PICKLED FISH PRICES IN PUERTO RICO REVISED Maximum prices for pickled fish in Puerto Rico have been revised by the OPA to read as follows: Maximum Prices for Dried, Semi-dried, Smoked, or Pickled Fish in Bulk (Price per pound) Amendment 26 to RMPR-183 became effective February 18, 1944. Byproducts Trade SHARKS YIELD MAJORITY OF VITAMIN A PRODUCED IN U. S. IN 1943 Vitamin A production in the United States in 1943 totaled 87,296,540 million U.S.P. units, according to the Service's Current Fishery Statistics 106. Approximately 78 percent of the production was secured from sharks, this report indicated. The production was made up in approximately the following percentages, calculated from estimated Vitamin A content of domestic and imported livers and viscera. Vitamin A, the "anti-infection" vitamin, which is also used in overcoming night blindness, was placed under allocation for the first time February 28 by the War Production Board Chemicals Division. Officials explained the move would have no great effect on the public in the near future. The action was taken to insure equitable distribution of the vitamin in the face of mounting demand. This increase in demand will exceed the volume of new supplies and make it necessary to draw on reserve, it was explained. Vitamin A occurs naturally in fish liver oils. Four synthetic vitamins already are under allocation. These are Vitamin C, Vitamin B-1, Vitamin B-2, and nicotinic acid, which is one of the B complex vitamins. Cod liver oil and tuna liver oil are not affected by the new order No. M-373. Vitamin A in standard dosage forms, or in food and feed compounds, is also exempted. Excerpts follow: PART 3293-CHEMICALS [Allocation Order M-373] VITAMIN A The fulfillment of requirements for the defense of the United States has created a shortage in the supply of Vitamin A for defense, for private account and for export; and the following order is deemed necessary and appropriate in the public interest and to promote the national defense: § 3293.601 Allocation Order M-373(a) Definitions. (1) "Vitamin A" means vitamin A derived from or contained in fish liver oils or fish viscera oils, in crude ages; nor Vitamin A compounded or mixed in foods or feeds. (2) "Concentrate" means any concentrate of Vitamin A derived from fish liver oils, fish viscera oils, other fish oils, or from fish livers or viscera if the concentration of Vitamin A in the product is increased beyond four times that in the original oil, or in the case of livers or viscera, beyond four times that of the oil which would have been obtained by ordinary extraction methods. (3) "Supplier" means any producer, importer, concentrator, or blender, or any person who purchases Vitamin A for resale as such without further proc essing or admixture, but does not include an exporter. A supplier who also exports Vitamin A shall treat his export operations as a separate entity from his other operations for the purpose of this order. (4) "Use" means the incorporation of Vitamin A into pharmaceutical preparations, feeds, foods and the like, and includes blending and concentrating Vitamin A and the packaging of Vitamin A into retail pharmaceutical units. Authorization to use Vitamin A for any purpose carries with it authorization to perform all intermediate operations. (5) "Unit of measure" is expressed in terms of USP-XII units of Vitamin A determined either on the basis of animal assay or spectrophotometric analysis. Requirements for February and (b) Restrictions on acceptance of delivery. During the period from February 28 to March 31, 1944, inclusive, no person shall accept delivery of more than 500,000,000 USP-XII units of Vitamin A in the aggregate from all suppliers, except Vitamin A in transit consigned to him on February 28, 1944, or except as specifically authorized in writing by the War Production Board upon application pursuant to Appendix B. (c) Restrictions on delivery. No supplier shall deliver Vitamin A which he knows or has reason to believe would be accepted in violation of paragraph (b) above. (d) Restrictions on use. During the period from February 28 to March 31, 1944, inclusive, no person shall use more Vitamin A than 12% of the quantity which he used during all of 1943, except as specifically authorized in writing by the War Production Board upon application pursuant to Appendix B. In computing quantities used currently and during the base period, exclude quantities used in fulfillment of U. S. Government contracts or subcontracts. Requirements Beginning April 1, 1944 (e) Restrictions on delivery, acceptance of delivery and use. Beginning April 1, 1944, no supplier shall deliver Vitamin A to any person, no person shall accept delivery of Vitamin A from a supplier, and no person shall use Vitamin A, except as specifically authorized in writing by the War Production Board upon application pursuant to Appendices B and C. (f) User's one-time base period report. Each person (including a supplier), at or before the time when he Alles his initial application in accordance with Appendix