stances will be refunded to the importer when delivery has been refused and the merchandise has been either destroyed or exported under the regulations.
(F. I. D. 11.)
SUSPENDING REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE LABELING OF IMPORTED SARDINES AND OTHER FOOD SUBSTANCES PACKED IN OIL.
March 1, 1905.
Referring to Circular No. 21 [F. I. D. No. 5c], respecting the packing of sardines and other food substances in oil, representations have been made to this Department, officially and otherwise, that in some countries where fish—namely, sardines—are packed in this way olive oil is not the common edible oil of the country, and therefore the regulation would not apply. I have directed that investigations be made of the character of the oil found in imported packages of sardines and other fish for the purpose of determining the character of the oil which has been employed.
Pending the result of these investigations, and in view of the fact that the packages intended for export to this country were prepared in many cases prior to the publication of the proposed regulations, that part of the circular referring to the marking of the packages respecting the character of the oil employed will be suspended until the investigations are concluded and until further notice.
(F. I. D. 12.)
ABOLISHING THE RULE TO ADMIT IMPORTATIONS OF FOOD PRODUCTS IN THE CASE OF FIRST NOTIFICATION.
March 1, 1905.
At the beginning of the enforcement of the legislation relating to the inspection of imported food products, in order to fully acquaint importers with the provisions of the law before any penalties were imposed, the inspecting officers were instructed in cases of first offense, where no purpose or intent to evade the law could be imputed to the importer, to pass the invoice under inspection, with notice that this was done without prejudice to future decisions.
The food-inspection law has now been in force since July 1, 1903, and it is presumed that every importer is acquainted with its existence and its requirements. Notice is therefore given that on and after March 16, 1905, the exception which has been made in the case of first notification will be abolished.
(F. I. D. 13.)
PROVISIONAL STANDARDS FOR THE LIMIT OF SULFUROUS ACID IN IMPORTED WINES.
March 1, 1905.
The regulations in regard to the amount of sulfurous acid permissible in imported wines, as prescribed in Circular No. 18 [F. I. D. No. 4], were based upon the regulations adopted by the consulting committee of hygiene of the Seine. Since the publication of these regulations the quantity of sulfurous acid in wines has been the subject of another investigation by an official French committee, with the result that the maximum limit of sulfurous acid in wines in France has been increased to 400 milligrams of total acid per liter, with a toleration of 10 percent. Results of the investigations of the French com-
