Asbestos bans have occurred at different times worldwide:
- In the United States, asbestos use started to be regulated heavily in the 1970s. The EPA attempted a near-complete ban in 1989 with the Asbestos Ban and Phase-Out Rule, but it faced legal challenges and was overturned in 1991. However, on March 18, 2024, the EPA announced a ban specifically on chrysotile asbestos, which is the most common type used. Thus, a significant recent ban in the U.S. happened in 2024.
- Many other countries have banned all forms of asbestos earlier. For example:
- The United Kingdom banned asbestos in 1985 and extended the ban to white asbestos in 1999.
* Australia banned asbestos in 2003.
* Canada banned asbestos in 2018.
* Several European countries completed bans by 2005.
Globally, 66-68 countries (including the entire EU) have banned asbestos in all its forms, with some countries having bans dating back to the 1980s or 1990s, while others are more recent. In summary:
- The U.S. has had partial restrictions since the 1970s, with a full chrysotile asbestos ban coming into effect in 2024.
- Other countries instituted complete bans mostly between the 1980s and early 2000s.
- The global trend is towards full prohibition due to the health risks posed by asbestos exposure.
