Asbestos Building Material Regulations, Bans, Dates, Rules & Laws

Current & historic asbestos regulations & asbestos laws around the world

Asbestos Bans, Rules, Regulations Guide: this article describes current asbestos exposure & handling regulations and lists the history of asbestos law and regulations for most countries.

We include a list of countries where asbestos containing materials or products (ACM) are banned in various forms.

Page top photo: corrugated cement asbestos roofing on a building in Herefordshire, England, UK.

We provide a summary of OSHA regulations for asbestos containing building materials, including assumed asbestos containing building materials (roofing, flooring, insulation, drywall, etc), suspected asbestos containing materials, and assumed asbestos containing materials.

These guidelines also address the handling of asbestos containing building materials, including the permissible exposure limits for asbestos particles or fibers in buildings (Asbestos PELs), ACM (asbestos containing materials), PACM (presumed asbestos containing materials), SACM (suspect asbestos containing materials), and ACRM (asbestos containing roofing materials).

Asbestos Containing Materials: Regulations, Bans, Exposure Limits

In the U.S. and other countries, using the U.S. EPA guidelines, if either TEM or PLM analysis yields a result that the asbestos-suspect material contains greater than 1 percent asbestos, then the material must be considered ACM - "Asbestos-Containing-Material" and thus would merit appropriate protective measures depending on the material's friability, condition and location.

- U.S. EPA, ASBESTOS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS [PDF] cited in the REFERENCES section of this article.

Photo: presumed-asbestos-containing material (PACM) in perforated acoustic ceiling tiles found above a suspended ceiling.

Really? In the U.S. OSHA regulations and letters clarifying them also state that items or materials that do not contain >1% asbestos are covered to at least some extent by the Construction Asbestos Standard.

That is, in the workplace, OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1101 would apply even if neither asbestos permissible exposure limit (PEL) is exceeded 1. The standard contains numerous work practice requirements and prohibitions which apply, regardless of the exposure levels.

However, only two of the requirements and three of the prohibitions must be observed in the case of work activities involving installed construction materials that do not contain >1% asbestos. Details from OSHA are given later in this article.

That same US EPA reference and many others also remark that

Asbestos that is in good condition and left undisturbed is unlikely to present a health risk. The risks from asbestos occur when it is damaged or disturbed where asbestos fibers become airborne and can be inhaled.

Managing asbestos in place and maintaining it in good repair is often the best approach.

Article Contents

• HISTORY & DATES OF ASBESTOS CONTAINING MATERIAL BANS & REGULATIONS
• COUNTRIES THAT BAN OR REGULATE THE USE OR PRODUCTION OF ASBESTOS
• DEFINITION OF & HANDLING RULES FOR SUSPECT ASBESTOS CONTAINING MATERIALS (SACM)
• DEFINITION OF & HANDLING RULES FOR PRESUMED ASBESTOS CONTAINING MATERIAL (PACM)
• ASBESTOS EXPOSURE LIMITS (PELS) TLVs RBCs & RELs
• MOST COMMON OCCURRENCES OF ASBESTOS IN BUILDING
• WORKER NOTIFICATION of PRESENCE of ASBESTOS or ASBESTOS REMEDIATION

History & Dates of Asbestos Containing Material Bans & Regulations & Related Occupational Safety Regulatory History

• 2024 US EPA Updated History of Asbestos Bans & Regulations in the U.S. [PDF] at the US EPA website
• 2024: Netherlands prohibition of asbestos roofing materials - must be removed by 2024
• 2022: U.S. EPA proposed ban on ongoing uses of asbestos [status uncertain as of July 2022 - Ed.]
  
  EPA ACTIONS TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM EXPOSURE TO ASBESTOS [PDF] (18 July 2022) - retrieved 2022/07/22 original source: https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/epa-actions-protect-public-exposure-asbestos
  Excerpt:
  April 2022 EPA’s Proposed Ban of Ongoing Uses of Asbestos will, if finalized, protect American workers and families by prohibiting ongoing uses of the only known form of asbestos currently imported into the U.S. to address the unreasonable risk found to human health in the December 2020 chrysotile asbestos risk evaluation.
  
