pro visions of the law, and in enforcing the law the department attempts to protect the retail dealer who may be acting in good faith, and to place the responsibility upon the shipper or manu facturer who is aware, or should be, of the nature of the product. The enforcement of the law naturally proceeds along two lines: First, products imported into the United States from foreign countries; and, second, products manufactured or sold in the District of Colum bia or the Territories introduced into interstate commerce, or exported from the United States. In the case of imported foods and drugs no prosecutions are made. The effort of the de partment in enforcing the law is confined to preventing the importation of illegal goods and causing their reshipment beyond the jurisdic tion of the United States.
From the nature of the case the method of inspecting domestic foods and drugs is neces sarily, widely different from that employed with imported goods. For this purpose inspec tors visit all sections of the country to secure samples for analysis and such information as may be required by the department. One in spector is located at each of the branch labor atories and others have their headquarters at Burlington, W. Va., Des Moines, Oklahoma City, Dallas, Tucson, Salt Lake City, Spokane and Fargo.
The duties of the inspectors are as follows: (1) To investigate the wholesale and retail market and obtain samples of foods and drugs shipped in interstate commerce; (2) to inspect manufacturing establishments and secure infor mation in regard to the nature of the foods shipped in interstate commerce; (3) to inves tigate the manufacture and use of substances which are or may be employed for the adultera tion of foods and drugs and methods of prepa ration which may lead to the damage or deterioration of foods and drugs, or to the use of improper materials in their manufacture; (4) to inspect foods and drugs imported at ports where branch laboratories have not been established. Special investigations are fre
quently made concerning sanitation and proc esses of manufacture. The efficient and cons plete enforcement of the law depends to a large degree upon the originality and initiative of the inspectors.
The act provides that the determinations as to adulteration and misbranding shall be made in the Bureau of Chemistry of the Department of Agriculture. In the division of foods of this bureau, there is a special laboratory for in vestigating the methods of preparation and purification of edible oils, fats and waxes.
In the division of drugs of the same bureau, laboratories were established 1 July 1908, as follows: (1) A drug inspection laboratory, for the examination of drugs sampled in connection with the enforcement of the Food and Drugs Act, excepting those for which special arrange ment is made at the branch laboratories. This includes a general investigation of drug prod ucts, bought on the market, to determine their standard composition and adulterants.
(2) A synthetic products laboratory, to in vestigate synthetic products and preparations containing them, develop methods for the analysis of organic synthesis, and study the preparation of organic compounds and their analysis.
(3) An essential oils laboratory, to investi gate the essential oils and products in the man ufacture of which the same are used. This necessitates studies relative to the chemical con stitution and physical character of essential oils, the development of methods of analysis, and the improvement of those now existing; also the study of analytical processes for the examination of products containing essential oils.
(4) A pharmacological laboratory to in vestigate the pharmacolbgical action of drtig products under the Food and Drugs Act. This Includes a study of the physiological and path ological effects produced on animals by the medicinal substances which enter into the com positions of commercial drug products and by the derivatives and preparations of the same. See PHARMACOPOEIA, REVISION OF.
There is algo a miscellaneous division in the Bureau of Chemistry, the principal lines of work of which are the examination and study of waters, cattle foods, forage crops, grains, insecticides and fungicides, trade wastes and certain hygienic problems.
The Bureau of Chemistry publishes a great many bulletins and circulars, a list of which can be obtained by application to the Department of Agriculture.
In the several States, legislation has in the main been in uniformity with the National Food and Drugs Act. The general tendency is toward stricter regulations, with certain local peculiari ties.
Alabama.—The Food and Drugs Act of Alabama was approved 26 Aug. 1909. It is administered by the commissioner of agricul ture and industries. It 'follows closely the Federal law, but specifies particularly the mix ing of "any foreign matter or substance" with sugar, syrup or molasses, lard and butter, and makes liable to the law's penalties any clerk or agent who shall act for an owner in the sale of prohibited foods. It forbids the sale of all forms of fabricated imitations or adulterations of spirituous, vinous or malt liquors even if so labelled. The manufacture of "com pound lard" is permitted within specified limits.