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On October 23, 2026, New Zealand’s Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (MCCA) and Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) made announcements detailing the government’s response to the asbestos-contaminated sand scandal. The MCCA’s notice declared that consumer sand products such as toys and decorative craft material are “unsafe goods” which must be tested for asbestos prior to being sold in New Zealand. The MBIE reinforced this new requirement confirming that testing of these designated goods was mandatory. See: Unsafe Goods (Consumer Sand Products) Notice 2026.
 
Mandatory asbestos testing for some consumer sand products.

According to data released last week by official sources, 90% of buildings in the Belgian capital are estimated to contain asbestos. State Secretary for the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region Ans Persoons denied that the Flemish policy of eradicating the asbestos hazard from the built environment by 2040 was suitable for the capital due to major differences in the nature of the problems faced. The defensive position chosen by the authorities in Brussels includes the use of a regional digital platform to record asbestos audits and facilitate the timely monitoring of affected buildings. See: Asbestos likely in up to 90% of Brussels buildings.

A ten-year legal struggle ended with a victim’s verdict being handed down by the Court of Appeal in Rome. INAIL – the National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work – was ordered to pay the widow of an asbestos victim €200,000 (US$224,000). The deceased had been exposed to asbestos during his employment as a mechanic at the maintenance workshops of the Lazio Transport Company which was responsible for the upkeep of “the main suburban and inter-urban public transportation network in the Lazio region of Italy, centered around Rome.” See: Soriano nel Cimino, tumore legato all’amianto: riconosciuti 200mila euro alla vedova [Soriano nel Cimino, asbestos-related cancer: 200 thousand euros awarded to widow].

According to a news report issued last week, asbestos removal work due to begin at the beginning of 2027 on the Kingsway Tunnel in Liverpool is expected to take at least two years at a cost of ~ £4.6million (US$6.1m). To limit disruption to traffic, most of the work is scheduled to be undertaken during planned overnight closures. Workers using specialist protective equipment and clothing will remove 8,000 asbestos panels weighing 500 tonnes as well as other asbestos-containing material used during the tunnel’s construction between 1966 and 1971. See: Asbestos removal work in Mersey tunnel set to take two years.

The timely text cited below was written by Ayobami Ogundairo, who called on the Nigerian Government to take proactive action regarding the hazard posed by asbestos contamination of the national infrastructure. For decades, asbestos products were used in Nigeria for roofing, ceiling boards, floor tiles, pipes and insulation materials. Calling for a “clear, comprehensive and enforceable national framework prohibiting all forms of asbestos and asbestos-containing products,” the author said his country must not became an asbestos dumping ground for toxic products shunned by other nations. See: The Dangers of Asbestos.

In a statement made on October 19, 2026, it was announced that South Africa’s Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, the Northern Cape Premier Dr Zamani Saul and the Northern Cape Health MEC Nontobeko Vilakazi would lead “an integrated community health screening programme in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District.” The purpose of this initiative was to identify people in the former asbestos mining area of Kuruman with asbestos-related conditions and diseases due to historic occupational or environmental exposures. See: Health Minister to lead health screening in Northern Cape.

It was reported by the Spanish media on October 20, 2026 that pursuant to EU Directive 2023/2668 (Asbestos Protection), Spain's Council of Ministers had approved a Royal Decree lowering asbestos exposure limits and extending record-keeping to 40 years. To improve workers’ protections, the daily exposure limit for asbestos was decreased to 0.01 fibres/cm³; it was mandated that compliance be verified by the use of electron microscopy; all fibers, including those under 0.2 µm, must be counted. A number of administrative actions were also introduced to safeguard occupational health. See: Spain Tightens Workplace Exposure Rules for Asbestos, Lead and Diisocyanates.

During work on Maxingstraße Street in the Hietzing district of Vienna to install a new district heating system, asbestos was discovered in a 25-year old asphalt road surface. Workers commissioned by the municipal authorities removed the toxic material using special protections such as the erection of special fences and the use of water suppression techniques. Advisors from Greenpeace were in attendance to ensure adequate safeguards were in place. According to a statement issued by the City of Vienna “there is no danger for residents.” See: Hietzing: Asbestos Discovery During District Heating Construction Work.

On October 20, 2026, the Society of Radiographers (SoR) and the Occupational Safety and Health All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) jointly called on the government to lift the cap on freedom of information (FOI) requests. Under current restrictions, government departments are prevented from responding to requests costing more than £450 to fulfil. According to the SoR and the Parliamentary Group, this barrier was “preventing scrutiny, hindering research and obstructing efforts to protect NHS staff from asbestos-related risks…” See: SoR demands more freedom of information requests into NHS asbestos data.

