WHITE ASBESTOS AND THE ROTTERDAM CONVENTION

That this House is concerned that white asbestos, although nominated by the Interim Chemical Review Committee for inclusion on the Prior Informed Consent list of the Rotterdam Convention, after years of negotiation was stalled by national governments led by Canada; observes that it met all the Convention's criteria and is recognised as a carcinogen by the European Union, the International Labour Organisation, the World Health Organisation, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the International Programme on Chemical Safety, the World Trade Organisation and the Collegium Ramazzini; notes that white asbestos is being exported in ever greater quantities to the developing world and that the Building Workers International Trade Union reports that asbestos diseases are increasing in Latin America and Asia, particularly in India; and calls on the UK Government to take the lead in pressing for white asbestos to be included in the Rotterdam Convention PIC list as a prelude to a global ban of what has been called the most pervasive environmental hazard in the world.