Asbestos in imported decorative stone products

Since February of this year, Customs and Border Protection has been working with the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and State and Territory work safety authorities to address the potential risks posed by the presence of fibrous tremolite in natural stone tiles from China.

Legislation in some Australian jurisdictions treats the fibrous form of tremolite as being asbestos.

As a result of this work, a significant number of importations have been evaluated for asbestos related risks. Where the potential risks to health and safety warranted it, shipments have been held subject to Customs control until the appropriate course of action could be determined.

Customs and Border Protection also worked with State and Territory health and safety authorities to identify similar goods that had been released into home consumption before the potential risks associated with the product had been identified.

During this time, the various agencies and authorities responsible for administering asbestos related controls and legislation, have reviewed the existing legislative framework, having regard to a wide range of scientific and public health information available since the introduction of the asbestos controls.

As a result of this, and in light of advice received from the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme, it has been agreed across all workplace safety agencies nationally, that the import control should only apply to material displaying "asbestiform" characteristics (i.e. the simple presence of the fibrous form of a certain minerals does not necessarily constitute the presence of asbestos).

Consequently, Customs and Border Protection has released all consignments that were being held where test results confirmed that they did not contain asbestiform tremolite, and will apply this approach to future imports.

Workplace safety authorities in the jurisdictions will be reviewing their legislation and requirements in light of this advice.

It should be noted that health and safety authorities are still concerned about possible health risks associated with the inhalation of fibrous mineral particles, including non-asbestiform tremolite. As a precautionary measure, guidance material has been developed for workplaces and domestic consumers on the appropriate measures to take for minimising the generation of inhalable dust. This guidance is available from your state work place safety authorities.

Anyone who suspects that they have bought, or have used, products which could contain asbestos material should contact their suppliers and/or their state work place safety authorities for further information.

A general Fact Sheet on the operation of the asbestos import control is available from the Customs and Border Protection website.