  The proposed rule would prohibit manufacture (including import), processing, distribution in commerce, and commercial use of chrysotile asbestos for all ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos. EPA is proposing this risk management rule under section 6(a) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
  
  This proposed rule is the first-ever risk management rule issued under the new process for evaluating and addressing the safety of existing chemicals under re-authorized TSCA. EPA extended the comment period by 30 days and accepted comments on the proposed rule until July 13, 2022.
  
  Below is the proposal
  
  ASBESTOS PART 1: CHRYSOTILE ASBESTOS; REGULATION OF CERTAIN CONDITIONS OF USE UNDER SECTION 6(A) OF THE TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL ACT(TSCA) [PDF]
• ASBESTOS PRODUCTS BANNED vs PERMITTED U.S. 2023 - pending the update described above, the items listed on this page may contain asbestos
• 2020: US EPA December 2020 Final Risk Evaluation for Asbestos, Part 1: Chrysotile Asbestos, found unreasonable risks to human health for all ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos.
• 2019: U.S EPA, LIST OF USES COVERED UNDER APRIL 2019 FINAL RULE; RESTRICTIONS ON DISCONTINUED USES OF ASBESTOS [PDF] (2019), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, original source: https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/list-uses-covered-under-april-2019-final-rule-restrictions-discontinued-uses-asbestos
  
  In April 2019, EPA issued a final rule that strengthens the Agency’s ability to rigorously review an expansive list of asbestos products that are no longer on the market before they could be sold again in the United States. This action gives EPA the authority to prohibit the use of these products or put in place restrictions to protect public health.
  
  Under the April 2019 Final Rule:
  
  The public is protected from uses of asbestos that are no longer on the market and are not covered under any other laws or regulations.
  
  Products like certain asbestos vinyl floor tiles, insulation, and other building materials, as well as clothing and manufacturing products, are prohibited from being produced and sold before EPA reviews them and puts in place any necessary restrictions or prohibits use.
  
  EPA is not allowing new uses of asbestos.
  
  Persons subject to the rule are required to notify EPA at least 90 days before commencing any manufacturing, importing, or processing of asbestos or asbestos-containing products covered under the rule. These uses are prohibited until EPA conducts a thorough review of the notice and puts in place any necessary restrictions, including prohibiting use.
  
  Uses of asbestos covered under the partial 1989 ban will remain banned. T
  
  his rule keeps these prohibitions in place and would not amend them in any way. In other words, this action does not provide a means by which these prohibited products could return to the marketplace.
  
  Excerpts:
  The following table contains a list of the products covered under EPA’s April 2019 final rule to ensure that asbestos products that are no longer on the market cannot return to commerce without the Agency evaluating them and putting in place any necessary restrictions or prohibiting use.
  
  This table includes:
  
  Any use of asbestos not otherwise identified:
  
  Except those uses prohibited under § 763.165 (i.e. Corrugated Paper, Rollboard, Commercial Paper Specialty Paper, Flooring Felt and New Uses (the manufacture, importation or processing of which would be initiated for the first time after August 25, 1989)) and uses of imported chrysotile (including as part of an article) that are currently ongoing in the United States (i.e. diaphragms; sheet gaskets; oilfield brake blocks; aftermarket automotive brakes/linings; other vehicle friction products; and other gaskets).
  
  Summary of the Proposed Rule
  
  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to address the unreasonable risk of injury to health it has identified for conditions of use of chrysotile asbestos following completion of the TSCA Risk Evaluation for Asbestos, Part 1: Chrysotile Asbestos.
  
  TSCA requires that EPA address the unreasonable risks of injury to health and environment by rule and to apply requirements to the extent necessary so that chrysotile asbestos no longer presents such risks.
  
