STARTING AN IMPORT SAFETY DIALOGUE WITH FRANCE

UNCLAS PARIS 003496 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EEB/TPP/ABT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD ECON EFIN KIPR FR SUBJECT: STARTING AN IMPORT SAFETY DIALOGUE WITH FRANCE REF: STATE 114788 ¶1. (U) Post shared reftel points on starting an import safety dialogue with Sophie Hubert at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Directorate for the Americas (Office of North America),and with Francis Amand, Head of Security and Regulations at the Ministry of Economy and Finance's Directorate for Consumer Affairs and Fraud, on August 21. We will follow up once our interlocutors have had the opportunity to discuss the matter internally. ¶2. (U) The GOF is taking steps to show that it is engaged on this issue at senior levels. On August 20 Minister of Economy, Finance and Employment Christine Lagarde visited a shopping mall in suburban Paris to highlight product safety concerns. Lagarde told the press that France must not consider "country-by-country" boycotts of products, but insisted that standards be respected, "particularly for children's toys." Lagarde, accompanied by Secretary of State for Consumer Affairs Luc Chatel, noted that in 2006 the Ministry of Economy's Directorate General for Consumer Affairs and Fraud had inspected more than 5000 toys, with over 18% having been deemed hazardous and subsequently withdrawn from the French market. PEKALA