International Ban Asbestos Secretariat

International Ban Asbestos Secretariat

International Ban Asbestos Secretariat

Current Asbestos Bans 

compiled by Laurie Kazan-Allen

(Revised June 23, 2026)For Overseas Territories see: Notes

National Asbestos Bans:¹

Notes.
In May 2026, we received confirmation that pursuant to the French asbestos ban adopted in 1997, asbestos use was banned in all French Overseas Territories including: Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Réunion (Island), Mayotte, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Martin, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Wallis-et-Futuna, French Polynesia (Tahiti & smaller islands) and New Caledonia.
 
Yet again, attempts to ascertain from official sources whether asbestos was banned in British Overseas Territories (BOTs) pursuant to the UK asbestos ban in 1999 proved fruitless. Information obtained from AI, however, suggested that given the administrative system operating in BOTs the implementation of the UK prohibitions was reliant on “territory-specific laws.” The situation in Gibraltar seems the most clear-cut as Gibraltar enacted a comprehensive law banning asbestos. Bermuda adopted a “total ban on new imports and commercial supply,” while asbestos imports are also banned in the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands. New use of asbestos is also banned in the Falkland Islands, Montserrat and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
 
Singapore was removed from the ban list (Oct 2010) as a result of information received.
 
Mongolia was removed from the ban list (August 2012) as a result of information received detailing the cancellation on June 8, 2011 of the Mongolian Government’s Resolution No. 192 banning asbestos which was issued on July 14, 2010.

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¹ As of September 29, 2025, Only two countries have comprehensive national strategic plans on asbestos which are periodically revised (Australia and Korea) and only two countries have national asbestos removal programs with concrete deadlines: Poland (asbestos-cement roofing by 2032) and Korea (asbestos-cement material from military facilities by 2025, from schools by 2027 and asbestos roofing from residential buildings by 2033).
 
Exemptions for minor uses are permitted in some countries listed; however, all countries listed must have banned the use of all types of asbestos. Additionally, we seek to ensure that all general use of asbestos, i.e. in construction, insulation, textiles, etc., has been expressly prohibited. The exemptions usually encountered are for specialist seals and gaskets; in a few countries there is an interim period where asbestos brake pads are permitted.

² An immediate ban on amosite and crocidolite was imposed 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 were to be banned for all uses.

³ In 2012 it was reported that due to lack of enforcement, asbestos-containing products were still being imported and used in the Seychelles.

⁴ New Zealand's 2016 ban prohibited the import of asbestos-containing goods unless a permit was obtained from the Environment Protection Authority (EPA).
Imports containing asbestos are permitted under EPA license if:
 - there is no other asbestos-free product available;
 - the cost of using an asbestos-free product would be significantly higher;
 - the product is to be used for research and development or training.
 
We are attempting (as of October 23, 2017) to ascertain how many permits have been issued.

⁵ After phased prohibitions on asbestos use in Taiwan over several years, and in light of the Environmental Protection Agency’s deadline of July 1, 2018 to ban asbestos totally, and since there have been no permits issued for the manufacture of asbestos products since January 1, 2018, Taiwan is being added to the list of countries with national bans.

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