Doc. 8008
9 January 1998

Use of chrysotile asbestos

Written Declaration No. 271

This written declaration commits only the members who have signed it

1.       Russia has the world’s deposits of chrysotile asbestos. The Russian chrysotile asbestos does not contain any amphybolic inclusions, which explains its low biological activity in comparison with other varieties of asbestos.

2.       Export of Russian asbestos to 40 countries helps to reduce housing construction costs, to improve water supply, and to ensure employment.

3.       Unfortunately, the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee seems to be getting involved in the anti-asbestos campaign. This may have negative social and economic consequences.

4.       A ban on chrysotile asbestos (as opposed to amphybolic asbestos) is not based on convincing scientific evidence. The ban does not help to combat diseases related to the unregulated use of fibrous asbestos and asbestos flakes in the past. The ban only increases public concern which, although unfounded, grows into a scare.

5.       It is important to ensure, in line with ILO Convention 162, responsible and controlled use of asbestos rather than to ban it.

6.       The use of alternative materials should also be preceded by thorough analysis of possible carcinogenic effect. It would not be correct to equate « asbestos-free » with « environmentally safe ».

7.       Russia is ready to cooperate in research on this difficult medical and biological problem and in assessment of the effects of low doses of chrysotile asbestos.

Signed : ¹

Glotov, Russia, UEL

Chyzh, Ukraine, UEL

Filimonov, Russia, UEL

Kulbaka, Russia, UEL

Kuznetsov, Russia, EPP/CD

Marmazov, Ukraine, UEL

Oleinik, Russia, UEL

Pobedinskaya, Russia, EPP/CD

Popovski, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, SOC

Rakhansky, Ukraine, UEL

Ryabov, Russia, NR

Ustiugov, Russia, EPP/CD

Zhebrovsky, Russia, NR

Zhirinovsky, Russia, NR

_________________

Total = 14

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG:European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL : Group of the Unified European Left

      NR : Not registered in a group