NEW ZEALAND BAN THE IMPORT OF PRODUCTS CONTAINING ASBESTOS

On the 15th of June New Zealand Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith announced that the import of products containing asbestos is to be banned. The importation of raw asbestos is already banned but this now extends to products which contain asbestos, with a few exceptions.

An inventory released by the Ministry for the Environment in 2014 shows asbestos is no longer imported for use in buildings or where members of the public are likely to be exposed to it. However, it is still imported for a limited number of specialist products, such as gaskets, seals and brake linings.

The Government recognises there are a few specialised uses for which there is no practical alternative. For that reason, there is scope to be granted a permit to import – but only in very specific circumstances , such as older machinery, and a small number of vintage plane or ship restorers. In addition, an importer would have to be able to show that any risk of asbestos exposure can be safely managed.

Regulatory Requirements

As a asbestos is a carcinogen it will cause harm to the human body and the environment, in order to control it there are more than forty countries and regions in the world which have a ban on asbestos.

RegulationRegulatory requirements
REACH Annex XVIIAsbestos intentionally added is banned, and the use and sale of products containing asbestos.
SOLASNew materials containing asbestos have been prohibited from being installed in ships from the 1st of January 2011.
GB12676-1999Asbestos can not be used in brake linings from the 1st of October 2013.
GB4706-2005Asbestos can not be used in household products or domestic electrical appliances.
US EPAAsbestos sheet is banned, asbestos in vehicle brake, clutch and sealing material, the use of asbestos cement pipe, and asbestos cement tiles.

Substance Introduction

Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals, which all have in common their eponymous asbestiform habit: long (roughly 1:20 aspect ratio), thin fibrous crystals, with each visible fibre composed of millions of microscopic “fibrils” that can be released by abrasion and other processes. They are commonly known by their colours, as blue asbestos, brown asbestos, white asbestos, and green asbestos.

CTI Suggestion

1. Raw material manufacturers should take active measures to ensure that products are asbestos free and where necessary testing for asbestos in the products, and also provide technical support for the downstream customers.

2. Enterprises should ensure that the raw materials procured are fre from asbestos.

3. The manufacturing process should avoid adding asbestos during the manufacture process.