|
Date |
Event |
|
1972 |
Denmark bans the use of asbestos for thermal and noise insulation and waterproofing. |
|
1973 |
US bans the use of spray-applied surfacing asbestos-containing material for fireproofing/insulating purposes (see: Federal Bans on Asbestos).
Sweden bans asbestos spraying. |
|
1975 |
US bans installation of asbestos pipe insulation and asbestos block insulation on facility components, such as boilers and hot water tanks, if the materials are either pre-formed (molded) and friable or wet-applied and friable after drying. |
|
1976 |
Sweden adopts guidelines recommending a ban on crocidolite (legislation to enforce the crocidolite ban was implemented in 1982). |
|
1977 |
US bans use of asbestos in artificial fireplace embers and wall patching compounds. |
|
1978 |
US bans spray-applied surfacing materials for purposes not already banned. |
|
1980 |
Denmark bans all uses of asbestos (with the exception of asbestos-cement roofing).
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.
Indonesia: Ministry of Manpower No 01/1980 warns the construction industry about the occupational asbestos hazard stipulating that asbestos should only be used when less dangerous materials are not available; precautions should, the regulations said, be taken to protect workers from breathing in asbestos fibers.
|
|
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
Indonesia: Government regulation No. 03/1985 on Safety and Health at the Workplace, issued by the Ministry of Manpower, bans the use of materials containing crocidolite (blue) asbestos products.
|
|
1986 |
UK: the Asbestos (Prohibitions) Regulations 1985 banned the import, supply and use of crocidolite and amosite as of January 1, 1986.2
Sweden: a ban on the use of all asbestos products was introduced. |
|
1987 |
Sri Lanka prohibits the use of crocidolite asbestos. |
|
1988 |
Hungary bans amphiboles. |
|
1989 |
Switzerland bans crocidolite, amosite and chrysotile (some exceptions).
Singapore bans raw asbestos by the Poisons Act.
US Environmental Protection Agency issues a final rule under Section 6 of Toxic Substances Control Act banning most asbestos-containing products. However, in 1991, this rule was vacated after a ruling by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. As a result, most of the original prohibitions on the manufacture, import, processing and distribution for the majority of the asbestos-containing products originally covered in the 1989 final rule were overturned (see: October 11, 2011: A Bloody Anniversary!). |
|
1990 |
Austria introduces ban on chrysotile (some exceptions).
Liechtenstein banned the use, sale and export of six forms of asbestos, including chrysotile, as per the Ordinance on the Reduction of Risks relating to the Use of Certain Particularly Dangerous Substances, Preparations and Articles. Although minor highly controlled exemptions were allowed, none have been granted in recent years (i.e. as of 2018). |
|
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 the use of all types of asbestos, including chrysotile (some exceptions until 1994).
Hungary bans processing of non-chrysotile asbestos. |
|
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.
Ivory Coast bans the import, manufacture and use of products containing asbestos as per Decree No. 96-682 signed on September 4.
Hong Kong Legislative Council bans the import and sale of amosite and crocidolite 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)].3
Czech Republic bans the import of asbestos. |
|
1999 |
UK bans chrysotile (with minor exemptions).
Europe: as per Commission Directive 1999/77/EC of July 26, 1999, European Member States were given until January 1, 2005 to end the use of chrysotile asbestos, other forms of asbestos having been banned previously; a time-limited exemption (until 2008) for the use of chrysotile in diaphragms was allowed.
Russia: use of amphibole asbestos banned.
Djibouti bans use of and the “manufacture, processing, sale, import, placing on the national market … of all varieties of asbestos fibers” with a limited and temporary exemption for chrysotile (white) asbestos (see Decree no.99-0202/PR/MTPUL on prohibition of asbestos in the Republic of Djibouti.
Malaysia: the Occupational Safety and Health Act (Prohibition of Use of Materials) which prohibited the use of crocidolite in workplaces came into force on August 2.
|
|
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.
Philippines bans crocidolite, amosite, actinolite, anthophyllite and tremolite in July under the Chemical Control for Asbestos Act; regime mandated for the import, manufacture and use of chrysotile asbestos and the storage transport and disposal of chrysotile asbestos waste (see: Chemical Control Order for Asbestos).