B for authorization to use or accept delivery of Vitamin A, shall file a one-time report on his past use and inventory in accordance with Appendix A. (g) Small order exemption. Specific authorization is not required for: (1) Acceptance of delivery and use by any person of 500,000,000 USP-XII units or less of Vitamin A in the aggregate during any calendar month from all suppliers. (2) Delivery by any supplier to any customer in any calendar month of 500,000,000 USP-XII units or less if the total amount delivered on all such small orders does not exceed the sum of the following: (i) The amount which he has been specifically authorized, upon application pursuant to Appendix C, to deliver on small orders; (ii) The amount which he has been specifically authorized, upon application pursuant to Appendix B, to receive or use for the purpose of filling small orders; (iii) The amount which he himself acquired on small orders and has not used for other purposes; (iv) The amount which he had on hand on April 1, 1944, if he sells exclusively on small orders. (h) Allocated inventory. Vitamin A allocated for inventory shall not be used or disposed of for any purpose, except as specifically directed by the War Production Board. Material which has not been used for the purpose for which it was allocated shall revert to inventory as if originally allocated to it. Applications for authorization to use Vitamin A A allocated for inventory shall be filled pursuant to Appendix B. Pending receipt of Vitamin A allocated for a particular purpose stocks on hand may be used for that purpose, provided that the quantity withdrawn is replaced upon receipt of the allocated Vitamin A. (i) Toll arrangements. In the case of any toll arrangement where vitamin A is produced, concentrated, blended or otherwise processed or used by another person for the owner of the vitamin A, the owner shall apply for any necessary authorizations and shall be subject to the limitations of this order as if he were performing the operation himself, but deliveries between the owner and the processor under the toll arrangement may be made without restriction. (j) Duration of authorization for delivery. If it is not practicable for a supplier to make all deliveries in the month for which authorized, he may complete them as early as practicable in the next month, but the authorization shall terminate if the purchaser fails to place his order before the end of the authorized delivery month or if the purchaser requires postponement of delivery beyond ten days after the authorized month. (k) Duration of authorization for acceptance of delivery. A purchaser may accept delivery after the authorized month, but shall notify the War Production Board and hold the vitamin A intact subject to direction from the War Production Board, if he knows or has reason to believe that the shipment was made after the authorization for delivery had expired. (1) Duration of authorization for use. Authorization for use shall be valid during the authorized month and the following month. Any unused portion at the end of the period shall not be used for any purpose until further authorized or directed by the War Production Board, upon application for use from inventory pursuant to Appendix B. (m) Special. directions. The War Production Board at any time may at its discretion, issue special directions to any person with respect to: (1) Delivery or acceptance of delivery of vitamin A; (2) Preparation of applications and reports under Appendices A, B or C, subject to approval of the Bureau of the Budget when required by Federal Reports Act of 1942. (n) Notification of customers. Each supplier is requested to notify his regular customers as soon as possible of the requirements of this order, but failure to receive such notice shall not excuse any person from complying with the terms hereof. (0) Miscellaneous provisions—(1) Applicability of regulations. This order and all transactions affected hereby are subject to all applicable War Production Board regulations, as amended from time to time. (2) Limitation Order L-40. In addition to the restrictions of this order, the use of vitamin A is subject to the provisions of Limitation Order L-40 (§ 3293.6) as amended. (3) Violations. Any person who wilfully violates any provision of this order, or who, in connection with this order, wilfully conceals a material fact, or furnishes false information to any department or agency of the United States is guilty of a crime, and upon conviction may be punished by fine or imprisonment. In addition, any such person may be prohibited from making or obtaining further deliveries of, or from processing or using, material under priority control and may be deprived of priorities assist ance. (4)_Communications to War Production Board. All reports required to be filled hereunder and all communications concerning this order, shall, unless otherwise directed, be addressed to: War Production Board, Chemicals Bureau, Washington 25, D. C., Ref. M-373. Issued this 28th day of February 1944. WAR PRODUCTION