1972

Denmark bans the use of asbestos for insulation.

1976

Sweden adopts guidelines recommending a ban on crocidolite (legislation to enforce the crocidolite ban was implemented in 1982).

1980

Denmark bans the use of asbestos with exemptions for some asbestos-cement products.
Israel introduced a series of restrictions on the use of asbestos from the 1980s which eventually amounted to a de facto ban on the use of asbestos.

1982

Sweden enforces from July 1 the first of a series of bans on various uses of asbestos (including chrysotile).

1983

Iceland introduces ban (with exceptions) on all types of asbestos (updated in 1996).

1984

Norway introduces ban (with exceptions) on all types of asbestos (revised 1991).
Israel introduces its first ban on the use of asbestos including amosite, chrysotile, crocidolite, anthophyllite, tremolite, actinolite, and any mixture that contains one or more of these fibers in Work Safety Regulations; as a result of additional restrictions introduced by the 1990s, a de facto ban exists (2010).

1985

Denmark extends its asbestos ban to include additional asbestos-cement products with further restrictions introduced on asbestos-cement products (such as ventilation pipes and roofing) in 1986, 1987 and 1988

1988

Hungary bans amphiboles.

1989

Switzerland bans crocidolite, amosite and chrysotile (some exceptions).
Singapore bans raw asbestos by the Poisons Act.

1990

Austria introduces ban on chrysotile (some exceptions).

1991

The Netherlands introduces the first of a series of bans (with exceptions) on various uses of chrysotile.

1992

Finland introduces ban (with exceptions) on chrysotile (came into force 1993).
Italy introduces ban on chrysotile (some exceptions until 1994).

1993

Germany introduces ban (with minor exemptions) on chrysotile, amosite and crocidolite having been banned previously. The sole derogation remaining is for chrysotile-containing diaphragms for chlorine-alkali electrolysis in already existing installations. These will be banned as of 2011.
Croatia bans crocidolite and amosite.

1994

Brunei implements administrative rules on asbestos.

1995

Japan bans crocidolite and amosite.
Kuwait bans all types of asbestos by Resolution No. (26) for the Year of 1995 issued by the Minister of Commerce & Industry.

1996

France introduces ban (with exceptions) on chrysotile.
Slovenia bans production of asbestos-cement products.
Bahrain bans asbestos by Ministerial Order No. / 1996: For Banning , importing, manufacturing, and circulaton of asbestos materials and products containing asbestos

1997

Poland bans asbestos.
Monaco prohibits the use of asbestos in all building materials.

1998

Belgium introduces ban (with exceptions) on chrysotile.
Saudi Arabia bans asbestos in pursuance of the Council of Ministers Decision No. 162, 1998.
Lithuania issues first law restricting asbestos use; ban expected by 2004.
Lebanon bans import of crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite, actinolite, tremolite; chrysotile imports not banned.
Burkina Faso bans manufacture, processing, import, marketing and use of building materials containing asbestos [DECREE No. 98-039/PRES/MP/MEF/MCIA of 4 February 1998 (OJ No 09 1998)].²

1999

UK bans chrysotile (with minor exemptions).
Russia: use of amphibole asbestos banned.

2000

Ireland bans chrysotile (with exceptions).
Estonia banned the marketing and use of all types of asbestos, including chrysotile, by Ministry of Social Affairs Decree No. 72/2000 which was issued on November 2; the ban came into force on July 1, 2001.

2000/2001

Brazil – the four most industrialized states,representing 70% of the national asbestos market, ban asbestos as well as many towns and cities.
Sao Paulo State implements an immediate ban.

2001

Latvia bans asbestos (exemption for asbestos products already installed; however, they must be labelled).
Chile bans asbestos by means of Decree No. 656 issued by the Ministry of Health.
Argentina bans chrysotile; amphiboles were banned in 2000.
Oman bans the use of amosite and crocidolite.

2002

Spain and Luxembourg ban chrysotile, crocidolite and amosite having been banned under earlier EU directives.
Slovak Republic expects to adopt EU asbestos restrictions banning all asbestos.
New Zealand imposes ban on import of raw asbestos (import of asbestos-containing materials and second-hand asbestos products not included).
Uruguay bans the fabricating and import of all asbestos.
Malaysia reported to be close to banning chrysotile (as of 2010 this has not happened).
Malta: Environmental Protection Act (Act. No. XX of 2001) Prevention and Reduction of Environmental Pollution by Asbestos Regulations, 2001 came into force on June 28, 2002 by LN173 of 2002.³

2003

Australia bans the import, use and sale of products containing chrysotile, amosite and crocidolite having been banned previously.
China bans asbestos for friction materials in the automobile industry: GB 12876-1999: Road Vehicle Braking Systems - Structure, Performance and Test Methods.

2004

Honduras introduces an asbestos ban with some exceptions. In Executive Agreement Decree 0-32, the Ministry of Health bans the use of products containing chrysotile, anthophyllite, actinolite, amosite and crocidolite. The same decree also prohibits the import, manufacture, distribution, marketing, transport, storage and use of asbestos-containing products. There is an exemption for thermal or electrical insulation for electric appliances, electronic equipment and personal fire protection equipment.
South Africa announces on June 21, 2004, a phase-out of chrysotile use over the next 3 to 5 years.
Japan bans the new use of chrysotile in building and friction materials as of October 1, 2004; this accounts for over 90% of Japanese chrysotile consumption.

