Interpretation ID: 11806WKM

Mr. D. L. O'Connor
Manager
Government & Customer Compliance
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Akron, OH 44316-0001

Dear Mr. O'Connor:

This responds to your telephone conversation with Walter Myers of my staff on April 18, 1996, and your follow-up letter also dated April 18, 1996.

You state that Goodyear is encountering difficulties in exporting tires to Venezuela, South America, in that Venezuela wants verification from a U.S. governmental agency that Goodyear tires comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards when the DOT symbol is marked on them. You state that this is the same problem that Goodyear encountered in exporting tires to Colombia last year, and that Venezuela would accept the same type of letter from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that we issued to you last year for Colombia. You request, therefore, that we issue a letter to you similar to the one we issued last year regarding the Colombian imports.

As you requested, please find enclosed a "To Whom It May Concern" letter very similar to the one we provided you on August 9, 1995. As we explained to you at that time, the Federal government cannot and does not approve, certify or endorse vehicles and equipment as do many other countries, including the Central and South American countries. Accordingly, this statement is as far as we can go in describing the Federal government's role in what by law is essentially a manufacturer responsibility.

I hope the enclosed letter will be helpful to you. Should you have further questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact Mr. Myers at this address or at (202) 366-2992.

Sincerely,

Samuel J. Dubbin Chief Counsel

Enclosure

ref:571 d:4/30/96