[The above might be taken to suggest there was to be a ban on chrysotile in the Philippines, but as of June 2017 no such ban has been implemented, as far as we are aware.]
|
|
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: a resolution adopted on October 1 bans the production, import, marketing and use of chrysotile asbestos; amphiboles were banned in 2000. An immediate ban on chrysotile use comes into effect for some products, including textiles, and a two-year phase out period is set for the use of asbestos-containing gaskets and brakes. A derogation that expires in 2014 permits the use of asbestos-containing diaphragms in the chloralkali process at three factories.
Oman bans the use of amosite and crocidolite.
Morocco introduces a limited ban prohibiting the use of all amphiboles and the use of chrysotile asbestos in sprayed insulation in Decree No. 2-98-975.
Hungary bans products containing amphibole asbestos. |
|
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).
China bans the import and use of amphibole asbestos.
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 2002.4 |
|
2003 |
Argentina: ban on asbestos-containing gaskets and brakes comes into effect.
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.
Hungary bans asbestos-cement products.
Indonesia: Ministry of Manpower regulation No.235/2003 forbids the use of child labor in any production process with elevated workplace asbestos exposure.
|
|
|
|
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.
Mauritius introduces the Dangerous Chemicals Control Act – section 27 declares actinolite, amosite, anthophyllite, crocidolite, chrysotile and tremolite asbestos prohibited chemicals and “as such no person shall import, manufacture, use or possess a prohibited chemical” unless the Dangerous Chemicals Board issues a “written authorisation” (see: Dangerous Chemicals Control Act 2004). |
|
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.5
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.
Croatia added asbestos to list of prohibited substances in February [OG 29/05]; implementation as of January 1, 2006 |
|
2006 |
Croatia: six weeks after asbestos was banned, the manufacturing of asbestos-containing products for export was again permitted. There are indications that the asbestos ban in Croatia is not enforced. |
|
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.
Gibraltar: under The Factories Control of Asbestos Regulations 2007 (Sections 26-28), the import, use and supply of all types of asbestos and asbestos-containing products were banned with an exemption for asbestos-containing diaphragms used in electrolytic cells in existing electrolysis plants for chlor-alkali manufacture. |
|
2008 |
South Africa: on March 28, The Regulations for the Prohibition of the Use, Manufacturing, Import and Export of Asbestos and Asbestos Containing Materials, which formed part of the Environment Conservation Act of 1989, were promulgated. The regulations prohibited the import, use, processing, manufacturing or export of asbestos or asbestos-containing products.
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.
Rwanda: Under the Prime Minister ’s Order N°27/03 dated October 23 five types of asbestos – actinolite, anthophyllite, amosite, crocidolite and tremolite – were designated as prohibited chemical substances requiring authorization or temporary permission for sale, import, export, storage and distribution.
|
|
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."
Rwanda: a Cabinet Decision of October 14 and recommendations of the 7th National Dialogue of December 10-11 established a national action plan for the eradication of asbestos from buildings within five years. This deadline was extended in 2013 to 2016.
|
|
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.
Mongoliabans the use of amosite, crocidolite, anthophylite, tremolite and actinolite asbestos by including them on a prohibited list of toxic and hazardous chemicals under government resolution number 192. 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.
Greenland bans the use of asbestos as of June 1, 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!
[Unfortunately, the Cabinet never implemented legislation enacting this decision; as a result no asbestos ban was implemented (and as of June 2017 still hasn't been). It is believed that the lack of action resulted from pressure brought to bear by international and domestic asbestos vested interests.]
Mongolia rescinds government resolution number 192 banning some types of asbestos to allow use of asbestos-containing products in selected industrial sectors including power plants under resolution number 176 passed on June 8. At the same time, the Government indicated its intention to gradually decrease the use of asbestos with a view to a complete ban.
Serbia banned the use of all forms of asbestos.
Malaysia: Department of Occupational Safety and Health uploads proposal on asbestos ban to its website (see: http://www.dosh.gov.my/index.php/en/osh-info-2/chemical-issues-sp-265/340-asbestos-banning-proposal).
|
|
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.6
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.