BOARD, By J. JOSEPH WHELAN, Recording Secretary. APPENDIX A-INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILING USERS' ONE-TIME BASE PERIOD AND INVENTORY REPORT Each person (including a supplier) seeking authorization to use or accept delivery of vitamin A shall file a one-time report on his stocks and past use of vitamin A on Form WPB-3442 in accordance with the following instructions: Form WPB-3442. Copies may be obtained at local field offices of the War Production Board. Time of filing. The report should be filled when application is first made on Form WPB2945 (formerly PD-600) in accordance with Appendix B for authorization to use or accept delivery of Vitamin A. Number of copies. Two copies should be prepared, of which one shall be retained by the person reporting and one certified copy shall be filed with the War Production Board, Chemicals Bureau, Washington 25, D. C., Ref. M-373. Heading. 1-Specify Vitamin A. 2-Specify Million USP-XII Units. 3-Specify M373. Fill in other spaces as indicated. Section 1. In column (a) specify primary products as pharmaceuticals, foods, feeds, etc. In column (b) specify grades in terms of potency ranges in accordance with the instructions in Appendix B for column 1. Fill in the headings of columns (c) (d) (e) and (f) as follows: Column (c)-1942-excluding Gov. orders. Column (d)-1943-excluding Gov. orders. Column (e)-1942-Gov. orders only. Column (f)-1943-Gov. orders only. Fill in these columns as indicated and leave column (g) blank. Section II. Specify potency ranges in coiumn (a) as in Section I, Column (b), above. Fill in the headings of columns (b) (c) and (d) as follows, and fill in the columns accordingly: Column (b)-January 1, 1944. APPENDIX B-INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILING APPLICATION FOR SPECIFIC INSTRUCTION TO ACCEPT DELIVERY OF AND USE VITAMIN A Each person seeking authorization to use or accept delivery of vitamin A (more than 500,000,000 USP-XII units per month) shall If Aling after March, 1944, specify in Column (c) the first day of the next month. file application on Form WPB-2945 (formerly PD-600) in the manner prescribed therein, subject to the following instructions: Form WPB-2945 (formerly PD-600). Copies may be obtained at local field offices of the War Production Board. Time of filing. Application shall be made in time to insure that copies will reach the supplier and the War Production Board on or before the 15th day of the month preceding the month for which authorization to use or accept delivery is sought. Number of copies. Prepare five copies, retain one, send one to the supplier and send three copies (original certified) to the War Production Board, Chemicals Bureau, Washington 25, D. C., Ref. M-373. Omit supplier's copy if applying only for use from inventory. Number of sets. Applications for acceptance of delivery shall be made on separate forms for each supplier. A single set of forms may be used for application to accept delivery and use a quantity from a supplier, and to use an additional quantity from inventory. Exports. Exporters applying simultaneously for an export license and a WPB allocation for export shall send both sets of applications to the Foreign Economic Administration, which will transmit the WPB-2945 forms to the WPB with its recommendation. Heading. Under the name of chemical, specify vitamin A; under WPB order number, specify M-373; under unit of measure specify "Million USP-XII units." If the application is exclusively for use from inventory specify "From Inventory" in space for supplier's name. Otherwise fill in as indicated. Table I. Specify in the heading, the month and year for which authorization to use or accept delivery is sought. Column 1. Specify "grade" in terms of potency range, in accordance with the following symbols: Vitamin A tablets, capsules or liquids (specify separately) Ampuls Feed Concentrates For concentrating For inventory (in original form) Column 4. Opposite any product in Column 3 (other than "for blending" or "for concentrating") specify in Column 4 whether the product is for Army, Navy, Lend-Lease, other specified Government agency, or commercial customer, and where practicable specify contract or specification numbers. Opposite "for blending", "for concentrating", "for inventory" or "for resale" in Column 3, write in Column 4, "subject to further authorization", except in the case of suppliers who resell exclusively on small orders, in which case "for small orders of 500,000,000 USP-XII Units or less per person per month" may be specified in Column 4. Opposite "for export" in Column 3, specify in Column 4, the name of the individual, company, or Governmental agency to whom or for whose account the vitamin A will be exported, the country of destination and governing export license or contract numbers, unless Lend-Lease, in which case merely specify the Lend-Lease contract and requisition number. Column 10. If the application is partly to accept delivery and use Vitamin A from a supplier and partly to use Vitamin A in