EU CLASSIFICATION OF BORATES AND BORIC ACID

UNCLAS HELSINKI 000299 SIPDIS COMMERCE FOR LEE ZACHOS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD BEXP FI SUBJECT: EU CLASSIFICATION OF BORATES AND BORIC ACID REF: USDOC 00939 ¶1. (U) Econoff delivered the talking points in the reftel demarche to officials at the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Social Affairs and the National Product Control Agency for Welfare and Health. They noted that the Technical Committee on Classification and Labeling, as well as its sub-group, the Specialized Experts in the Fields of Reprotoxicity, had submitted their recommendations, and that the decision now rests with the Commission. Econoff encouraged the Finnish authorities to consider the U.S. position in the event that they are still afforded the opportunity to contribute. Econoff also emphasized the benefits of postponing classification, pending (1) guidance on normal handling and use criterion as well as (2) the completion of full risk assessment by the Austrians. WARE#