Asbestos was classified as “Group 1: Carcinogenic to humans” by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). More than 50 nations around the world have banned the use of asbestos.
As early as May 1989, Taiwan EPA announced asbestos as “Category 2 toxic chemical substance” in accordance with the Toxic Chemical Substances Control Act (Taiwan TCSCA). Over the years, the use of asbestos in Taiwan has been restricted and a timetable for a complete phase-out of asbestos was formulated.
Taiwan has implemented a blanket ban on the use of asbestos except for use in brake pads which was originally scheduled to be banned from 1 Jul 2018. However, given the risk to public health from exposure to asbestos, the EPA on 10 May of 2017 announced the implementation of the ban on asbestos in brake pads from 1 Jan 2018, half a year earlier than the original schedule dictated. Only enterprise which obtained a license before the announcement can manufacture brake pads using asbestos until that license is expired.
