BELGIAN SENATE
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SESSION 2004-2005
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9 MARCH 2005
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Draft resolution on a worldwide ban on the production and use of asbestos
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TEXT ADOPTED BY THE SOCIAL AFFAIRS COMMISSION
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The Senate,
A. having regard to the dangers associated with the use of asbestos ;
B. considering that most forms of asbestos are already banned in the European Union and other countries ;
C. considering that chrysotile asbestos is banned everywhere in the European Union by 1 January 2005 ;
D. considering that the asbestos trade moves to other countries which are weaker and less able to fight against the dangers of asbestos ;
E. considering that the use of asbestos and products containing it can, by releasing fibres, cause asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer ; and that marketing and using those substances should therefore be subject to the severest possible restrictions ;
F. considering that substitutes or replacements, which are not classified as carcinogen and considered as less dangerous, are currently available for most of the remaining applications of chrysotile ;
G. considering that no threshold value could yet be established under which exposure to chrysotile poses no risk of cancer ;
H. considering that the exposure of workers and other users of products containing asbestos is extremely difficult to control and, at certain times, can heavily exceed the current limit values, and that such an exposure poses today the highest risk for the development of asbestos-related diseases ;
I. considering that an effective way to protect health consists in banning the use of chrysotile asbestos fibres and products containing chrysotile ;
asks the Government :
1. to take the initiative in launching an action in relevant international forums which should lead to common binding measures regarding a total ban on the production and use of asbestos ;
2. to propose to our European partners to associate in an international campaign aimed at banning the production and use of asbestos ;
3. to think about the possibility to organize a diplomatic conference in Brussels in order to help achieving that goal ;
4. to forward the present resolution to all countries which have not yet banned the production and use of asbestos. |
