Asbestos Legislation

While some countries around the world, most notably Canada, are fighting to keep the use of asbestos alive, others, such as the Philippines, are looking to restrict its use.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in the Philippines said that it would support the inclusion of asbestos in a list of substances that are not only hazardous to the environment but to people as well, GMA News reports.

Acting Labor Secretary Danilo Cruz said the naturally occurring substance should be put on a list with other banned or highly-regulated substances.

"Our call against the use of asbestos is in line with the country’s position in the upcoming 5th Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade in Geneva, Switzerland," he said, reports the news source.

Asbestos has already been banned in more than 50 countries around the world because the connection between the naturally occurring substance and the development of such illnesses as malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer has been proven for nearly five decades.

The Rotterdam Convention will commence on June 20, reports the news source.