Kyrgystan Government Takes Steps Toward Asbestos Regulation With Resolution
Members of the Kyrgyzstan government and the asbestos industry met with representatives from the United Nations, foreign embassies and governments, scientists and non-government organizations to discuss the issue of chrysotile asbestos in an open debate in Kyrgyzstan.
The High Level International Expert Conference, titled “Asbestos –Policies and Practices in Kyrgyzstan and International Chemicals Policy,” was recently held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and marked the first time that Kyrgyz government officials, ministry representatives, international organizations and others came together to publicly discuss the use of asbestos.
Most importantly, the conference led to a resolution about the future of asbestos use in Kyrgystan. Main points of the resolution include:
- In preparation for the next conference, steps will be taken to insure that the Kyrgyz government is informed of the asbestos-containing products that are being imported to their country.
- Facilitate the easy access of information and awareness of the dangers of asbestos to the public.
- Develop a national program for diagnosis and to reduce and ultimately eliminate asbestos-induced diseases, especially horrible asbestos cancers such as mesothelioma.
- Develop a National Cancer Registry in Kyrgyzstan.
- Introduce prevention-oriented occupational health and safety programs to protect workers in trades that commonly use asbestos-containing products.
- Support studies for diversification into non-asbestos production.
Though it may seem small, this resolution serves as a big step forward in Kyrgyzstan’s movement toward tighter regulation on asbestos and, hopefully, a full ban on asbestos use in their country. Asbestos is a particularly sensitive subject in Kyrgystan, where information on the health issues related to asbestos are not readily available and the general public is not aware of these issues.
Currently, materials containing asbestos are used freely in public buildings such as hospitals and schools, as well as in a number of consumer products like automotive materials –with no restrictions.
Though a number of countries have banned asbestos, the global fight against asbestos is still going on. Hopefully, other countries will follow Kyrgyzstan example and take steps toward regulating –and ultimately banning –asbestos.