Malaysia: under the First Schedule of the Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Order 2012, the import of all types of asbestos, including crocidolite, amosite, tremolite, actinolite and anthophyllite, was prohibited; the sole exemption was chrysotile asbestos.
|
|
2014 |
Argentina: derogation which permits use of asbestos-containing diaphragms in the chloralkali process expires.
Hong Kong: Legislative Council adopts the Air Pollution Control (Amendment) (No. 2) Ordinance 2013 on January 22 which bans the import, transhipment, supply and use of all forms of asbestos as of April 4, 2014 (http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201401/22/P201401220504.htm).
Macedonia introduces total ban on all forms of asbestos.
Nepal: the import, sale, distribution and use of all asbestos was banned on the grounds of public health on December 22, 2014. The prohibitions will come into effect on June 20, 2015; the sole exemption is for automotive brake shoes and clutch plates.
Thailand: Ministry of the Interior and Ministry of Public Health indicated support for national asbestos ban.
Peru: bans the import of crocidolite asbestos.
|
|
2015 |
Korea: on April 1, with Notice 2015-89 of the Ministry of Labor under the Industrial Safety and Health Act (ISHA), Korea achieved a total ban on asbestos by removing derogations allowing the use of: asbestos-containing gaskets for submarines and missiles and asbestos-containing insulation for missiles.
Mauritius: According to press reports, on June 2 the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Consumer Protection, having received approval from the Minister of Health, amended the Consumer Protection Regulations to waive restrictions on asbestos imports. Responding to a strike over the asbestos hazard, the Minister of Health Anil Gayan gave assurances at a July 24 press conference that there were no plans to allow the import of asbestos products.
Nepal: a ban on the import, sale, distribution and use of all asbestos came into force on June 20; with exemptions for automotive brake shoes and clutch plates.
Sri Lanka: on August 13, President Maithripala Sirisena announced that consultations were underway regarding plans to ban the import of asbestos roofing sheets by 2018.
|
|
2016 |
Netherlands: subsidies available as of January 4 to private individuals and agricultural businesses for the removal of asbestos roofing (see:http://www.answersforbusiness.nl/subsidy/asbestos-removal).
New Zealand: on June 15, Minister Dr. Nick Smith told Parliament that the import of asbestos-containing material would be prohibited as of October 1 (see: Government statement to Parliament June 15, 2016); imports of raw fiber were already banned.
Moldova: at a WHO-Euro meeting of chemical experts in July, a representative of Moldova announced his government’s intention of phasing out the import, use and production of asbestos materials by 2020. This was clarified subsequently as not including chrysotile asbestos under provisions in the Moldova Refuse Act which only banned actinolite, amosite, anthophyllite, crocidolite and tremolite asbestos.
Canada: on December 15, Canadian federal ministers announced that a comprehensive ban on asbestos would be implemented in 2018 (see: https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/canada-to-ban-asbestos-use-by-2018/article33331224/).
Iraq: Decision No. (41) 2016 of the Government of Iraq adopted a national ban on asbestos with a ruling “not to import or cooperate regarding asbestos or its harmful ingredients…. and to replace it with other alternatives” due to the known carcinogenicity of asbestos (see: letter to Government of India, May 2016.
Monaco introduces total ban on all forms of asbestos in July.
South Korea: The Ministry of Education ordered that asbestos must be removed from all of the country’s 20,000 schools by 2027.
|
|
2017 |
Brazil: Despite the national government’s policy supporting the continued use of asbestos, by the summer of 2017, ten states and many municipalities had taken unilateral action to ban the commercial exploitation of all types of asbestos. As of August 18, asbestos bans existed in the following states: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, Pernambuco, Mato Grosso, Minas Gerais, Santa Catarina, Pará, Maranhão and Amazonas. Proposals to ban asbestos in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul were being considered.