  Therefore, to address the unreasonable risk identified in the TSCA Risk Evaluation for Asbestos, Part 1 from chrysotile asbestos, EPA is proposing to prohibit manufacture (including import), processing, distribution in commerce and commercial use of chrysotile asbestos for chrysotile asbestos diaphragms for use in the chlor-alkali industry, chrysotile asbestos-containing sheet gaskets used in chemical production, chrysotile asbestos-containing brake blocks used in the oil industry, aftermarket automotive chrysotile asbestos-containing brakes/linings, other chrysotile asbestos-containing vehicle friction products, and other chrysotile asbestos-containing gaskets.
  
  EPA also is proposing to prohibit manufacture (including import), processing, and distribution in commerce of aftermarket automotive chrysotile asbestos-containing brakes/linings for consumer use, and other chrysotile asbestos-containing gaskets for consumer use.
  
  EPA is also proposing disposal and recordkeeping requirements for these conditions of use.
  
  
• 2018/10/01 Current (new) Canadian asbestos regulations:
  
  PROHIBITION OF ASBESTOS AND PRODUCTS CONTAINING ASBESTOS REGULATIONS: SOR/2018-196 [PDF] Canada Gazette, Part II, Volume 152, Number 21 retrieved 2019/02/02 original source: http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2018/2018-10-17/html/sor-dors196-eng.html
  
  Also see CANADA ASBESTOS REGULATIONS
• 2018/08/11: New US EPA Rules Limit Asbestos Regulations in the U.S.
  
  Friedman, Lisa, "E.P.A. Emails Reveal Clash Over Asbestos", The New York Times, retrieved 2018/08/10, original source: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/10/climate/epa-asbestos-rule.html
  This article appeared in print in the New York Times p. B1, B4, on 2018/08//11, titled: " E.P.A. Emails Reveal Clash Over Asbestos".
  
  Excerpts: Top officials at the Environmental Protection Agency pushed through a measure to review applications for using asbestos in consumer products, and did so over the objections of E.P.A.’s in-house scientists and lawyers, internal agency emails show.
  
  The clash over the proposal exposes the tensions within the E.P.A. over the Trump administration’s efforts to roll back environmental rules and rewrite other regulations that industries have long fought.
  
  The E.P.A. says it is toughening oversight. However, the way its new rule is written has spawned a spirited debate over whether it will actually make it easier for asbestos to come back into more widespread use. Consumer groups say the agency should be looking for ways to prohibit asbestos entirely.
  
  “The new approach raises significant concerns about the potential health impacts,” wrote Sharon Cooperstein, an E.P.A. policy analyst, in one of the emails. She, along with a veteran E.P.A. scientist and a longtime agency attorney, said the proposal as designed left open the possibility that businesses could start using asbestos in some cases without getting the government’s assessment, putting the public at risk.
  
  “Upper management asked us to take a different approach,” wrote Robert T. Courtnage, an associate chief in E.P.A.’s Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, in an April 25 email sent to 13 members of an agency group working on the then-forthcoming proposal.
  
  Specifically: Rather than call for all new uses of asbestos to come before the E.P.A. for a risk review, the rule would include just 15 specific uses that would trigger a federal assessment.
  
  The list of 15 included a number of specific and relatively common uses for asbestos, including as separators in fuel cells and batteries and as a component in vinyl-asbestos floor tile and high-grade electrical paper.
  
  Watch out: OPINION: The extensive list asbestos products at ASBESTOS LIST of PRODUCTS shows a very wide range of uses.
  
  There is in our view [DF] no way that a list of fifteen specific uses of asbestos could possibly cover nor anticipate this enormous range of uses of asbestos.
  
  The result risks un-regulated re-appearance of asbestos in consumer and other products, some of which could expose people to dangerous levels of asbestos.
  
