Successful Campaign of Banning Asbestos in Nepal

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1 Successful Campaign of Banning Asbestos in Nepal Ram Charitra Sah, Executive Director/Environment Scientist Center for Public Health and Environmental Development (CEPHED), Nayabasti, Iamdol-5. Lalitpur, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel/Fax , Mobile: Web:

2 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.

3 RECOGNITION at NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL PEN AWARD 2011 Grill Entrepreneur Award 2011 Envt. Cons. Award 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 Multistakeholder 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 Best Paper. Award 2015

4 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 to cancer patients in country

5 Magnitude of Asbestos problem in Nepal Import of Asbestos in Nepal Particular (2010 ) (2011) (2012) Asbestos (Kg) Value (NRs) Source: Department of Custom, Government of Nepal Indian Export Asbestos and Related products to Nepal Country Qty (t) Value (IRS 000) Qty (t) Value (IRS 000) A Exports of Asbestos (total) All Countries Nepal 533(95.3%) (82.9%) 390 B. Export of Asbestos (Chrysotile) All Countries Nepal 54(85.7%) (100%) 97 C. Exports of Asbestos (Others) All Countries Nepal 479 (96.6%) (79.4) 292 D Exports of Asbestos Cement Products All Countries Nepal 5226 (13.3%) (6%) 292 Source: Indian Minerals Yearbook 2011, Part II, 50 th Edition, Asbestos, Govt. of India, Ministry of Mines, Indian Bureau of Mines, October 2012, p 8-9

6 Roofing for Houses and Schools Asbestos use in Rural Nepal Children School with asbestos sheet roofing in Janakpur, Nepal Asbestos use in Rural Nepal Massive marketing of Asbestos in Terai region of Nepal

7 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.

8 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 Intervening in Supreme Court for reinstate the government decision. CEPHED Advocacy Letter

9 Campaign for Banning of Asbestos and Succeeded Gazettes Notice 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 20 th June 2015 Spreading the Message for Effectively implementation

10 Massive Media Outreach

11 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

12 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.

13 THANK YOU Say no to Asbestos Be Safe Protect Workers and Environment for future Generation