National bans and restrictions on asbestos mining, manufacturing and use

As of September 2025, there are 72 countries across the globe that have national bans on the mining, importation, production and use of chrysotile asbestos.

In 2023, the Government of Cambodia released the Occupational Health and Safety Masterplan 2023-2027 which included the announcement to ban the use of asbestos by 2025. This ban is still pending. Cambodia is not a manufacturing country for asbestos-containing products but still imports a significant amount of products (mainly building materials) from other countries and a relatively small amount of raw asbestos for use in textiles.

In 2025, the Government of Malaysia announced it was reviewing a proposal to fully ban the use of asbestos in their country. At 1,700 tonnes in 2023, Malaysia is a small consumer of chrysotile asbestos compared to other countries in the South-East Asian region.

Resources

Chronology of asbestos bans and restrictions

Alphabetical Asbestos Ban List – International Ban Asbestos Secretariat

Third Occupational Safety and Health Master Plan 2023-2027 from the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training in Cambodia

Cambodia 3rd Occupational Safety & Health Master Plan 2023–2027

Malaysia: Govt mulling total ban on asbestos, says Nik Nazmi

Govt Considering Total Asbestos Ban in Malaysia, Says Nik Nazmi – The Star

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