  Those risks are exacerbated further by significant variations in asbestos particle shedding into the air that occurs between the manufacture, distribution, use, aging, demolition, or deterioration of asbestos-containing products.
  
  On 2018/08/12 We sent the following comments to the NY Times Reporter
  
  
  Thank you for this very important report. I have been collecting, studying and reporting on sources of asbestos in and around buildings since 1985. Based on that experience my opinion is that no list of 15 uses of asbestos could possibly anticipate the enormous range of asbestos-containing products that has already appeared.
  
  The result risks and in fact pretty much assures the un-regulated re-appearance of asbestos in consumer and other products, some of which are likely to expose people to dangerous levels of asbestos.
  
  Those risks are exacerbated further by significant variations in asbestos particle shedding into the air that occurs between the manufacture, distribution, use, aging, demolition, or deterioration of asbestos-containing products.
  
  Take a look at ASBESTOS LIST of PRODUCTS at https://inspectapedia.com/hazmat/Asbestos_Products.php where I list well over 1000 uses and locations of asbestos in products. In that article I link to more-detailed descriptions of many of those products including asbestos in rather unusual and un-anticipated places that normal people would not imagine.
  
  That website and that article are my work. I have assisted Times reporters with work previously, and if I can help you research future articles don't hesitate to ask Respectfully Daniel Friedman, editor, publisher, InspectApedia.com
• 2018: Current U.S. Asbestos Exposure Limits: see 2016 below
• 2017: Brazil bans asbestos use in these municipalities: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, Pernambuco, Mato Grosso, Minas Gerais, Santa Catarina, Pará, Maranhão and Amazonas.
  
  Ukraine approved legislation to ban the sue of all types of asbestos.
• 2016 Canada: 2016/12/15, announced asbestos ban to take effect in 2018
  
  U.S. EPA, ASBESTOS HAZARD SUMMARY 1332-21-4 (Updated), retrieved 2018/06/13, original source: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-10/documents/asbestos.pdf
  
  In 2010, there were two U.S. suppliers of asbestos and most of the asbestos used in the U.S. is imported from Canada. ... EPA has classified asbestos as a Group A, known human carcinogen.
  ...
  Many uses [of asbestos, but not all uses] have been prohibited, including the spraying of asbestos-containing material on buildings and structures for fireproofing, insulation and decorative purposes, asbestos inclusion in patching compounds and asbestos heat shields in hair dryers. Asbestos substitutes continue to be developed.
  
  For example, nonasbestos friction materials are currently being used in disc brake pads, and substitutes have been developed for drum brake linings.
  
  Asbestos has been detected in indoor air, where it is released from a variety of building materials such as insulation and ceiling and floor tiles.
  
  It is only released, however, when these building materials are damaged or disintegrate.
  
  Netherlands: 2016/01/04 announced subsidies for removal of asbestos roofing, all to be removed by 2024
• 2015 Korea total ban of asbestos 2015/04/01
• 2014: Argentina permit for limited use of asbestos-containing materials expired
  
  Hong Kong: 2014/01/22 (declared in 2013) bans import and transshipment of all forms of asbestos
  
  Nepal asbestos ban 2014/12/22
  
  Thailand asbestos prohibition support by ministries of interior and public health
• 2012 U.K. ASBESTOS: The SURVEY GUIDE [PDF], (2012) U.K. HSE, Health and Safety Executive, Website: www.hse.gov.uk
  
  This heavily illustrated publication replaces and expands on MDHS100, Surveying, sampling and assessment of asbestos-containing materials.
  
  It is aimed at people carrying out asbestos surveys and people with specific responsibilities for managing asbestos in non-domestic premises under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.
  