inventory, specify in Column 10, "From Inventory" opposite quantities in Column 2, which relate to use from inventory. Table II. Fill in as indicated. In Column II, specify "grade" in terms of potency range symbols as described in the Column 1 instructions above. In Columns 15 and 16 exclude from stocks, quantities authorized for use on the dates specified. Table III. Fill in as indicated. Table IV. Leave blank. Table V. In Column 23, specify potency ranges in accordance with Column 1 instructions above; in Column 24, specify in the heading "Balance authorized for use (specify first day of current month) and fill in the column accordingly; and in Column 25 specify in the heading "Estimated balance authorized for (specify first day of requested allocation month) and fill in the column accordingly. use " APPENDIX C-INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILING APPLICATION FOR SPECIFIC AUTHORIZATION TO MAKE DELIVERIES OF VITAMIN A Each producer or distributor seeking authorization to make delivery of Vitamin A during any month shall file application on Form WPB-2948 (formerly PD-601) in the manner prescribed therein and subject to the following instructions. WPB-2946 (formerly PD--601). Copies may be obtained at the local field offices of the War Production Board. Time of filing. Applications shall be filed in time to insure that copies will reach the War Production Board on or before the 20th day of the month preceding the month for which authorizations to make delivery are requested. Number of copies. Prepare four copies, retain one and send three (original certified) to the War Production Board, Chemicals Bureau, Washington 25, D. C. Ref. M-373. Heading. Under name of chemical, specify vitamin A; leave grade space blank; under WPB Order No., specify M-373; under unit of measure, specify Million USP-XII Units; and otherwise fill in as indicated. Table I. Fill in as indicated, listing customers alphabetically and including all who have sent in copies of Form WPB-2945 listing the applicant as supplier. In Column 3, specify "grade" in terms of potency range symbols specified below for Table II, Column 8. Each producer seeking authorization" to use his own production of vitamin A shall list his own name as a customer in his supplier's Form WPB-2946 application, and shall file a separate application for use on consumer's Form WPB-2945 in accordance with Appendix C above. An aggregate amount may be requested for "orders for less than 500,000,000 USP-XII Units per month" without specifying individual customers' names. Table II. Fill in as indicated. In columns 10 and 13 exclude quantities authorized for use or delivery on the dates specified. Specify "grade" in Column 8 in terms of potency range, using the following symbols. FATS AND OILS RELEASED FOR VITAMIN OIL MANUFACTURE Manufacturers of Vitamin A or D oils henceforth will receive all the rationed fats and oils they need to make these essential pharmaceuticals, the Office of Price Administration said February 15. Up to the present, vitamin manufacturers have received 120 percent of the rationed fats and oils they used during 1942. The action, which was recommended by the War Food Administration, means that manufacturers of Vitamin A or D oils will be limited in their use of rationed fats and oils only by the extent of their production capacity. Action was taken in Amdt. 107 to Ration Order 16--Meat, Fats, Fish, and Cheeses--effective February 19, 1944. FISH OIL TO BE RELEASED FROM GOVERNMENT RESERVES The War Food Administration announced February 17 it will release a quantity of fish oil from Government reserves on March 10, and plans are being made to release additional quantities monthly through June 1944. The only oils included in the reserves are Alaska herring, menhaden, pilchard, and sardine oils, and these will be released only for use in alkyd resins, rubber compounding, water insoluble metallic soaps, lubricants, metal working compounds (other than core oils) and for military use where fish oil is mandatory by specification or by the physical requirement of specification. Under Food Distribution Order No. 59, the War Food Administration has purchased approximately 1/6 of the 1943 season production of fish oils for military and essential industrial purposes. Users desiring a portion of the quantity to be released March 10 should make application by letter prior to March 1 direct to the Fats and Oils Branch, Office of Distribution, War Food Administration, Washington 25, D. C. Crude fish oil will be released in tank car minimum lots. If processed oil is desired, the application should be made through the processor. Applicants should state the kind of fish oil desired; their total use of fish oil (as defined in Food Distribution Order No. 60) since June 30, 1943, regardless of kind; their present inventory; their quota (if any) under FDO No. 60; the purpose for which the oil is to be used; and the rate of consumption in pounds per month at which it would be consumed. It is planned that additional quantities of fish oil will