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Reduction in Duties on Fuel Oil

ITALY

The Italian tax on imported fuel oil has been reduced from a total of 240 lire to 11 lire in currency per ton of 1,000 kilos. A summary of the new provisions is as follows: The consumption tax of 80 lire in gold or 160 lire in currency has been reduced to 5 lire in gold or 10 lire in currency per 1,000 kilos, plus I lire in currency for the statistical tax.

Crude mineral oil, in order to come under the classification as fuel oil, and enjoy the advantages of the new decree, must conform to the following specifications: It must be black in color and posses viscosity, be bituminous in appearance, with a specific gravity not less than 20 per cent. in weight, components distilling at a temperature less than 310 degrees Centigrade.

Taxes Extended to Venezia Giulia

By a royal decree of March 7, 1920, published in the Gazzetta Ufficiale, of June 1, the Italian customs tariff has been put into effect in Venezia Giulia, effective upon promulgation. It has also been decreed that the tax on manufactures shall be collected in Venezia Giulia on all kinds of goods which are subject to such tax in Italy.

The Royal Venezia Giulia Government has also decreed that the import tax on alcohol be increased to 500 lire per hectoliter (1 hectoliter is 26.41 gallons). A manufacturing tax of 100 lire per 100 kilos will be collected on all imported goods containing a quantity of sugar. The import duty on manufactured tobacco is increased to 130 lire per kilo on cigarettes, Manila and Havana cigars, and to 70 lire per kilo on tobacco of other kinds.

Extension of Free Importation of Cereals.

On December 28, 1919, a decree was issued whereby the free importation of wheat, which had been permitted since January, 1915, was extended until June 30, 1920. By a recent decree, June 5, 1920, the above provisions have been still further extended, so that cereals may be imported into Italy free of duty until December 31, 1920.

Removal of Restrictions.

The importation of the following commodities has been authorized: Filter paper, (until further notice); woolen felt for papermaking machines; green vegetable seeds, even when classifiable as "oily seeds"; and typewriter ribbons.

Notice has been received from the Ministry of Finance that the following articles may now be freely imported into Italy: Containers of goods (as distinguished from outer packing), if previously subject to duty under the Table A, added to the Royal Decree of July 24, 1919 (pasteboard and merchandise in wood, ordinary small ware); boxes containing an assortment of paints, brushes and other accessories for painting, classified in Customs House list under "ordinary small wares." JAMAICA

Present Customs Tariff Continued.

The Jamaica Gazette of 6th May contains copy of Law No. 7 of 1920, by which the increased Customs Import Duties imposed by Laws No. 3 of 1916 and No. 11 of 1919 are continued in operation until 31st March, 1921.

Tariff Preference for British Cotton Piece Goods A resolution was adopted by the Legislative Council of Jamaica on May 27, 1920, amending the tariff law by granting a preference to cotton piece goods manufactured in the United Kingdom. The resolution reads as follows:

That this council adopts the report dated May 19 of the select committee that further preference be given to pure cotton piece goods made in the United Kingdom entirely of cotton grown in the British Empire so that the duty on such goods shall be 8 1-3 per cent. ad valorem, which is a preference of 50 per cent.

Suspension of Dyestuff Prohibition.

On August 20, the restriction on the importation of foreign dyestuffs into Jamaica has been suspended temporarily.

Tariff Revised.

JAPAN

A revised tariff law is to go into effect in Japan on August 29. The following articles are to be placed on the free list on that date: Explosives, machinery, and essential supplies for mining coal and gold; machinery for use in iron and steel plants with an annual capacity exceeding 35,000 tons; and seeds. Goods stored in bonded warehouses before August 29 will be subject to the old rates of duty. Mineral oil with a specific gravity not exceeding 0.875 is to be dutiable at 0.19 yen per 10 gallons, instead of 0.96 yen.

JUGOSLAVIA

Prohibition on Certain Luxury Articles

A decree, dated 11th June, effective as from 18th June, modified the list of articles prohibited to be imported into the Kingdom by the Decree of March 19th.

The prohibition on the importation of the following articles is withdrawn:

Velvet, fulled, for men's clothing; boot and shoe races; models (patrons) for painters, made of oiled cloth or of moulding carbon; fabrics of horse hair; boots and shoes of cloth of all kinds, without soles, except those of silk or mixed silk (which remain prohibited); tooth brushes and shaving brushes, with handles of animal carving materials; buttons of bone, deer horn and other unspecified animal materials, in the rough; wooden chairs, hairpins wholly or partly of celluloid, not combined with fine or very fine materials; buttons or knobs of corozo-nut, porcelain, glass, zinc or tin; artciles of German silver for technical, building or industrial purposes; ornaments for military uniforms and ornaments for religious purposes; ribbons and hosiery tissues of any material for use in the manufacture of men's hats, where the importer is a manufacturer.

