Are There Any Regulations in India Banning Asbestos Sheets in Industries? Let's Discuss

Regulations on Asbestos Use in India

Is there any rule in India to restrict or ban the use of asbestos sheets in industries? Please share, as it is very important.

Regards,
Ajay

Asbestos Usage in India vs. Western Countries

It is not banned in India, but it is banned in Western countries. Still, asbestos manufacturing companies exist in India.

Regards,
Pon

I had no accurate answer for your query, so I requested a person who is a researcher in his area. I have copied and pasted the replied email to you, and you may refer to the same.

"My name is ... and I am the coordinator for the Occupational and Environmental Health Network of India (OEHNI). Your query has been forwarded to me by Laurie. In India, there has been a ban on mining of all forms of asbestos. Despite the ban, there are two mines in Andhra Pradesh which continue production of asbestos fibers. The use of asbestos and asbestos products is not banned in India. India imports a large quantity of fibers from countries like Canada, Russia, Zimbabwe, etc. In case you have any more questions, please feel free to write.

Regards, ..."

I do not want to mention the names here, so I have replaced them with dots.

I also have the same query because we want to remove existing asbestos sheets from our site in a phased manner. The same question has been asked of us as well: to show the law, order, or rule that states the use of asbestos sheets is banned in India.

Regards,
Hansa

Well, there is a ban on producing/mining asbestos. However, there is no law in India that has been formed to prevent its use. In fact, India imports asbestos from different countries, even though its use is strictly banned/prohibited by law in other countries.

Legal Status of Asbestos in India

Legally speaking, there is no law against the use of asbestos in India. Nevertheless, most industries have already taken steps to avoid using it. If your company is not concerned about the health of employees and those around them, it may choose to continue using asbestos.

Use of Asbestos in India

Recently, I attended a workshop organized by DGFASLI on 11/02/13. During the workshop, a speaker mentioned that the use of asbestos is still prevalent in India, although mining activities related to asbestos have been banned.

Regards,
Inderjeet Singh

Yes, the use and production of asbestos are not banned in India, despite its perilous health implications. Asbestos is thriving, which raises the question of why it is still allowed in India, considering its harmful effects on health.

I work with an international agricultural research organization in Hyderabad, and we are looking to replace our 40-year-old corrugated asbestos roofing sheets over buildings and sheds in a phased manner in 5-6 years, considering the costs. I am looking for a company/organization with OSHA, EPA, or Indian accreditation (MoEF) to undertake safe removal and disposal of the old asbestos sheets.

Thanks.
Suresh

Mining of asbestos in India is banned. For further queries and assistance on this, please contact [NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MINERS' HEALTH](http://www.nimh.gov.in/).