The Washington herald., 1914-06-28
HEALTH LAWS.
BY FRANCIS @. cAFFEY.

| soncftor, U. 3 Deparment OF Acfcuture-
The meat inspection act. though simi-
lar in intent to the food and drugs act.
is primarily q health and seeondarily a
labelling law. Its purposes are accom-
plished by different means and are cap
able Of more nearly certain attainment.
Inspection Of meats derived from cattle.
sheep, swine. and goats, prior to entry
] into interstate or foreign commerce. is
mandatory. except in the case of retail
butchers and retail dealers supplying
( their customers and Of animals slaugh-
| tered by farmers on the farm. Under the
food and drugs act the sole powers are
to penalize persons who and TO seize
articles which violate the law. Carriers
are not prohibited from transporting
adulterated or mishranded foods or
drugs The meat inspection act not only
prescribes punishments for producers,
shippers. and dealers guilty of offenses
under its provisions, but prnhibits car
| riers from transporting for interstate or
foreign commerce meats derived from
any Of the four classes OF animals named
in the act which do not bear marks OF
Federal inspection and approval. II Is
estimated that approximately sixty per
cent Of all meats and meat food prod
ucts in the United States derived from
cattle. sheep. swine, and goats are under
Federal inspection. II is obvious that
but a small percentage OF the foods and
drugs transported in interstate or foreign
commerce could be subjected to govern
ment inspection and marking without an
appropriation many times the $4,000 a
year required for meat inspection.
The meat inspection act provides for
the maintenance by the Department Of
Agriculture Of a system of inspection OF
establishments in the United States in
which cattle. sheep. swine or goats are
slaughtered or the carcasses or meat or
meat food products Of which are pre-
pared for interstate or foreign commerce.
II. on such inspection. the articles are
found to be wholesome. within the mean
ing OF the act, 1t is the duty OF depart
ment inspectors to mark them inspected
and passed" and. II not. TO mark them
inspected and condemned"
All such establishments are required to
apply TO the Department of Agriculture
for iEpection and to maintain sanitary
conditions in the conduct Of their busi-
ness. No meats or meat food products
are permitted tn be brought into feder-
ally inspected establishments unless de-
snte-mortem inspection and post-mort-
errn inspection at the time Of slaughter.
except farm-slaughtered animals. with
the heads and certain viscera attached.
which must be inspected at the time of
admission. Inspection may be withdrawn
from establishments which violate the
law or the regulations prescribed by the
department. The withdrawal Of Federal
inspection from an establishment is tan
longer engaging in interstate or foreign
commerce in articles with which the act
deals.
Transportation in interstate or foreign
commerce Of any meat or meat food
product derived from cattle, sheep. swine.
or goats not bearing the mark Of Federal
inspection and approval is an offense.
punishable by a fine Of not more than
$4,000. or Imprisonment for not more
than two years. or both. The sale or
onfer for sale or Transportation for inter
state or foreign commerce Of any dis
eased. unsound. unhealthful. or unwhole-
some meat or meat food product or Of
such an article which Is otherwise unfit
for food. with knowledge that the same
Is intended for human consumption, -
punishable by a fine Of not exceeding
1900. or by imprisonment for not ex-
ceeding one year. or both.
In addition. all meats and meat food
products entering interstate or foreign
commerce. or manufactured or sold in
the District of Columbia or in the Ter
ritories, are subject to the provisions of
the food and drugs act. While the meat
inspection act does not provide authority
TO seize such articles outside Of federally
inspected establishments. the power of
seizure conferred bv the food and drugs
act is applicable to them.
The meat inspection act eNempts from
its inspection requirements animals
slaughtered by farmers on the farm and
retail butchers and retail dealers in
meats and meat food products supplying
their customers, but provides that il any
Of these persons ships his product in
interstate or foreign commerce, knowing
that it is intended for human consump-
ton. and II be unfit for food. he is
guilty of a violation OF the law.
AS originally enacted in 1906. the meat
inspection act did not deal with imported
meats: they were subject only to the
food and drugs act BY the tariff act of
October 5. 1913 the importation of meats
was made conditional upon their being
wholesome and free from unwholesome
substances and complying with regula-
tions of the Secretary of Agriculture.
To ascertain wholesomeness, the Secre-
tary Of Agriculture investigates foreign
systems of meat inspection and causes
the meats themselves to be inspected at
ports of entry before admission into the |
United States. Importations are pro- |
hibited from countries which do not
maintain systems OF inspection as ef-
fcient as our own, and articles found |
upon inspection at ports Of entry TO be |
or to contain unwholesome |
substances must be refused admission |
into the United States. After admission, |
with marks of Federal inspection and |
approval. such imported products may
be carried into federally insected estab- |
lishments and must be otherwise treated |
as domestic articles which have been in |
spected and passed.
The Department OF Agriculture admin |
the Bureau OF Animal Industry. Most of |
the results are accomplished without |
litigation. Where prosecutions are neces- |
sary. they are conducted by the Depart |
ment of Justice, upon reports Of the |
Department OF Agriculture. in the same |
way as proceedings under the food and |
drugs act.
The proportion of the foods, drugs, and |
meats consumed by the people Of the |
United States, which of necessity must |
enter interstate commerce and are, there |
fore. subject to the food and drugs act
or the meat inspection act, or both, is. |
and always will be, large. The problem
Of efficient administration il enormous, /
dificultI and expensive. Full compre-
hension by the people Of precisely what |