On September 26, the official diary of Peru “El Peruano” published a draft regulation from the Health Ministry on a general asbestos ban in Peru. The draft is submitted to a 30 days consultation. It will be probably adopted before the end of October 2005. Peru would be the fifth Latin American State with an asbestos ban (after Uruguay, Chile, Argentina and Honduras). Presently Peru imports about 1000 tons of asbestos per year. Asbestos is used mainly for the fabrication of cement products used in the houses of the poorest sector of the population. Asbestos is also used in the car industry (for manufacturing breaks) and for some textile products.

The same regulation will set a exposure occupational limit value of 0.1 fiber/cc for the workers exposed to asbestos. For years, Peruvian trade unions and environmental groups have been fighting for an asbestos ban. The government was hesitating and was put under intense pressure by the Canadian pro-asbestos campaign.

• Text of the draft regulation