The BWI and IBAS have just published "Chrysotile asbestos:hazardous to humans, deadly to the Rotterdam Convention". The battle over the categorization of chrysotile asbestos as a hazardous chemical under the terms of the Rotterdam Convention continues to rage.

While the inclusion of chrysotile on the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) list of the Rotterdam Convention does not constitute a ban on global sales, it should enable developing economies to make informed decisions on whether they wish to import a chemical that has been found to be e carcinogenic by the International Labour Organization, the World Health Organization, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the International Programme on Chemical Safety, the Collegium Ramazzini and the World Trade Organization.

These international bodies agree that all types of asbestos are deadly and should not be used. Evidence on the toxicity of chrysotile (white asbestos) led the European Union to ban its use as of January 1, 2005. Most industrialized governments have either banned or seriously restricted the use of chrysotile. And yet, COP1 ?failed to reach consensus? on the inclusion of chrysotile on the PIC list due to the orchestrated opposition of asbestos-producing and consuming stakeholders. The result of discussions held in Geneva in October 2006 will determine whether the global trade in this poisonous substance will continue unhindered for the foreseeable future.

For the paper for the agenda item on asbestos for the meeting to be held in Geneva 9 to 13 October 2006 "Implementation of the Convention: Consideration of a chemical for inclusion in Annex III of the Convention: chrysotile asbestos", see here