Pursuant to a directive by Kenya’s Ministry of Environment to eliminate asbestos from the built environment, work began at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital to remove aging asbestos roofs and replace them with safer material. According to Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr Joshua Okise: “We want our healthcare workers and staff to work in a safe environment and our clients to feel satisfied by the services that we are improving in all facets, including replacement of asbestos with more health-friendly roofing.” See: Jaramogi Oginga hospital begins replacing cancer-causing asbestos roofs.

A timely blog by staff at the Museum of Communication in Bern, Switzerland reviewed the deadly history of asbestos with a focus on Swiss developments. The Museum had direct experience of dealing with the hazard as a number of items in its collection were contaminated; some were discarded but 20 items were remediated at a cost of ~20,000 Swiss francs (US$24,250). Other Swiss institutions – such as the Foundation for Art, Culture and History – also had asbestos problems. The evolution during the 20th century of the Swiss Eternit asbestos conglomerate was also discussed at some length. This blog is recommended reading. See: Asbest – ewiges Gift [Asbestos – Eternal Poison].

The text cited below was written by Ingvill Kvernmo, the Director of the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority. The author highlighted the decreasing amount of asbestos knowledge amongst younger workers: “Today's young workers have no personal experience with the substance. Therefore, they depend on adults taking responsibility.” In Norway, work is underway to make buildings more energy efficient; many of the buildings being renovated contained asbestos. To prevent potentially deadly exposures, the Labour Inspection Authority is prioritizing work to “to identify and manage the risks before work begins.” See: Innlegg: Asbesten er forbudt – men ikke borte [Post: Asbestos is banned – but not gone].

On October 20 & 21, 2026 campaigners from countries throughout the Asia-Pacific region gathered together at the 2026 conference of the Asian Ban Asbestos Network (ABAN) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The name of the event: “Seize the Momentum, Asbestos Ban Everywhere” aptly set the stage for what was to follow. According to colleagues who attended the conference, there was a high level of engagement by delegates with the presentations from ABAN colleagues from Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Cambodia, Vietnam, Timor Leste, Laos, the Philippines, Thailand, Fiji and Australia. More information to follow!
 
See: Conference Banner.

An October 20, 2026 upload detailed nine standards adopted by Ukraine for protecting the population from deadly asbestos exposures. The implementation of the new protocols for “collecting samples, testing construction materials and demolition debris for asbestos, and measuring the concentration of asbestos fibres in the air,” will more closely align Ukrainian practices with European requirements such as those stipulated in Directive 2009/148/EC on occupational asbestos protections. See: Ukraine adopts European-aligned asbestos standards to improve safety of demolition waste.

On October 19, 2026, Minister Sir Stephan Timms led a parliamentary debate regarding reforms to mesothelioma and dust-disease compensation. The official policy reforms were originally presented to Parliament in September 2026; on October 19 in a Parliamentary Debate Minister Timms introduced the draft regulations which would “ensure that eligible dependents and bereaved families receive equal lump-sum compensation matching the full sufferer rate, effectively closing a historical financial gap.” See: Draft Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2026.

On October 20, 2026, a committee of South Africa’s Parliament told the Department of Education of their concerns regarding the remaining asbestos contamination of 1,000 schools in the Eastern Cape Province. The Committee Chairperson Makhi Feni pressed the Department for a commitment to urgently address the health hazard posed to children and staff by the asbestos roofing and eradicate the toxic material at the earliest possible opportunity. See: Parliamentary committee presses Department of Education over uneradicated asbestos in schools.

On October 20 & 21, 2026 campaigners from countries throughout the Asia-Pacific region gathered together in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the annual Asian Ban Asbestos Network (ABAN) conference. The timing of the event was serendipitous as it came in the wake of recent successes in Asia and beyond. The name of the meeting: “Seize the Momentum, Asbestos Ban Everywhere” aptly set the stage for what was to follow. Feedback from KL described “a high level of engagement” during plenary sessions, interactive panels, interventions from delegates and break-out groups. According to ABAN Coordinator Sugio Furuya: “This event marked a resurgence in the ban asbestos campaign with a whole new generation of younger activists rallying to the cause.” [Read full article]

For years, India’s domestic asbestos market was blessed by the government’s prioritization of economic growth and favorable fiscal policies, including a basic customs duty on asbestos imports of just 10%. Between 2020 and 2025 annual asbestos imports totaled 1,987,636 tonnes – making India the world’s largest asbestos consumer. Recent developments suggest that the favorable conditions which encouraged asbestos use for decades may be in jeopardy. Should India begin the transition to a safer technology, it will not only protect its citizens but also the wider world that will benefit from the collapse of a deadly industry reliant on sales to Indian consumers. [Read full article]

