BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY. 371 



Studies are being made of the pharmacology and toxicology of fat- 

 soluble and water-soluble dj^es which maj' be suitable as food colors. 



IMPORTED FOODS AND DRUGS. 



The joint regulations of the Department of Agriculture, the De- 

 partment of Commerce, and the Treasury Department governing 

 procedure on importation of goods subject to the food and drugs act 

 were issued near the close of the fiscal year ended June 30, 1922. 

 The past year has given opportunity to test these regulations in 

 practice and they have been found satisfactory on the whole. In its 

 import inspection the bureau is continually handicapped by the 

 smallness of the force available to cope with the great volume of 

 imports daily arriving at the larger ports, especially New York. In 

 full appreciation that delays are costly to importers, every effort is 

 being made to expedite inspections, and continued improvement in 

 this respect may be anticipated. 



REGULATIONS AND FOOD STANDARDS. 



A revision of the rules and regulations for the enforcement of the 

 food and drugs act of June 30, 1906, as amended, was issued during 

 the year as Office of the Secretary Circular 21, eighth revision. This 

 is the first complete revision of the regulations. 



Upon the recommendation of the joint committee on definitions 

 and standards, standards and definitions were published during the 

 year for the following products : Ginger-ale flavor, ginger ale, ca^^enne 

 pepper, oil of cassia, cacao butter, breads, condensed milk, butter, ren- 

 ovated butter, cacao beans, cacao nibs, chocolate, sweet chocolate, 

 milk chocolate, cocoa, sweet cocoa, sweet milk cocoa, mustard, and 

 mustard products. 



The list of coal-tar colors admitted to certification for use in 

 foods was amended by the addition of a green shade, Guinea 

 green B. 



COOPERATION WITH STATE AND CITY OFFICIALS. 



The work of enforcing the Federal food and drugs act is greatly 

 facilitated by close cooperation with State and city officials who 

 are engaged in enforcing State laws and municipal ordinances re- 

 lating to foods and drugs. Information developed by investigations 

 made by Federal officials is often helpful to State and city food- 

 •control officials, and the State and city officials likewise furnish 

 much information of value to Federal officials. Inspections of food 

 factories are frequently made jointly by Federal and State inspec- 

 tors. Some undesirable conditions in the distribution of food can 

 1)6 corrected more quickly an'd effectively under State than under 

 Federal law. In other instances, the operation of the Federal law 

 in connection with a particular form of adulteration may make reg- 

 ulatory action on the part of a State unnecessary. 



The office of cooperation, which is maintained in the Bureau of 

 Chemistry for the prime purpose of promoting effective cooperation 

 among Federal, State, and city food and drug officials, has made 

 gratifying progress in promoting team work. 



