Successful Campaign of Banning Asbestos in Nepal

Ram Charitra Sah,

Executive Director/Environment ScientistCenter for Public Health and Environmental Development (CEPHED),

Nayabasti, Iamdol-5. Lalitpur, Kathmandu, Nepal

Tel/Fax 00977-1-5201786, Mobile: 00977-9803047621

Email: ramcharitra@gmail.com , cephed04@yahoo.com

Web: www.cephed.org.np

Center for Public Health and Environmental Development

Established: October 2004

Goal: Improved environment management and public health.

Vision: Bridging people with science and technology for healthy living and environment safety.

Global Linkage: IPEN, HCWH, GAIA, CEH, Toxics Link, ZMWG/EEB, WAMFD, ABAN

Inter/National Recognitions: CEPHED Works in Public health and Envt. Cons. Recognized all over and also serving many task force formed under Government regimes.

1. CEPHED received National and International Awards

2. Success Story in UN Publications and SGP/PRAGATI Pub.

3. Success story in UNDP GEF SGP Publications

4. Research reports covered in Inter/national magazines

5. Nominated as the Member for IECCC, MOFs GEF Multi-

stakeholder Committee.

6. Nominated as Members for Technical Committee formed

for proposing LEAD IN PAINT Standard at MOSTE

7. Success Story of Asbestos banning in ABAN web

RECOGNITION at NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL

PEN AWARD 2011 Grill Entrepreneur Award 2011Envt. Cons. Award 2012

Best Paper. Award

2015

Background• Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state

located in South Asia, is a small, developing country between China and India with the total population around 27 Million and area 147,181 Sq. Km

• In Nepal no Asbestos mining but Larger volume of Asbestos and Asbestos based products are imported, marketed and used.

• Uses in the different rural to urban area for various purposes, e.g. roofing

• Health and environment implications out of these decade long use and mishandling as well as poor waste management of asbestos.

• Known Mesothelmia cases were found.

• 35000 to 40000 cancer patients in country

Magnitude of Asbestos problem in Nepal

Import of Asbestos in Nepal Particular 2067-2068 (2010 ) 2068-2069 (2011) 2069-2070 (2012)

Asbestos (Kg) 1554630 1244081 1195585

Value (NRs) 10135000 8454000 7560000

Source: Department of Custom , Government of Nepal

Indian Export Asbestos and Related products to Nepal

Country2009-2010 2010-2011

Qty (t) Value (IRS 000) Qty (t) Value (IRS 000)

A Exports of Asbestos (total)

All Countries 559 1601 252 698

Nepal 533(95.3%) 1209 209 (82.9%) 390

B. Export of Asbestos (Chrysotile)

All Countries 63 805 43 97

Nepal 54(85.7%) 781 43(100%) 97

C. Exports of Asbestos (Others)

All Countries 496 796 209 601

Nepal 479 (96.6%) 427 166 (79.4) 292

D Exports of Asbestos Cement Products

All Countries 39389 547369 46882 606450

Nepal 5226 (13.3%) 81780 2612 (6%) 292

Source: Indian Minerals Yearbook 2011, Part II, 50th Edition, Asbestos, Govt. of India,

Ministry of Mines, Indian Bureau of Mines , October 2012, p 8-9

Roofing for Houses and Schools

Children School with asbestos sheet roofing in Janakpur, NepalAsbestos use in Rural Nepal

Asbestos use in Rural NepalMassive marketing of Asbestos in

Terai region of Nepal

Objective

• To share the learning experiences and strategies adopted towards successful campaign of Asbestos banning in Nepal potential to replicate in other countries with similar situation.

Campaign Strategy

1. Study & Engaged with issues

2. National profile Preparation

3. Problem Identification

4. Writing to the Concern Government agencies

5. Follow up & Monitoring

6. Government banned Import, Sale, Distribution and Uses of Asbestos on 22 Dec. 2014, effective from 20 June 2015.

7. Intervening in Supreme Court for reinstate the government decision.

CEPHED Advocacy Letter

Campaign for Banning of Asbestos and Succeeded

Spreading the Message for Effectively implementation

Government of Nepal as per the

provision of Environment

Protection Act 1997, Art. 7 (3)

banned the import, sale,

distribution and use of

Asbestos , Corrugated, Non

Corrugated sheet, Tiles,

Insulators etc., all asbestos and

asbestos containing materials

except asbestos lining of Brake

Shoe & Clutch plate by

notification published in Nepal

Gazette (Khand 64, No. 30, Part

5, Notice no. 4). Banning is

effective from 20th June 2015Gazettes Notice

Massive Media Outreach

Country policies and Regulations related to Asbestos

A. International Policies and Regulations– ILO Resolution concerning asbestos 2006– Party to three major Chemical Conventions: POPs, Basel

and Rotterdam – Adopted SAICM

B. National Policies and Regulations• Interim Constitution 2007: Fundamental right to health and environment • Environment Protection Act 1997 and Environment Protection Regulation

1997 (EIA provision for Asbestos related Industries).• Labor Act 1992: workers health and safety issues well addressed • Industrial Enterprises Act 1992 • Town Development Act, 1988 etc• Labour and Employment Policy 2005 : decent, safe and healthy work opportunities,

committee, reporting and manual development on health and safety

• Nepal National Building Codes 1994: IS marked material including Asbestos

Conclusion and Recommendation

1. The evidence and research based advocacy campaign along with the working together with the concerned government agencies leads to banning of Asbestos and Asbestos based products in Nepal.

2. It is time for their effective implementation by all.

3. Similar campaign strategies can be replicated to address many carcinogenic chemicals like asbestos and occupational exposure related problem in other part of the world.

4. There is an urgent need to massive disseminate the campaign results and progress of asbestos banning.

5. Continuous support needed for required increased engagement in court cases, monitoring and massive public awareness.

THANK YOU

Protect Workers and Environment

for future Generation

Be Safe

Say no to

Asbestos