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Importation of Teas

It is unlawful to import or to bring into the United States any merchandise for sale as tea, which is adulterated with spurious leaf, or with exhausted leaves, or which contains so great an admixture of chemicals and other deleterious sub- )stances as to make it unfit for use.

The term “ exhausted" means and includes any tea which has been deprived of its proper quality, strength, or virtue, by steeping, infusion, decoction, or other means. For the purpose of examination by the custom house authorities, samples of each line, in every invoice shall be submitted by the importer to the examiner, with his written statement that such samples represent the true quality of each and every part of the invoice and accord with the specification therein contained; and in case the examiner has reason to believe that such samples do not represent the true quality of the invoice, he shall make such further examination within three days after the entry at the custom house of the tea represented by the invoice, or any part thereof, as shall be necessary. If, upon final re-examination, the tea shall be found to come within the prohibitions of the regulations, the importer or consignee shall give a bond to export said tea out of the limits of the United States, within a period of six months after such final re-examination; but, if the same shall not have been exported within the time specified, the collector, at the expiration of that time, shall cause the same to be destroyed.

The instructions relating to the examination of drugs, medicines and chemicals will govern all proceedings to be taken by customs officers on the importation of tea, so far as said regulations are applicable.

A bond will be given by the importer at the time of entry of any merchandise described as tea in form, and in a penalty equal to one-tenth of the invoice value of the merchandise.

The destruction of condemned teas will be effected under the regulations providing for the destruction of condemned drugs.

If a portion only of an importation of tea comes within the prohibitions of the act, such portion only need be exported or destroyed, and the residue may be released by permit.

Samples of imported tea may be transmitted by mail, and must be marked, so that they may be readily identified.