In an acute dermal irritation study following OECD guideline 404 and in compliance with GLP (Ciba-Geigy, 1991), three rabbits were exposed to 0.5 ml of the test substance for 4 hours. The test substance was applied unchanged to the shaved right flank of each animal for four hours. A control gauze patch moistened with distilled water was applied to the contralateral flank. Observations were made 1, 24, 48 and 72 hours after removal of the gauze patches. Erythema and edema were observed already at the 1 hour time point. From the reading one hour up to 72 hours after patch removal the erythema reaction was extending beyond the application area in all animals. Scaling was seen on day 7 in all animals. A loss of body weight was recorded in one animal on day 3. The skin reactions observed were reversible until the end of the observation period on day 10. Based on the results the test article is regarded as irritating to the rabbit skin and has to be classified.