In recent weeks there has been an outpouring of media coverage in the UK and India about the elevated incidence of asbestos-related diseases and the extensive asbestos pollution in Kymore, India. June Hancock and Nirmala Gurung were proof of the deadly consequences of the gross misconduct carried out by the global brand which ran the factory. Following their asbestos diagnoses, both woman campaigned to hold the guilty British company – Turner & Newall Ltd. – to account. As this controversy rages on in the National Human Rights Commission of India and the State legislature of Madhya Pradesh, we pay tribute to these two extraordinary women: June and Nirmala. [Read full article]

On September 12–14, 2026, there was a dynamic and fruitful collaboration between South Korean and Japanese asbestos activists during which news of current developments was exchanged, information about the unmet needs of victims shared and colorful events mounted to highlight the ramifications of national asbestos legacies. Commenting on the solidarity exchange, organizer Yeyong Choi – Director of Asian Citizens’ Center for Environmental Health (Eco-Health), South Korea – said: “The only way change will come is for the victims’ voices to be heard not only at the grassroots but at the very highest levels of government. With solidarity comes progress. The struggle continues.” [Read full article]

After many twists and turns, adjournments, hearings, postponements and reversals, Brazil’s asbestos ban was upheld last week at the highest level. On September 18, 2026, the Supreme Court handed down a unanimous verdict in litigation concerning a Goiás State law (2019) which allowed asbestos mining to continue – for export purposes only – in contravention of a national prohibition put in place in 2017 by the Court. Pursuant to the confirmation that the asbestos ban was inviolable and absolute, the Goiás law was declared unconstitutional. With the annulment of the state exemption for asbestos mining, the chrysotile asbestos mine operated by Sama Minerações Associadas, a subsidiary of Eternit, S.A., will be closed. [Read full article]

One lesson that every ban asbestos activist learns is the need for patience. There is no timetable for success and there are long periods when nothing seems to happen. This summer, however, was not one of them. Online reports over recent weeks indicated a seismic shift in the global asbestos debate. Even in countries where asbestos use remains legal, steps are being taken to reveal the human consequences and national costs incurred by the use of this outdated and deadly technology. As clearly shown by global asbestos trade data, consumers are increasingly choosing safer alternatives. In 2025, asbestos output was 960,000 tonnes, ~20% of the 1980 total. However you look at it, the industry is on a downward trajectory. The end cannot come soon enough. [Read full article]

India is the largest importer and user of asbestos in the world. Despite the ferocious lobbying by the asbestos sector, change is coming with the introduction of partial bans and the imposition of restrictions. Pursuant to a 2025 judgment of India’s National Green Tribunal, the Central Pollution Control Board launched a public consultation for the creation of guidelines for the “Installation, Dismantling and Disposal of Asbestos Cement Roofing Sheets, Asbestos Cement Wall Sheets and Asbestos Cement Pipes.” The deadline for submissions is September 17, 2026. [Read full article]

On September 8, 2026, NYC Mayor Mamdani told a press conference that 68 boxes of evidence detailing “what the city knew about toxic air around ground zero, when they knew it, and how they acted to limit liability” had been found. In the run-up to the 25th anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center, the Mayor announced that an online portal had been created with 170,000+ documents from the hidden archive. More documents will be uploaded in the coming months. Speaking at City Hall, the Mayor said: “People got sick because the leaders they trusted lied and told them they were safe to breathe in toxic air.” Asbestos was found “nearly everywhere” in the vicinity of ground zero; 10 months after the attack, health officials reported finding asbestos half a mile away from the site. [Read full article]

Dr Gregory Deleuil lived life to the full. He made the most of every chance to connect, assist and enjoy opportunities as they presented themselves. He was a medical practitioner who never lost the human touch and was often called upon by patients to translate into ordinary language the jargon transmitted by pulmonary and cancer specialists. He was trusted by his patients and their families who often became personal friends. He was an easy man to love and my whole family did so with gusto. When my son got ill with pneumonia in Perth, Greg treated him. When my daughter invited him to her wedding, he was there at the top table. We loved him to bits. This love will endure long after his passing. The world is a greyer and sadder place without him. [Read full article]