Ukraine: An announcement was made at a press conference on June 26 by the Ministry of Health that as per legislation approved by the Ministry of Health on March 29, 2017 and following approval received in June 2017 from relevant ministries and government departments, a ban on the use of all types of asbestos had now been adopted in Ukraine. However, according to information received on July 7, 2017, the Ukraine Government may delay the implementation of this ban due to political and economic pressure from the asbestos industry (see: Ukraine Bans Asbestos! [Update]).
Brazil: On August 24, the Supreme Court issued a ruling on asbestos litigation which presages the end to asbestos mining and use in Brazil (see: Brazil's Asbestos Divide!).
On August 30, in a plenary session of the Rondônia State legislature Bill 645/17 banning asbestos was approved, making Rondônia the 11th Brazilian state to ban asbestos.
The Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu pledged to implement strict controls on asbestos in the run-up to prohibiting future use (see: Pacific Island Countries vote to ban asbestos) during a September meeting of the members of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme which took place in Papua New Guinea.
Moldova: announced on November 27 that the sale and import of chrysotile asbestos-containing materials and chrysotile asbestos fiber were to be outlawed by 2019.
Brazil: On November 29, the Supreme Court ruled that the use of asbestos was unconstitutional and that under no circumstances could any measures be enacted permitting the use of asbestos in any Brazilian jurisdiction or state.
Oman: banned the import of asbestos-containing products via Ministerial Decision 139/2017 (see: https://www.muscatdaily.com/Archive/Oman/Oman-bans-all-imports-of-asbestos-goods-51si).
|
|
2018 |
Canada issues regulations on October 1 banning the manufacture of asbestos products and the import, sale, use of asbestos and asbestos products (see: Prohibition of Asbestos and Products Containing Asbestos Regulations: SOR/2018-196. October 1, 2018); these regulations will come into force by the end of the year.
|
|
2019 |
Ukraine: on March 29, the Supreme Court – on a procedural technicality – upheld a verdict which annulled the country’s asbestos ban.
Colombia: on July 11, the Colombian President Ivan Duque Marquez signed into law asbestos prohibitions banning the mining, commercialization, distribution and export of all types of asbestos (including chrysotile (white) asbestos).
Netherlands: Dutch Senate voted to rethink the 2024 mandatory deadline for removing asbestos roofing; clarification on government’s asbestos strategy scheduled to be announced in the autumn.
|
|
2021 |
Brazil: as of June 1, the following 17 Brazilian States have banned asbestos: Amazonas, Pará, Acre, Rondonia, Mato Grosso, Federal District, Maranhão, Ceará, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Bahia, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina.
Asia: in May, The Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) amended its Environmental and Social Framework to exclude the use of all asbestos-containing materials from all AIIB-financed projects.
|
|
2022 |
Iran: on June 14, 2022, the representative of Iran to the Rotterdam Convention said that Iran had banned the use of chrysotile (white) asbestos in 2021; other forms of asbestos had been banned previously.
Ukraine: on September 6, the Ukraine Parliament enacted a law prohibiting the import, sale and use of all types of asbestos and products containing all types of asbestos fibers.
|
|
2023 |
Brazil: on February 23, by a 7 to 1 majority, the Supreme Court upheld a 2017 ruling that the Federal Policy which had allowed the commercialization of asbestos was unconstitutional; as a result of this judgment, the mining, processing and export of asbestos from Brazil was banned.
Taiwan: as of May 1, the import of products containing asbestos will be banned. Importers may apply in writing for an import license for these products from the Central Management Authority of Taiwan under three exemptions.
|
|
2024 |
United States: on March 18, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirmed that the use of chrysotile (white) asbestos would be phased out. (Chrysotile was by then the only type of asbestos fiber being used in the country.)
On July 23, 2024 we added the United States to our Asbestos Ban List, it being generally accepted by then that an effective ban was in place.
Nauru: the import of all types of asbestos and products containing it were banned by a government order issued on October 10 and all use of asbestos was prohibited by regulations adopted on October 30.
|
|
2025 |
European Union: the end of the derogation for the use of diaphragms containing chrysotile asbestos for electrolysis installations (last use of chrysotile allowed in the EU) is July 1.
|
|
2027 |
South Korea: deadline set by Ministry of Education for removal of asbestos from all schools and educational facilities.
|
