Document DvXpyJ26zJRqeBNxEm3ZnoQpO

FILE NAME: Z/ZZZ/Ed DATE: DOC#: /Ed DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION:/Ed>Z'/Z WZ>/ EZDZZZZZ Z I " ASBESTOS INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION 68 GLOUCESTER PLACE, LONDON W1H 3HL, ENGLAND E.E.C. ADVISOflY COUNCIL OF THE A.I.A. World Trade Centre - Box 37, Bd. E. j'1cqm;iin, 161, B- Brussels Td: 118. 03. 19 Telex: 21696 Fintcr B Telephone: 01-.+86 3518/9 Tclegums: lnug London Tciex: December 19, 1978. Ref. : AIA/EEC/B-9.l. GRACE INDUSTRIAL CHEMICALS, INC. Rue Marterey, 5 CH - 1005 - LAUSANNE. To the atTention of Mr. A.E. DAMBACH. Dear Mr. Dambach, I have been informed by Mr. Schwermer (WVAZ, Germany) that the problem which arose around your labelling initiative is now satisfactorily settled after contacts you had with him and with Mr. Mohr (Switzerland). In confirmation of the in:orrnation Messrs. Schwermer and Mohr, and in order to given momenT I got involved in this matter, my side would, I think, be helpful. given to you by explain why, at a a few words from - Some time ago I was asked by the Asbestos International Association, London, to inquire (in my quality of Secretary to the EEC Advisory Council of the A.I.A.), about a request for labelling by a distributor in Euro9e of asbestos containin[ goods manufactured in the U.S.A. by Union Carbice Corp. - The information I got was that the distributor had requested the manufacturer to label, from January 1979 onwards, asbestos goods shipped to the EEC, with the EEC label for harmful substances. - As asbestos is, however, not (yet) included in ~he EEC list of (about 700) harmful substances, AIA's EEC Advisory Council CAIA/EAC) was of the opinion that this initiative was inappropriate, the more so as the AIA/EAC is at present preparing an ad hoc international asbestos label. - I therefore tried to contact the distributor, and, in the belief (based on apparently wrong information) that it was a firm based in Germany, I asked our German AIA/EAC representati Mr. Schwermer, to assist me to help and locate this firm. - Meanwhile it became clear that the matter had evolved in such a way that it was finaily a U.S. firm wanting to use a U.S. label (OSHA) on its asbestos bags, shipped to Switzerland, so that it became a matter fully beyond the competence of AIA's EEC Advisory Council, since it involved neither an EEC label, nor an EEC manufacturer or distributor. JHM 07411 Page 2 of our letter dated 19.12.78 to GRACE INDUSTRIAL CHEMICALS, Inc. As, no doubt, Mr. Schwermer and Mr. Mohr will have pointed out to you, most North American fibre producers are, at present, shipping asbestos bags to EEC which co~tAin a warning, but not a label. The asbestos label AIA's EAC is now preparing, is intended for being used, as a first step, inside the EEC, but AIA is endeavouring to gain world wide acceptance of this label, so as to make it a truly standardised and international one. The decision on when to start the use of this label is left I : :~:- to each individual country. I ,-- 1 ~-.-: - In view of this future use of a standardised asbestos label I .-.. unanimously approved by the international asbestos industry, ,.. AIA feels that the use of any other kind of label on asbesTos ' I bags by individual companies should, in the meantime, be I :__ avoided. We feel indeed that the generalised use of a truly I -. international label is the only way to avoid the EEC autho- rities frorn~rnposing upon the asbestos industry the use of the EEC "toxic substance" label (i.e. the skull and cross-bones). I hope this summary clears up AIA's and EAC's views on both your labelling initiative and on labelling in general. In case you would like to ask more information on any specific point in connection with this matter, please feel free To do so. Gur secretariat is also at your entire disposal for any EEC matter not concerning labelling. Yours faithfully, The Secretary, H. E. VANHERLE. cc. Sir Neville STACK, Director General A.I.A., London. JHM07412