The importation of the following articles is prohibited; Patent leather; boots and shoes wholly or partly of patent leather, or wholly or partly of deer skin; patent leather cut out for boots and shoes.

The minister of Finance, on the proposal of the Direction-General of Customs, and after consulting the Customs Council and the Economical and Financial Committee, is authorized to allow the importation of all articles necessary for industrial enterprises, works, and trades, as well as of surgical materials, and dressing, balance and intruments of precision for chemists, on compliance with the regulations to be issued by the Minister of Finance.

Removal of Prohibition on Films

The prohibition on the importation of cinematograph films into Jugoslavia has been withdrawn.

The Norwegian Government prohibited from August 19, 1920, the importation of the following articles, considered as luxuries, which were not paid for before August 19: Passenger automobiles, motor cycles, toys, floor coverings, precious-stone jewelry, Dianos, gramophones, and other musical instruments. and the finer grades of the following articles: Cotton, silk and wool text les dresses; glass ware; porcelain; furniture; furs and fur clothing; footwear; watches; and other articles. Import licenses are granted only in very special cases.

Importation of Synthetic Dyestuffs

PERSIA

The following statement of the requirements for the importation of synthetic dyestuffs into Persia has been received from the Persian Legation in the United States:

Chemical firms desiring to export to Persia chemical dyestuffs must fullfill the following formalities:

To furnish a list of dyestuffs that they wish to export and to attach to that list for each dye an official certificate issued by a Government or municipal laboratory stating that the dyes have been duly analyzed and recognized as fast and possessing all the qualities as stated.

To send samples of each dye mentioned on the list. To furnish 50 samples of each label that is used on the boxes_containing the dyes.

To give a written agreement that the dyes for exportation in labeled boxes will be subjected to a strict examination and be identified with samples submitted.

To admit that the Persian Government has a right at any time to take any of the samples exported and to submit the same to an analysis and to suspend the authorization of importation if the examination would not produce satisfactory results.

The initial capital of the company will be 300,000.000 lei. and the company will be able to issue bonds. The State will furnish 40 per cent. of the capital, and the remaining 60 per cent. will be acquired by public subscription. This company will be administered by a council of 25 members, of which 6 will be nominated by the council of ministers.

For this purpose the State will grant to this company exemption from customs duties on machinery and equipment imported for use in yards and factories working for the company. The prices of these materials will be fixed by a special commission nominated by the ministry of trade and industry.

Duty on Toy Vehicles

SALVADOR

By a presidential decree of April 13, 1920, published in "El Diario Official' of April 17, 1920, children's vehicles have been classed as toys, with an import duty of 70 cents per kilo of 2.2 pouns. The decree reads as follows:

The classification of certain articles not being well determined, which, nevertheless, are toys by their form and name, gives place to different interpretations as to their appraisement in the customs house, and to avoid in the future the constant petitions made by interested parties to the department, it is decided that velocipedes, bicycles, tricycles, automobiles, carts, baby wagons, and in general, all vehicles for the exercise and amusement of children shall be dutiable as toys, those vehicles or objects which are not toys are exempted from this decision.

Tax on Empty Glass Bottles.

In accordance with a Presidential Decree of April 9. 1920, which appeared in "El Diario Official" of April 10, 1920, the tax of 1 cent gold per kilo of 2.2 pounds on empty glass bottles and half bottles will be continued for a period of two years from May 26, 1920.

Classification of Wall Board

A decree published in "El Diario Official" May 5, 1920, classifies wall board under item 346, which covers paper and cardboard in sheets, and paper and cardboard, tarred for roofing, dutiable at the rate of 1 cent gold per kilo of 2.2046 pounds. The duty went into effect immediatetely.

New Pharmacy Law.

Among the provisions contained in a new pharmacy law promulgated on June 10, 1920, the following are of special in

terest:

Article 1. The faculty of chemistry and pharmacy is composed of all persons to whom the National University has granted titles in that faculty, those who have obtained a professional title extended by the former faculty of pharmacy and natural sciences and the present faculty of chemistry and pharmacy and those who have been legally incorporated in these faculties.

Article 2. The faculty is to have an executive board called "Executive Board of the Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy." (Junta de Gobierno de la Facultad de Quimica y Farmacia), composed of a president, two voting members, a secretary and a treasurer invested with full rights, as well as two members and a secretary as substitutes. These are appointed by the executive power.

Article 10: The following duties are attributed to the executive board:

(j) To propose to the Government, whenever it seems fitting, such reforms as experience has indicated concerning the import duties on foreign medicaments, in order to facilitate the acquisition of those which are necessary and which are not produced in the country, and to encourage national industries.

