Brazilian Supreme Court Ends Asbestos Anomaly!
After so many twists and turns, adjournments, hearings, postponements and reversals, Brazil’s asbestos ban was upheld last week at the highest level.1 On September 18, 2026, the Supreme Court (STF) 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.2 With the annulment of the state exemption for asbestos mining, the chrysotile (white) asbestos mine operated by Sama Minerações Associadas, a subsidiary of Eternit, S.A., will be closed.
Campaigners representing Brazilian asbestos victims were overjoyed with the news from Brasilia. Fernanda Giannasi, the Cofounder of the Brazilian Association of the Asbestos-Exposed (ABREA), said:
“Our suffering is over. It is a victory for the fierce and resilient struggle of the victims of asbestos and the entities united for this cause…While we celebrate the hard-won victory of the definitive ban on asbestos, the lethal fiber, we also lament the thousands of victims whose lives were cut short by the irresponsibility of companies in the immense production chain of this carcinogenic mineral.”3
 ABREA President Eliezer João de Souza and ABREA Cofounder Fernanda Giannasi enjoying the historic moment! Image created by Ben Alford. |
In his comments about the successful resolution of the litigation, President Gilberto Almazan, of the Metalworkers Union of Osasco and Region (do Sindicato dos Metalúrgicos de Osasco e Região/Sindmetal), praised the solidarity of the ad hoc coalition which brought about this result: “this history is marked by the joint action of unions, entities and victims’ movements…” while stalwart ABREA supporter trade unionist Carlos Aparício Clemente highlighted the pivotal role of Fernanda Giannasi in this historic struggle for workers’ rights.4
 Sindmetal meeting to mark International Workers Memorial Day attended by participants of the Asian Ban Asbestos Mission to Brazil, ABREA members and union partners. April 27, 2019. (Enlarge this image). Picture courtesy of ABREA.5 |
There was no disguising the satisfaction felt at the STF’s judgment by Adriana Augusta de Moura Souza, the President of the National Association of Labor Prosecutors (ANPT) – the entity which filed the Direct Action of Unconstitutionality (ADI) 6200 in July 2019.
“We are talking about a substance (asbestos) that is recognized as harmful and an issue that directly involves the life, integrity, and protection of those who work with it. ANPT has always maintained that economic interests cannot override fundamental rights. The decision reaffirms this commitment and also aligns with international norms and guidelines that mandate preventive action in the face of exposure to agents of proven risk, such as asbestos.”6
Because of global time zones, the news of the landmark victory did not reach ABREA’s international colleagues until September 19. As emails were received on Saturday morning in response to Fernanda’s victory message it was clear that people from around the world were sharing ABREA’s joy. “Inspirational,” one respondent said, “huge victory” and “fantastic triumph” others replied. Dr Tom Gassert, a US expert in Occupational and Environmental Medicine, was fulsome in his praise:
“Dear Fernanda,
A lesson for all about honorable, honest perseverance for justice and about fearless leadership. Perhaps you could say the lesson came as: A vitória veio sofrida, mas veio! [The victory came painfully, but it came!] With it, now we can all celebrate in the way Brazilian's know how to do so well, com alegria. And, perhaps personally for you and your team: Lavou a alma! [It washed the soul!]
Kind thoughts,
Tomás”7
A well-known slogan embraced by labor activists the world over is: “Mourn the dead and fight like hell for the living.” As we rejoice in the news from Brasilia, we remember all those whose lives were sacrificed for the asbestos profits of SAMA, Eternit, Saint-Gobain/Brasilit and other Brazilian stakeholders. Ruth Maria, Aldo, Zé da Capa and other ABREA friends – this victory is yours.8
With Brazilian asbestos production ended, the only remaining asbestos producers are: Russia (310,000 tonnes/t), Kazakhstan (250,000t) and China (250,000t).9 How much longer can these three countries be allowed to enslave global populations?
September 24, 2026
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1 Kazan-Allen, L. Here We Go Again? September 4, 2026.
https://ibasecretariat.org/lka-here-we-go-again.php
2 The findings of the STF’s Rapporteur Justice Alexandre de Moraes in this action – referred to as the Direct Action of Unconstitutionality (ADI) 6200 – were categorical. There were: “no safe levels of exposure to chrysotile asbestos, a mineral proven to be carcinogenic, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the international scientific community. He also emphasized that the Supreme Federal Court (STF) has several precedents prohibiting the extraction, industrialization, use, and commercialization of chrysotile asbestos throughout the national territory under any circumstances, including for export… the extraction of chrysotile asbestos is highly harmful to the environment and to the health of people who come into contact with the mineral.”
Brazilian Supreme Court. STF anula lei de Goiás que autorizava extração de amianto crisotila para exportação [Brazil's Supreme Court annuls Goiás state law authorizing the extraction of chrysotile asbestos for export.] September 22, 2026
https://noticias.stf.jus.br/postsnoticias/stf-anula-lei-de-goias-que-autorizava-extracao-de-amianto-crisotila-para-exportacao/
3 Malheiros, T. STF decide pelo fim do amianto no Brasil. “É a vitória das vítimas e entidades nesta luta de décadas”, diz Fernanda Giannasi [Brazil's Supreme Court rules to end the use of asbestos in Brazil. “It's a victory for the victims and organizations in this decades-long struggle,” says Fernanda Giannasi.] September 20, 2026.
https://taniamalheiros-jornalista.blogspot.com/2026/09/stf-decide-pelo-fim-do-amianto-no.html?m=1
Sousa, A. Após anos de luta, STF determina fim da extração de amianto em Goiás [After years of struggle, the Supreme Federal Court (STF) rules to end asbestos mining in Goiás.] September 21, 2026.
https://sindmetal.org.br/apos-anos-de-luta-stf-determina-fim-extracao-de-amianto-em-goias/
STF derruba lei que permitia exploração de amianto para exportação [Brazil's Supreme Court overturns law allowing asbestos mining for export]. September 21, 2026.
https://www.migalhas.com.br/quentes/464912/stf-derruba-lei-que-permitia-exploracao-de-amianto-para-exportacao
4 Sousa, A. Após anos de luta, STF determina fim da extração de amianto em Goiás [After years of struggle, the Supreme Federal Court (STF) rules to end asbestos mining in Goiás]. September 21, 2026.
https://sindmetal.org.br/apos-anos-de-luta-stf-determina-fim-extracao-de-amianto-em-goias/
5 Kazan-Allen, L. Report from Asian Ban Asbestos Mission to Brazil April, 2019. April 29, 2019.
https://ibasecretariat.org/lka-status-report-from-asian-ban-asbestos-mission-to-brazil-apr-24-2019.php
6 ANPT. Em ação da ANPT, STF declara inconstitucional lei de Goiás que autorizava exploração de amianto [In a lawsuit filed by ANPT, the Brazilian Supreme Court (STF) declared unconstitutional a law from Goiás that authorized asbestos mining]. September 21, 2026.
https://anpt.org.br/comunicacao/noticias/em-acao-da-anpt-stf-declara-inconstitucional-lei-de-goias-que-autorizava-exploracao-de-amianto
7 Email received from Dr Thomas Gassert. September 21, 2026.
8 José Jesus Pessoa (the unforgettable Zé da Capa, 2005), Ruth Maria Nascimento (2008) and Aldo Vicentin (2008) were Brazilian workers who died from asbestos-related diseases. They were founding members and officials of ABREA, a national movement which revolutionized the national asbestos dialogue in Brazil.
9 These are annual production figures for 2025.
United States Geological Survey. Mineral Commodity Surveys. Asbestos. 2026
https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-asbestos.pdf
