S. Korea to virtually ban use of asbestos in manufactured goods

By Lee Youkyung
SEOUL, June 29 (Yonhap) -- The government announced Monday that it will introduce
stricter regulations on the use of asbestos in industrial products in a move to
address ongoing nationwide concerns over products found to contain the
carcinogenic material, including baby powder.
In April, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy vowed to establish regulations on
asbestos as some domestic balloons and wallpaper as well as Chinese bicycle
break-pads were found to be contaminated with the toxic material that can cause
lung cancer.
The Korea Food and Drug Administration also imposed a ban the same month on the
sales of imported baby powder and some domestic cosmetic and medical products
that were confirmed to contain asbestos or talcum containing excessive levels of
the toxic substance.
Under the new regulations, which will put into effect in September, manufacturers
will be banned from using asbestos in powder-type products such as chalks, and
from using talcum that contains more than 0.1 percent of asbestos, the ministry
said.
"The new regulations, which will virtually ban the use of asbestos in industrial
products, apply to both domestic and imported goods," a ministry official said.

ylee@yna.co.kr
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