NHTSA OKs confidentiality for tire makers´ ´early
warning´ info
By Miles Moore, Senior Washington reporter©
WASHINGTON (July 31, 2003) — Tire manufacturers will
get confidential treatment for whatever production numbers they give to
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) under “early
warning” information reporting requirements, the agency has ruled.
Warranty claims, field reports and consumer complaints will also be
kept confidential, NHTSA decided, but not claims or notices involving
death, personal injury or property damage. The effective date of the
confidentiality rule is Sept. 11—the same day by which petitions for
reconsideration must be submitted.
The Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA), which fought for
confidentiality, was still studying the highly complex document July 31,
three days after it was published in the Federal Register.
Ann Wilson, senior vice president-government affairs with the RMA in
Washington, said the document was very complex and still under scrutiny.
The association is pleased, however, that production figures and
warranty adjustments will be kept confidental.
“We’re particularly pleased they recognized that the release of
production figures can be devastating to competition,” Ms. Wilson said,
“and that warranty information is not considered within the realm of
public information.”