All Africa .com BuaNews (Tshwane) reported on 27th March that Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk has announced that the use, manufacture and processing of asbestos will be prohibited in South Africa with immediate effect.
The Regulations for the Prohibition of the Use, Manufacturing, Import and Export of Asbestos and Asbestos Containing Materials will be promulgated on 28 March and will take effect immediately, said the minister during a media briefing on Thursday.
The regulations form part of the Environment Conservation Act 1989.
"A grace period of 120 days will be allowed for any person or merchant who is currently dealing in asbestos or asbestos containing materials to clear their stocks," said Mr van Schalkwyk.
The main objectives of the new regulations is to prohibit the use, processing or manufacturing, of any asbestos or asbestos containing product unless it can be proven that no suitable alternative exists.
South Africa will now prohibit the import or export of any asbestos or asbestos containing product, and will also stop the import of any asbestos or asbestos containing waste material other than from a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The regulations do, however, make provision for asbestos to be used for research purposes.
The health implications of exposure to airborne asbestos fibres were highlighted in the 1930s and specific links to certain cancers were first made in South Africa in the early 1960s.
Asbestos once accounted for three percent of the value of South Africa's minerals.
South Africa was the fifth largest supplier of chrysotile, produced 97 percent of the world's crocidolite and 100 percent of all of the amosite.
To read the full account please click on the link below:
http://allafrica.com/stories/200803270988.html
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