2005

Bulgaria banned the import, production and use of all asbestos fibers and types of asbestos-containing products as of January 1, 2005.
Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Malta, Romania, Portugal and Slovakia to prohibit the new use of chrysotile, other forms of asbestos having been banned previously, under EU deadline.⁴
Japan: Japanese Minister Hidehisa Otsuji announces a total asbestos ban in Japan within 3 years.
Egypt: Egyptian Minister of Foreign Trade and Industry prohibits the import and manufacture of all types of asbestos and asbestos materials.
Jordan: The Minister of Health in Jordan imposed an immediate ban on the use of amosite and crocidolite on August 16, 2005; a grace period of one year was allowed for the phasing out of the use of tremolite, chrysotile, anthophyllite and actinolite in friction products, brake linings and clutch pads. After August 16, 2006, all forms of asbestos will be banned for all uses.
China: the import and export of amphibole asbestos, including amosite and crocidolite, is banned.
Estonia updated its asbestos ban on February 28 by Decree No. 36/2005.

2006

Croatia bans asbestos as of January 1, 2006. Six weeks later, the Ministry of Health was forced to reverse its position with the result that the manufacture of asbestos-containing products for export was permitted again.

2007

China: Ministry of Health issues regulation: Criterion for the Control and Prevention of Occupational Hazards in Asbestos Processing (GBZ/T 193-2007).
New Caledonia bans the production, import and sale of asbestos.
Republic of Korea (South Korea): In February 2007, the Labor Ministry announced that a national asbestos ban will take effect in 2009.
Romania bans the marketing and use of asbestos and asbestos-containing products as of 01.01.2007 with a derogation until 01.01.2008 which allows the use of existing chrysotile-containing diaphragms for selected electrolysis processes.

2008

South Africa announced the implementation of Regulations for the Prohibition of the Use, Manufacturing, Import and Export of Asbestos and Asbestos-containing Materials on March 28.
Oman bans the use of chrysotile having previously banned other types of asbestos.
Taiwan bans the use of asbestos in construction materials by the Toxic Substances Management Act.
China prohibited the use of asbestos in the building of infrastructure for the Beijing Olympics and the 2010 Asian Games.

2009

Republic of Korea (South Korea) bans the use of all types of asbestos.
Algeria bans the use of all types of asbestos and products containing asbestos by Exectuive Decree No. 09-321 published in the Official Journal of the Republic of Algeria on October 14, 2009.
Seychelles Statutory Instrument 51: Trades Tax (Imports) (Prohibited and Restricted Goods) Regulations 2009 bans imports of "asbestos, articles of Asbestos; fabricated asbestos fibres."

2010

Qatar has "strictly prohibited" the import of asbestos.
Taiwan prohibits most uses of asbestos (its use in construction materials having been banned earlier) and announces that a comprehensive ban would be implemented within ten years.
Mozambique approves (August 24) a comprehensive ban on the production, use, import, export and trade in asbestos and asbestos containing products.
Mongolia banned the import of all types of asbestos including chrysotile (in accordance with order number 192, issued by the Government on July 14). However, see 2011: Mongolia (below).
Turkey bans the use of all types of asbestos by national regulation as of December 31, 2010 with the implementation of legislation issued in the Official Gazette on August 29, 2010.

2011

China: as of June 1, the use of all types of asbestos, including chrysotile, is banned in siding and wall construction materials under Chinese national standard GB50574-2010: “Uniform technical code for wall materials used in buildings”; this is likely to decrease demand for asbestos-cement flat sheet products generally used in permanent constructions.
Israel: on March 28, 2011, Parliament approved the Prevention of Asbestos Hazards Law which regularizes the de facto ban already in existence by prohibiting new uses of asbestos and mandating the phasing-out of friable asbestos in public buildings, industrial facilities and Israel Defense Forces vehicles and equipment. A protocol is being established to ensure that asbestos-cement products contained in public buildings are identified, marked and managed. A new licensing regime will regulate the asbestos removal industry.
Thailand: in April, the Thai Cabinet approved a resolution proposed by the National Health Commission to ban the use of asbestos. Imports of asbestos will be illegal from 2011 and the sale of all asbestos products will be banned from 2012!
Mongolia – on June 8, Government cancels 2010 Resolution No. 192 banning asbestos.

2012

Japan: on March 1, 2012, with the expiration of the last remaining derogation for asbestos use in Japan, a total ban on asbestos use was achieved. From March 1, the manufacture, import, transfer, provision or use of material containing more than 0.1% asbestos by weight is illegal under the Occupational Safety and Health Law.
Taiwan: on February 2, 2012 the Environmental Protection Agency of Taiwan announced its schedule for a total asbestos ban. From August 1, 2012, the use of asbestos is prohibited for the manufacture of extruded cement composite hollow panels and construction sealants, from February 1, 2013, the manufacture of asbestos roof tiles is prohibited and from July 1, 2018, the use of asbestos in the manufacture of brake linings will be prohibited.⁵
China: on December 27, a new "List of recommended substitutes for toxic and hazardous raw materials" was officially published by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Asbestos was included in category 3, the most advanced class for which substitutes have been developed and are being used. In the document, asbestos was categorized as a toxic and hazardous substance which could be replaced by safer alternatives.