International Bans on Asbestos
Despite everything that is known about the danger of asbestos, halting its use has been a difficult process, one that experts believe must be fought “one country at a time.” See Barry Castleman, The WTO Trade Dispute’s Impact on Global Efforts to Ban Asbestos, p. 1 (2004). In the 1990s, more and more countries adopted bans on the use and importation of asbestos to protect their citizens. But there were still strong economic forces acting against the movement to ban asbestos.
When France announced in 1996 that it would ban the use of asbestos, Canada (a major exporter of chrysotile asbestos) felt threatened. When France announced that it would ban asbestos, the Canadian government took its concerns to the World Trade Organization, arguing that the ban was an unreasonable restriction of international trade. See Castleman, The WTO Trade Dispute. But the WTO dispute resolution panel rejected Canada’s argument, finding that France—and by extension, the many other countries who have banned asbestos—had valid public health reasons. Asbestos bans were not an unreasonable restriction on trade according to the WTO, and more countries acted to protect their citizens.
Asbestos has been banned in more than 40 countries around the world, including all 25 countries in the European Union. According to the International Ban Asbestos Secretariat, the following nations have banned the use of asbestos, either wholly or with minor exceptions:
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Chile
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Egypt
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Gabon
- Germany
- Greece
- Honduras
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- New Caledonia
- Norway
- Oman
- Poland
- Portugal
- Saudi Arabia
- Seychelles
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom (including England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland)
- Uruguay
Other countries have committed to or considered banning asbestos. The Korean Labor Ministry has announced that the use of asbestos will be banned in Korea beginning in 2009.
Croatia adopted an asbestos ban in 2006, but after only six weeks, political and economic pressure forced an about face. Asbestos remains legal in Croatia.
There are still many other countries where asbestos use is legal and, in some cases, dramatically on the rise. The Canadian government, having failed to win over the WTO, realized that it would have to work directly with developing countries to support a market for its asbestos. And in some countries—especially the quickly developing economies of Asia—asbestos use, and exposure, is increasing. See The Global Risk: Where Is the Asbestos Risk Greatest Today?