be released on the 10th of each succeeding month through June 1944, and applications must be filed 10 days prior to the release. All fish oil released will be subject to the use or allocation limitations of FDO-60. STORAGE CHARGES ON FISH OILS MAY BE ADDED TO MAXIMUM PRICES Storage charges on fish oils that have actually been stored by the Office of Distribution of the War Food Administration may be added to established maximum prices on sales to war industries, the OPA said February 9. Although the addition of these charges represents an increase in ceiling prices, it will not represent any increase in actual cost to the buyer, who in normal times would have bought his own fish oils and incurred similar storage expenses until the oils were put to use. The Office of Distribution of the War Food Administration has accumulated stockpiles of these oils which they sell to selected users for essential war production as the immediate need arises. OPA said that the slight increase in ceiling prices can readily be absorbed by the buyers of these oils, and will not result in any increases in the ceiling prices of the commodities whose manufacture requires the use of these oils. Amendment 15 to MPR-53--Fats and Oils--became effective February 14, 1944. An excerpt follows: A new section 16.1 (d) is added, to read as follows: (d) Sales by FDA or FSCC. On sales of any of the above oils by the Food Distribution Administration or Federal Surplus Commodities Corporation, which oils have actually been stored by the Food Distribution Administration or Federal Surplus Commodity Corporation, there may be added to the maxi mum prices specified in section 16.1 (1) On oil stored on the East Coast, (2) On oil stored on the West Coast, .0750 per pound for the first month's, or fraction of a month's, storage plus .0250 per pound for each additional month's, or fraction of a month's, storage. In determining the length of time for which the particular oil being sold has been stored, the "first-in, first-out" method of inventory accounting shall be used. SPERM OIL FREED FOR ESSENTIAL USES Because of an improvement in sperm oil supplies, the War Food Administration on February 19 freed it for essential uses and eliminated restrictions on its processing and delivery. The oil has been regulated since late in 1941. Until November 1943, it was allocated only for the most essential wartime uses. More liberal quantities were granted at that time for specific uses. An amendment to the sperm oil order (Food Distribution Order No. 37), effective February 18, 1944 frees the oil for use in the manufacture of lubricants or lubricant additives, cutting oils or cutting compounds, grinding oils, duplicating stencils, hectograph carbons, carbon papers, mimeograph inks, and typewriter ribbon ink. The amended order, however, provides that manufacturers using more than 2,000 pounds of sperm oil per month in the manufacture of cutting oils or cutting compounds shall not, unless specifically authorized, make oils or compounds which contain sperm oil in excess of 65 percent (by weight) of the fatty oil content of the products. Manufacturers desiring to use the oil for purposes not specifically mentioned in the order should apply for authorization to the Director of Food Distribution, War Food Administration, Washington 25, D. C. Applications for such authorization should be filed on Form FDA-478 by the 15th of the month preceding the month in which the oil is to be used. All persons using in excess of 500 pounds of sperm oil in any calendar month--in the manufacture of any product--now are required to report their uses on Form BM-1 to the Bureau of the Census, Washington 25, D. C. Specific instructions in the order govern the entries to be made in filing this report. The amendment also changes the definition of sperm oil to include technical oleyl alcohol derived from sperm oil. This definition follows: The term "sperm oil" means that oil obtained from the sperm whale, including, but not limited to, head oil, body oil, or combined head and body oil. The term also includes sperm oil which has been winterized, pressed, distilled, deodorized, sulphonated, sulphurized, sulfo-chlorinated, sulphated, blown, or otherwise physically or chemically treated, including technical oleyl alcohol derived from sperm oil, but excluding crude and refined spermaceti and sulphated technical oleyl alcohol derived from sperm oil. STATISTICAL SUMMARIES WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES A small drop in wholesale all-food prices from mid-December to mid-January was accompanied by similar declines in retail prices of fishery commodities in this period, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Fishery items for which wholesale indexes are available were unchanged due to operation of fixed ceiling prices, while retail prices, under more complex influences, showed minor decreases. Compared to 12 months earlier, retail prices for fish in large cities increased considerably, although the all-foods index advanced only 2.3 percent. |