Chemical name: Asbestos

Final regulatory action has been taken for the category: Industrial

Final regulatory action: The chemical is Severely Restricted

Use or uses prohibited by the final regulatory action:

The placing on the market and use of crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite, actinolite and tremolite and of products containing these fibres added intentionally shall be prohibited. The placing on the marked and use of chrysotile and of products containing this fibre added intentionally shall be prohibited except for the case indicated below

Use or uses that remain allowed:

The placing on the market and use of chrysotile may be allowed by Member States for diaphragms for existing electrolysis installations until they reach the end of their service life, or until suitable asbestos-free substitutes become available, whichever is the sooner. The derogation will be reviewed before 1 January 2008.

The use of products containing asbestos fibres which were already installed and/or service before the implementation date of Directive 1999/77/EC by the Member State concerned shall continue to be authorised until they are disposed of, or reach the end of their service life. However, Member States may, for reasons of protection of health, prohibit within their territory the use of such products before they are disposed of or reach the end of their service life

The final regulatory action was based on a risk or hazard evaluation: No

Summary of the final regulatory action:

The placing on the market and use of the following fibres and products containing these fibres added intentionally is prohibited: Crocidolite, Amosite, Anthophylite, Actinolite, Tremolite and Chrysotile.

The reasons for the final regulatory action were relevant to:

Summary of known hazards and risks to human health:

Exposure to asbestos poses an increased risk for asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma in a dose-dependent manner. No threshold has been identified for carcinogenic risks.

Exposure of workers and other users of asbestos containing products is in general technically extremely difficult to control in practice, and may greatly exceed current limit values on an intermittent basis. This category of exposure now poses the greatest risks for development of asbestos related diseases

Expected effect of the final regulatory action in relation to human health:

Prevent the above listed health effects for workers and the general public.

Date of entry into force of the final regulatory action: 06/08/1999