ICOH Statement on Global Asbestos Ban and the Elimination of Asbestos-related Diseases

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The International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH), as an international non-profitmaking, non-political, multidisciplinary scientific organization, calls for a global ban on the mining, sale and use of all forms of asbestos and for the elimination of asbestos-related diseases. The attached ICOH statement presents this call in view of the current international situations requiring a concerted reinforced effort for achieving a global ban of all forms of asbestos and the elimination of asbestos-related diseases.
ICOH has a sole purpose of fostering the scientific progress, knowledge and development of occupational health and related subjects on an international basis. For this purpose, the attached statement has been compiled based on the review of the relevant international situations with the participation of ICOH Scientific Committees and ICOH members concerned with the asbestos-related issues. We unanimously urge every country to implement a total ban on production and use of asbestos and complementary efforts aimed at primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of asbestos-related diseases through country-specific national programmes in line with ILO and WHO guidelines. The required actions in this regard are presented in the statement.

As mentioned in the statement, achieving a worldwide ban on the mining, sale and use of all forms of asbestos and the elimination of asbestos-related diseases will require that physicians and occupational health personnel responsibly and persistently express their concerns, raise awareness and take necessary action regarding the need to prevent asbestos-related diseases. ICOH pledges to continue to foster global and national collaboration in this endeavor, promoting the active engagement of ICOH members in supporting the collaborative activities. Through our combined effort in accordance with this statement, we sincerely hope to further strengthen close cooperation with our international allies and colleagues worldwide towards achieving the global ban of asbestos and the elimination of asbestos-related diseases.

Kazutaka Kogi
President
International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH)

To consult the final version of the 2013 ICOH statement on global asbestos ban and the elimination of asbestos-related diseases please click here.