A decision was handed down Tuesday at the Rotterdam Convention in Rome that confirmed chrysotile asbestos will be left off of the United Nation’s international list of harmful substances. This decision means that Canada, the world’s second largest producer of chrysotile asbestos, will continue to be able to export the harmful substance to developing countries. Despite information that exposure to asbestos can lead to health complications such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis, Canada still maintains the stance that the developing countries they export the asbestos to are able to manage and handle it in a safe manner.  

Back in 2006, Canada was the only western democracy to oppose the substance’s inclusion on the list of harmful substance. The Canadian delegation did not even participate in the meetings this year and, instead, got others to work on their behalf.

In the Canadian Medical Association Journal, Dr. Matthew Stanbrook likened the Canadian government’s support for exporting asbestos to developing countries to the deadly arms trade. Moreover, Stanbrook said he was “deeply disappointed” with the results of the meeting. “This is something we hoped would be an opportunity for Canada to take a stand and make a decision that would benefit the health and welfare of people in the world, especially people who are in the developing world in countries least prepared to cope with the health burden that asbestos imposes everywhere that it’s used.”