  The book covers competence and quality assurance and surveys, including: survey planning, carrying out surveys, the survey report and the dutyholder’s use of the survey information. It includes extensive appendices and references. - retrieved 2018/06/13, original source http://www.hse.gov.uk/pUbns/priced/hsg264.pdf)
  
  Mckenna, Alan. THE LEGAL OUTLOOK IN 2012 FOR ASBESTOS CLAIMANTS [PDF] British Asbestos Newsletter 85 (2012)
  
  China recommends asbestos substitutes 2012/12/27
  
  Malaysia: bans import of all forms of asbestos except chrysotile
  
  Taiwan asbestos ban: 2/2/2012
  
  Japan asbestos ban: 3/1/2012
• 2011 Turkey banned all asbestos in 2011. [26]
• 2008-2009: Waldman, Linda. AS SAFE AS HOUSES? DEALING WITH ASBESTOS IN SOCIAL HOUSING A REPORT FOR UCATT: asbestos diseases in South Africa and the UK. [PDF] (June 2009 & 2008). retrieved 22018/0/07 original source: https://www.ucatt.org.uk/files/publications/UCATT%20Report%20Asbestos%202009.pdf
• 2005 ASBESTOS REGULATIONS for ONTARIO CANADA  -  Ontario Regulation 278/05
• 2003 EPA Asbestos Materials Bans: Clarification 2003 update
• 2003 E.U. directive 2003/18/EC banned all use of asbestos. [57]
  
  

  EPA ASBESTOS MATERIALS BANS CLARIFICATION - 2003

• 2002-2011: New Zealand banned white chrisotile asbestos.
• 2000: U.S. ATSDR issues statements summarizing the public health hazards of asbestos
  
  ATSDR, PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT, ASBESTOS [PDF] CAS#: 1332-21-4, US Dept. of Health & Human Services, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Division of Toxicology/Toxicology Information Branch, 1600 Clifton Road NE, E-29, Atlanta, Georgia 30333 USA, retrieved 2018/06/13, original source: https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ToxProfiles/tp61-c1-b.pdfz
  
  Discussed in this excellent summary about asbestos:
  
  What is asbestos?
  
  What happens to asbestos when it enters the environment?
  
  How might I be exposed to asbestos?
  
  How can asbestos enter and leave my body?
  
  How can asbestos affect my health?
  
  How can asbestos affect children?
  
  How can families reduce the risk of exposure to asbestos?
  
  Is there a medical test to determine whether or not I have been exposed to asbestos?
  
  What recommendations has the federal government made to protect human health?
  
  ATSDR, TOXICOLOGICAL PROFILE FOR ASBESTOS (TP-61) [PDF], (2001) US Dept. of Health & Human Services, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Division of Toxicology/Toxicology Information Branch, 1600 Clifton Road NE, E-29, Atlanta, Georgia 30333 USA, retrieved 2018/06/13, original source: https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp61.pdf
• 1999: ASBESTOS MATERIAL REGULATIONS Update US EPA 1999. This document makes clear that EPA has no existing bans on asbestos-containing products other than items listed in this document: ACM ceiling tiles were not banned. Note: however because of public resistance to purchase or use of ACM products, many manufacturers discontinued of asbestos in various products, particularly after 1976. Check the individual product MSDS for confirmation of its content. - Ed.
  
  In 1999 Great Britain banned the sale or re-use of white asbestos (chrysotile). The UK The Asbestos (Prohibitions) (Amendment) regulations came into force on November 24, 1999 [26] Chrysotile (white asbestos) had been permitted in the UK.
  
