Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Asbestos Will Stay Off U.N. Watch List

Chrysotile asbestos will stay off a PIC (Prior Informed Consent) list of dangerous UN chemicals said observers attending the Rotterdam Convention talks in Rome this Tuesday. India, Pakistan, Vietnam and the Philippines spoke out opposing it's inclusion. The inclusion of chrysotile asbestos on the PIC list would not mean countries had to ban it's import. It would only have forced exporters to label it as hazardous and inform importing countries. Last year Canada exported $77 million US worth of asbestos (almost 95% of the amount mined.) 43% was shipped to India.

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