A recent entry on the schedule for Brazil’s Supreme Court (STF) revealed that a national asbestos litigation saga may finally be heading towards a resolution. After many setbacks, postponements and interruptions, the STF may be in a position to issue its judgment regarding the unconstitutionality of a Goiás State law which contravened a 2017 STF ruling outlawing the asbestos industry. Campaigners expressed “cautious optimism” that the contentious legislation will be quashed due to the advent of a new Goiás industry: the mining of the magnetic rare earths – neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium – at the Pela Ema mine in Minaçu, Goiás. [Read full article]

The launch in the Philippines of the National Framework for the Prevention of Asbestos-Related Diseases last month marked “a milestone moment” in the national campaign to end asbestos mortality. Rejecting disinformation and propaganda spread by asbestos vested interests, the actions outlined in the Framework accepted the fundamental tenet that: “there's no safe level of asbestos exposure, and tackling it takes everyone working together, not just one agency acting alone.” The comprehensive roadmap delineated at the July event by the Philippine Department of Health was supported by representatives from the government, unions, industry, health agencies and international organizations in attendance. [Read full article]

A Tribunal in New Zealand handed down a ruling on August 17, 2026 holding Kmart – a major toy retailer in Australasia – to account for all the costs incurred by consumers who purchased asbestos-contaminated toys sold by Kmart in Christchurch. As a media statement from Consumer NZ, an independent consumers’ advocacy group, explained: “this is the first Disputes Tribunal ruling in New Zealand concerning the recalled children’s sand.” The Tribunal found that the play sand was “unsafe, not fit for purpose and not of acceptable quality under the Consumer Guarantees Act.” We believe that this is the first such ruling anywhere which ordered a company to pay for decontamination of a claimant’s home and garden as well as other related costs. Thank you to Consumer NZ for permission to upload this text. [Read full article]

Powerful political forces are aligning in Indonesia to support grassroots efforts to eradicate the asbestos hazard from southeast Asia’s largest asbestos-consuming country. Following shortly after the Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto issued a warning about the cancer hazard posed by the use of asbestos roofing, a statement was released by the Central Statistics Agency which categorized houses with asbestos roofs as “uninhabitable” because they did not meet building durability criteria and posed a health risk. The Ministry of Health, Ministry of Housing and Ministry of Environment strongly recommend that asbestos-free roofing should be used to protect Indonesians from toxic exposures to an acknowledged carcinogen. [Read full article]

A coalition of civil society groups representing asbestos victims, occupational health and safety campaigners and medical experts from Asia, Europe, Latin America and Australasia is delighted to announce the winners of The International Ban Asbestos Secretariat Children’s Champions Award 2026. All of the people and organizations recognized were “accidental activists” who were drawn into a critical situation not of their making. Individually and collectively they demanded answers about sales of potentially damaging children’s products in New Zealand and Australia. By so doing, they protected the lives of children at home and abroad. As UK campaigner Lynne Squibb said “The world is a safer place for the actions of Elle, David, Benjamin, Terri-Ann, Michael, Robert, Jason and their colleagues.” [Read full article]

With the interconnectivity facilitated by contemporary means of communication, news about the contamination of children’s toys broadcast in late 2025 in New Zealand and Australia reverberated around the world in a matter of days. The discoveries which led to the global alert set off a chain reaction which resulted in recalls of toxic toys in multiple jurisdictions. For the first time, the story of how a few routine tests in a Brisbane laboratory led to international outrage, consumer mobilization and political confusion is recounted by those involved. I’m in no doubt that you’ll be able to see it in a Netflix miniseries before too long, but in the meantime you can read all about it here. [Read full article]

Opposition is growing in India – the world’s biggest asbestos market – to it’s massive use of a mineral classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a Group 1 carcinogen. In 2024, 98,000 people in India died from lung cancer, a disease caused not only by smoking but also by exposures to asbestos and other toxins. Of course, lung cancer is not the only disease caused by asbestos exposures and there is no doubt that if the authorities investigate, they will find increasing numbers of patients with mesothelioma, cancers of the larynx and ovaries, asbestosis and pleural thickening. The data on the explosion in lung cancer incidence should be a wakeup call for Indian civil society and national regulators. The time has come for asbestos use to be phased out – it is a matter of life and death. [Read full article]

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Demonstration in Woluwe Park, Brussels, 2006

Under cloudy skies, members of Belgian and French Asbestos Victims' Associations from Dunkirk and Bourgogne marched side-by-side in the third annual demonstration organized by ABEVA, the Belgian Association of Asbestos Victims. Erik Jonckheere, ABEVA's Co-chairman, condemned the government which still refuses to recognize the plight of the asbestos injured.

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