(1) To form a list of the minimum quantities of drugs or medicines which can be sold.

(m) To order the analysis, in its laboratories, of the samples of the pharmaceutical specialties which are presented to it when apply.ng for authorization for putting them on sale in the country, with the formula submitted and whether their sale is desirable or not.

After the analysis, if in the judgment of the board the sale of specialty should be authorized, the interested party will be given the corresponding license, the board reserving the right to analyze, when it sees fit, samples of the same product actually on the market.

Article 32. The preparation, conservation, and distribution of medicaments must conform to the regulations laid down by the French Pharmacopoeia as long as no national one is promulgated. Art. 33. All medicaments shall be labeled with their proper names and regulated in conformity with the principles of science, in order to avoid dangerous errors.

Art.34. Poisonous substances shall be kept under lock and explosives in conformity with the police laws.

Art. 56. The sale of patented medicines, national or foreign, without the authorization of the executive board is prohibited. Art. 57. Manufacturers who desire to obtain authorization from the executive board to sell their pharmaceutical specialties in the country will have to apply for it. The following must accompany the application: I. Six samples of the preparation.

2. The complete formula of the same, if it be foreign. Evidence of having paid the fees for the corresponding

3.

analysis.

Art. 58. Every specialty, national or foreign, which is authorized by the board to be placed on sale shall be entered in a book kept for the purpose by the secretary's office, and the manufacturers must put the following legend on the labels, notices, or wrappers, etc., of each bottle of box: "Authorized by the executive board of the Faculty of Pharmacy of Salvador, date No. " without which its sale will be prohibited.

Art. 70. A fee of $5 or 10 colons shall be paid for the analysis of each pharmaceutical specialty at the time an appliIcation is made to the board for a sales permit. This fee shall be paid in the manner prescribed for the payment of the registration fees for drug stores and similar establishments.

Art. 71. Foreign pharmaceutical specialties whose sale is authorized shall be subject to the payment of an annual fee of 5 colons; no annual fee is to be collected on such specialties of domestic origin.

Ex.-Art. 72. Failure to pay the annual fee by manufacturers of pharmaceutical specialties will involve the loss of their rights and will necessitate an application for a new license. Free Admission of Condensed Milk.

A decree of May 5, 1920, published in "El Diario Official" for June 19, 1920, provides for the importation of condensed milk free of duty and taxes. The decree went into effect on the day of publication.

Duty on Prussian and Ultra-Marine Blue.

A degree of June 23, 1920, published in "El Diario Oficial" for June 24, provides that Prussian blue and ultra-marine blue shall be dutiable as powder paint, item 382, at the rate of 12 gold centavos per kilo, or $0.028 per pound, when imported in quantities greater than 50 kilos. These colors have already been classed under the item when imported in small quantities.

Free Admission of Grinding Mills.

By an executive decision of July 16, 1920, mills for grinding corn or similar domestic uses, used specially for agricultural purposes, like "Little Giant" and similar makes, are to be admitted free of duty, regardless of whether they are to be operated by hand, animal power, or motor power.

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conditions for the importation of the yolks of eggs destined for industrial use. This product will be dutiable under paragraph 242 of the Spanish customs tariff, as other chemical products not specified, at the rate of 15 pesetas per 100 kilos, gross -weight, or $1.31 per 100 pounds.

The Royal Order provides that yolks of eggs imported for industrial purposes in powder, liquid, or paste shall be denatured by the addition of nitrobenzol and one-thenth of I per cent of petroleum.

Change of Method of Applying Internal-Revenue Taxes.

According to the Royal Order of June 9, 1920, the Spanish customs authorities have changed the procedure in regard to the affixing of internal-revenue stamps to imported goods. Instead of paying the internal taxes at the customhouses, importers are now allowed to present a declaration for each packaga specifying the character of the contents subject to the interal revenue tax; the customs authorities affix the declaration to the corresponding package and issue a pemit, the duplicate of which is transmitted to the customs collector at the point of destination, where the internal taxes are paid.

Modification of Duties on Coal-Tar Dyes.

By Royal Order of May 18 published in the Gaceta de Madrid May 26, 1920, coal-tar and other artificial dyes in powder or crystals, including thio-carbon, imported from countries entitled to the minimum tariff are dutiable at the rate of 1.30 pesetas per kilo, net weight, effective May 27. The import duty applicable to colors in paste or liquid remains unchanged at 0 50 peseta per kilo, net weight (tariff section 205).

This modification was necessitated by the treaty with Switzerland, which asigned to articles comprised in section 204 a duty of 1.30 pesetas and to those comprised in section 205 a duty of 0.50. STRAITS SETTLEMENTS

Suspension Prohibition on Dyestuffs. The prohibition against the importation of dyes not made in the British Empire, imposed last September, has been temporarily suspended.