  Statutory Instrument No. 2373 banned the import of crude fiber, flake, powder or waste chrysotile and the new use of asbestos cement, boards, panels, tiles and other products. Chrysotile-containing products installed prior to November 24, 1999 could remain in place until they reached the end of their service life. The sale of second-hand asbestos cement products and building materials with asbestos-containing coatings was forbidden. [57]
  
  Kazan-Allen. L. UNITED KINGDOM BANS CHRYSOTILE [PDF] (1999) British Asbestos Newsletter, Issue 36: Autumn 1999. retrieved 2018/02/07 original source: http://www.britishasbestosnewsletter.org/ban36.htm
  
  
• 1992 Expiration of the 1986 temporary OSHA stay was on 30 Msy 1992. Pursuant to the stay and its extension, the standard, covering tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite were to remain in effect as they had applied to minerals under the previous standard. The 1972 standard was republished as 29 CFR 1910.1101 (1987).
• 1990 OSHA Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposing to remove non-asbestiform tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite from the scope of the revised standards for Asbestos. OSHA also presented and requested comment on various alternatives for regulating non-asbestiform ATA. The Administration Stay was extended to May 30, 1992

Banned Forms of Asbestos in the U.S. - 1989

• 1989: EPA ASBESTOS MATERIAL BANS -1989 - later referred to as the 1989 Partial Ban on the manufacture, import, processing, and distribution of some asbestos-containing products. EPA also banned new uses of asbestos which prevent new asbestos products from entering the marketplace after August 25, 1989. These uses remain banned. The April 2019 rule does not provide a way for these uses to return to the marketplace.
  
  Excerpt:
  Under the 1989 rule Asbestos: Manufacture, Importation, Processing, and Distribution in Commerce Prohibitions (54 FR 29460, July 12, 1989) (FRL-3476-2), five uses of asbestos and any “new use” – defined by that rule as uses of asbestos for which the manufacture, importation, or processing would be initiated for the first time after August 25, 1989 – are banned in the United States.
  
  The manufacture, importation, processing, and distribution of the following asbestos-containing products are banned under TSCA.
  
  Corrugated paper
  Rollboard
  Commercial paper
  Specialty paper
  Flooring felt
  New commercial uses that begin after August 25, 1989
  
  Under the Clean Air Act (CAA), the following asbestos-containing uses are banned.
  
  Asbestos pipe insulation and asbestos block insulation on facility components, such as boilers and hot water tanks, if the materials are either pre-formed (molded) and friable or wet-applied and friable after drying.
  
  Spray-applied surfacing asbestos-containing materials Spray-on application of materials containing more than 1% asbestos to buildings, structures, pipes, and conduits unless certain conditions specified under 40 CFR 61, Subpart MEXITEXIT EPA WEBSITE are met.
  
  Under the Consumer Product Safety Act (Consumer Product Safety Commission), asbestos in artificial fireplace embers and wall patching compounds are banned.
  
  Under the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), asbestos-containing filters in pharmaceutical manufacturing, processing and packing are banned.
• 1989: Augustyniak, Christine. Regulatory Impact Analysis of Controls on Asbestos and Asbestos Products [PDF] (1989). ICF Incorporated, Fairfax VA, for the US EPA, Office of Toxic Substances,
• 1986 OSHA granted a temporary stay insofar as the standards applied to non-asbestiform tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite (51 FR 37002).
  
  In 1986 OSHA set a permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 0.2 fibers per cubic centimeter (f/cc) of air over an 8-hour time-weighted average exposure period.
• 1985: U.K. ban on Amosite & Crocidolite forms of asbestos [57]
• 1983 OSHA issued an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) for asbestos, lowering the permissible exposure limit from 2 fibers per cubic centimeter (2 f/cc) to 0.5 f/cc (48 FR 51086, November 4, 1983). [55]
• 1981-1991: New Zealand banned the import of raw amphibole (blue & brown) asbestos in 1984. Great Britain banned blue & brown asbestos materials in 1985. In 1989 : US EPA issued its "Asbestos Ban and Phase Out Rule", later overturned in court in 1991, thus continuing to permit asbestos in many products. Australia introduced a ban on all ACM in 1991 (in-stock materials continued to be sold) [28]
• 1976: E.U. ban on marketing & use of chrysotile asbestos [26]
• 1975 OSHA proposed to reduce the PEL and otherwise revise and tighten the asbestos standard to protect employees against carcinogenic effects of asbestos (40 FR 47652, October 9, 1975). [55]
• 1972 OSHA issued a permanent asbestos exposure standard. Quoting OSHA: OSHA conducted rulemaking and issued a permanent standard under section 6(b) of the OSH Act, which regulated occupational exposure to asbestos. The standard defined asbestos as chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite, tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite [29 CFR 1910.93a (later renumbered as Section 1910.1001); 37 FR 11318, June 7, 1972].
  
  Note: Because the 1972 standard did not distinguish between asbestiform and non-asbestiform ATA, OSHA began to inspect employers whose employees were exposed to either mineralogic variety. [55]
• 1971 OSHA issued emergency regulations for asbestos exposure. Quoting OSHA: OSHA first regulated asbestos on 1971 when, under authority of section 6(a) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, it adopted the existing Federal standard for asbestos under the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act. [54][55]
  
  The Occupational Safety & Health Act was passed into law;
  NIOSH founded
• 1970: The Celotex Corporation of America introduced an isocyanurate foam ceiling tile [11] (not an asbestos-containing product). Asbestos widely used as fireproofing in roofs, floors, ceilings.[28] In the U.S.
  OSHA began functioning in the U.S. at the very end this year (29 December) but did not issue asbestos regulations until 1971.[54][55]
• 1967: U.S. Gypsum ceiling tiles, reported produced using ingredients that included asbestos from 1967-1976[29]
• 1953: National Gypsum recommends acoustic plaster mixers wear respirators
• 1934 U.S. Bureau of Labor Standards created [56]
• 1927-1944: asbestos health hazards & fatalities reported in the U.S. The U.S. government began regulating asbestos exposure in 1926.
• 1913 U.S. Department of Labor established [56]
• 1907: first testimony of illness or death due to asbestos exposure [27], though there had been studies of asbestos-related illness before 1900 [28]
• 1903, the U.S. Bureau of Labor began publishing detailed studies of occupational fatalities and illnesses in the dusty trades [56]
• 1877 Massachusetts passed the nation’s first safety and health legislation, requiring the guarding of belts, shafts, and gears, protection on elevators, and adequate fire exits in factories. [56]

Australian, New Zealand, & Japan Regulation of Asbestos Containing Products

According to the Government of South Australia SafeWork SA,

• The use of all types of asbestos in the amphibole group was banned in the mid 1980s.
• Chrysotile asbestos was banned on 31 December 2003

According to Australian contractor Bill Bradley, referring to Fibro asbestos-cement roofing, "Only cement sheet products made before 1987 contain the deadly stuff.  In NSW, for example, the use of it was discontinued in cement sheets by 1982, in corrugated sheets by 1984 and in all other products by 1986. Products containing it have been totally banned in Australia since 2004."

In Japan asbestos production peaked in 1974 but did not significantly drop before 1990. - citation needed beyond Wikipedia

New Zealand banned the import of amphibole asbestos in 1984, and banned chrysotile asbestos in 2002

See details at ASBESTOS PRODUCTS in AUSTRALIA

See details at ASBESTOS FLOORING IDENTIFICATION 1950's or LATER in New Zealand

See details at PINEX CEILING TILES - in New Zealand

Complete List of Countries that Ban or Regulate the Use or Production of Asbestos

List of Countries Banning All Asbestos Use & Production as of 2005

• Chile
• Cyprus
• Finland
• Ireland - In Ireland, laws phasing out asbestos were first passed in 1994 and again 1998; a complete ban came into effect in 2004.
  
  For wall products, 2004 is the safest date but actually if your drywall was installed after 1994 it's not likely to have asbestos. To be certain you need accurate dates for your drywall or you need to have a sample tested.
• Kuwait
• Latvia
• Malta
• Monaco
• New Zealand - banned the import of amphibole asbestos in 1984, and banned chrysotile asbestos in 2002.
• Norway
• Slovenia
• Sweden