New Zealand Enacts National Asbestos Ban

New Zealand will prohibit importation of all asbestos products and materials beginning Oct. 1, joining 57 other countries that already ban asbestos. Nick Smith, New Zealand environment minister, announced the latest prohibition last week. His statement marked progress toward a long-sought, worldwide ban on the toxic mineral. “It’s about bloody time,” Laurie Kazan-Allen, coordinator of the International Ban Asbestos Secretariat, told Asbestos.com. Kazan-Allen, who is based in the United Kingdom, is one of the world’s foremost authorities on the global asbestos watch. “We’re in an interesting time right now,” she said. “There is a great deal of mobilization by ban-asbestos campaigners in several countries. There are some encouraging signs.” Progress on Banning Asbestos Is Slow A growing number of nations are slowly working to ban or restrict asbestos, raising hopes for a future free from asbestos-related disease. Exposure to asbestos can cause a variety of serious health issues, including asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer. The World Health Organization estimates 100,000 people die annually from asbestos-related conditions. Canada, once one of the world’s largest asbestos producers, has committed to banning the toxic fiber according to an announcement from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last month. Congress this year passed a bill to amend the Toxic Substances Control Act, which will give the U.S. Environ...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: asbestos ban asbestos cancer asbestos mesothelioma banning asbestos national ban on asbestos new zealand asbestos ban Source Type: news