SWITZERLAND.

Government Monopoly on Cattle Food.

The Swiss Federal Food Bureau, in conjunction with the Veterinary Bureau, has anounced that hereafter the private importation of bran, meal, and similar milling by-products used as cattle food included in items 215, 126A, and 216B of the Swiss tariff is forbidden, and that the importation of these articles wil be handled as a Government monopoly until further notice. The same authorities also announced that the importation of oil cake and oil-cake meal, including cocoa husks, covered by items 60 and 213 of the Swiss tariff, will be permitted until further notice, only on condition that merchandise be consigned directly to a Government warehouse use for provisional storage immediately after passing the frontier. The Food Bureau will issue import permits on application, according to the merit of each case.

Modification of Customs Duties.

The official Swiss Journal of Commerce of July 6 gives notice of a decree, dated June 23, 1920, which modifies the Swiss customs tariff affecting 259 items of the tariff schedule. An import duty has been placed on a considerable number of articles hitherto entering the country duty free, and an increase has been applied to other articles which were not affected by existing commercial treaties. The increases have been on a specific basis in every case. The new schedule is applicable to goods of any origin and becomes effective July 15, 1920, except for raw and manufactured tobacco (paragraphs 107-113) on which the new tariff became effective January 27, 1920. The present changes are to be considered as of a temporary nature, pending a complete tariff revision.

The rate of 11 per cent ad valorem was applied to practically all imports into Turkey prior to the outbreak of the war. With the abrogation of the capitulations at the outbreak of the war, the duty was raised on October 1, 1914, to 15 per cent ad valorem. On June 2, 1915, a provisional increase to 30 per cent ad valorem took effect and in September, 1916, it was replaced by a comprehensive specific tariff, which has not been recognized by the allied and associated Governments.

UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA. Invoice Requirements.

A declaration must be made on all invoices for shipments to that country. The notice of March 10, 1920, made as a substitute for a similar notice of 1913, reads as follows:

103. The person entering goods at importation shall produce, if required by the proper officer of customs, any document relating to the goods, and the invoice shall contain a statement in a prominent place made by the supplier showing clearly the current value for home consumption in the open market of similar goods in the principal markets of the country from which and the time at which the goods were imported. The invoice and covering statement also clearly show the cost of packing and packages and of carriage to the port of shipment.

Prohibition Against Japanese Brushes.

"The Cape Times" of May 27, contained the following announcement:

Owing to the recent discovery of anthrax germs in a consignment of shaving brushes and toothbrushes imported from Japan, a Proclamation has been issued by the Administrator of Southern Rhodesia prohibiting the importation of shaving, hair, tooth, and nail brushes manufactured in Japan into that territory.

A similar prohibition fo the same reason has been made in Australia, New Zealand, and Ceylon. In some cases the prohibition extends to brushes made from animal hair in all the countries of eastern and southeastern Asia, India, Japan, the East Indies, and the Philippines Islands, or in any other countries deemed in the opinion of the Collector of Customs likely to convey anthrax, and also to animal wool, hair, and bristles from any of these countries.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Declarations for Parcel-Post for Egypt.

Each parcel-post package for gypt will have attached two customs declarations (Form 2966,) the reverse of one form printed to read, "The address of the parcel should be written on this side as well as on the parcel itself," to be left blank for use by the customs officials in Egypt. Notice published as section 24 on page 10 of the February, 1920, Postal Guide is modified accordingly.

URUGUAY.

New Duties on Drugs and Chemicals. "El Diario Oficial" of April 6, 1920, published at Montevideo, contains the law of March 11, 1920, proclaimed on March 24, changing the valuations and import duties on drugs and chemicals, pharmaceutical preparations and specialties, and articles and apparatus for pharmacies, laboratories, photographers, and for dental and surgical purposes. These changes affect 1,244 items and in many cases greatly increase the duties.

Duties on Beverages.

By a decree issued on May 14, 1920, non-alcoholic beverages which are not manufactured in the country are exempt from customs duties, including additional charges. See same item under "New Laws and Regulations" above.

Consular Certification of Meat Certificates.

By a decree of June 11, 1920, it is provided that all shipments of refrigerated meats and preparations of meat imported for consumption in the country or in transit shall be accompanied by a sanitary certificate of origin viseed by the respective Uruguayan consul. A fee of 1 peso shall be charged by the consul.

Owing to a very large amount of legislative and tariff changes during the last three months and a desire to keep up to date in these, the most important parts of the journal, the editor was obliged to omit a number of original contributions and some of the permanent sections. The parts omitted will be included in the next issue due on January 1st, 1921.