Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Asbestos production, import and sale to be banned from New Caledonia

Posted at 03:44 on 26 February, 2007 UTC

The New Caledonian government has decided to ban the production, import and sale of asbestos as of April the 1st.

In a statement, it says there will be exemption until the end of 2011 for asbestos still to be found in cars and machinery.

A company dealing with the removal of asbestos says regulation is about ten years behind that in place in France.

It says the problems are substantial as huge quantities have been used in the territory in construction and industry.

New Caledonia also has naturally found asbestos, with studies trying to identify the areas where it is found.