Stopping the Asbestos Death Trade in Vietnam

August 18, 2015 in Latest News

APHEDA started working on asbestos in Vietnam in 2010. In the last 5 years, the situation has changed quite considerably. What was then an unknown issue and difficult to discuss publicly is now getting a high level of attention.

There have been two letters circuated by the Deputy Prime Minister, Hoàng Trung Hải in September and December 2014 as well as a workshop at the National Assembly in July 2014. One of his letters to Ministries promoting a ban on asbestos by 2020 is linked to the decision for Vietnam not to oppose the listing of chrysotile in Annex III of the Rotterdam Convention in May 2015. The Rotterdam Convention requires countries exporting products listed in its Annex III to provide information on the dangers of the product to the importing countries. This was a significant change in position, Vietnam had been aligned with Russia in opposing the listing even though it had not been a country exporting chrysotile. Read more

Courtesy: Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA