Experience of Japan in Achieving a Total Ban on Asbestos

Sugio Furuya and Ken Takahashi
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Sugio Furuya: Japan Occupational Safety and Health Resource Center, Tokyo 1360071, Japan
Ken Takahashi: Asbestos Diseases Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney 2139, Australia

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 10, 1-10

Abstract: This paper aims to examine the process through which a total ban on asbestos was achieved in Japan. We reconstructed the process, analyzed the roles of involved parties/events, and drew lessons from the Japanese experience of achieving the ban. In Japan, a bill to phase out asbestos was proposed in 1992 but rejected without deliberation. Wide support for such a ban subsequently grew, however, largely due to the actions of trade unions and civil societies in establishing a coalition, raising awareness, organizing asbestos victims and their families, and propagating information on international developments. A governmental decision towards a ban was made in 2002 based on several national and international factors. A huge asbestos scandal in 2005 preponed the achievement of a total ban and led to the establishment of comprehensive measures to tackle asbestos issues. However, challenges remain for the elimination of asbestos-related diseases.

Keywords: asbestos; ban; national experience; international cooperation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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