D. Poutiatine to G. E. Parker on Postponing Labels on Exported Asbestos Fiber (1972)

A two-page memo of January 25, 1972, from D. Poutiatine at J-M's New York headquarters to G. E. Parker in Denver, answering Parker's memo of January 13 on labeling export shipments. Poutiatine wrote that no labeling was done in Britain despite its asbestos regulations, that British asbestos companies had asked the Canadian industry "not to adopt such a measure," that the seller was Canadian Johns-Manville, and that the "vehement resistance to any type of labeling" from J-M's major customers would put it at a disadvantage unless other Canadian producers labeled too. He concluded that "labeling of asbestos bags for sales to export markets be postponed indefinitely, at least until such time as our principal customers accept or request it."

What it shows

Poutiatine suggested raising the question at the next meeting of the Quebec Asbestos Mining Association and asking J-M's largest overseas customers again. The memo was copied to J. B. Jobe, F. L. Pundsack, J. A. McKinney, W. P. S. Breese and others. J-M's legal department had advised that export fiber should carry caution labels (Breese's memo of January 5); the fiber sales side recommended against it for competitive reasons. Leaving labels off fiber sold abroad was not new: see the 1965 memos on shipments to Canada.

In Johns-Manville's chronology

Johns-Manville's own chronology of what the company knew describes this document as follows:

Memorandum from D. Poutiatine to G.E. Parker, dated 1/25/72, entitled "Labelling of Asbestos and Asbestos-Containing products Export Sales," with copies to many, including Jobe, VanDerbeek, Pundsack, Hutcheson, McKinney and Breese. Poutiatine argues that the issue of labeling should be considered from the point of view of J-M's efforts to sell asbestos fiber in international markets. He observes that despite heavy regulation in asbestos fiber handling, Britain has not required a label nor has any other foreign country. He questions whether Canadian Johns-Manville is subject to U.S. regulations concerning product labels and points out that, given the "vehement resistance" by major customers, it is likely that J-M would be at a competitive disadvantage until other Canadian fiber producers also label. He concludes: "Under the circumstances we have no alternative but to recommend that labeling of asbestos bags for sales to export markets be postponed indefinitely, at least until such time as our principal customers accept or request it."

Related documents

• G. Earl Parker to J. B. Jobe on Labeling Exported Asbestos Products (1972)