JOINT CIRCULAR

GUIDING THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS IN THE USE OF ASBESTOS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PRODUCTS AND MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES

In furtherance of the Law on Environmental Protection adopted on December 27, 1994 by the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and Official Dispatch No.5176/KGVX of October 14, 1996 of the Government Office on "proposal of the ban on use of asbestos in the manufacture of construction materials", the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment and the Ministry of Construction hereby jointly provide guidance on "environmental protection requirements in the use of asbestos in the manufacture of products and materials and construction activities" for the establishments which are operating throughout the country.

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS:

The terms used in this Joint Circular shall be understood as follows:

1. Asbestos means fibrous fossiliferous silicate minerals, including:

- Serpentine mineral group: Chrysotile (3MgO.SiO2.H2O) or white asbestos;

- Amphibole mineral group, including: Actinolite (2CaO.4MgO.FeO.8SiO2.H2O), Amosite (5.5FeO.1.5MgO.8SiO2.H2O) or brown asbestos, Anthophylite (7MgO.8SiO2.H2O), Crocidolite (Na2O.Fe2O3.3FeO.8SiO2.H2O) or blue asbestos and Tremolite (2CaO.5MgO.8SiO2.H2O).

2. "Asbestos fiber" means asbestos fibers with a width of less than 3mm and a length/width ratio of 3/1 or more.

II. REGARDING THE USE OF ASBESTOS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS AND MATERIALS

1. It is prohibited to manufacture, in any form and on any scale, products containing asbestos and asbestos materials in Amphibole mineral group, including: Actinolite, Crocidolite, Amosite, Anthophylite and Tremolite.

2. The establishments which use asbestos and manufacture products and/or materials containing asbestos shall have to comply with the following regulations:

a) To use Chrysotile asbestos as raw materials only for the manufacture of products and materials containing asbestos;

b) To ensure that the concentration of Chrysotile asbestos fiber in the production areas does not exceed 1 fiber/ml air (average level in 8 hours) and 2 fibers/ml air (average level in one hour).

c) Not to let packages of Chrysotile asbestos raw materials tear off or drop along transport routes.

d) To provide periodical health monitoring examinations and X-ray radiography according to the Ministry of Health’s current regulations for all officials and employees and record the results thereof at such establishments.

e) To elaborate and submit the environmental impact assessment reports to the agency(ies) in charge of State management over environmental protection for evaluation as prescribed by law before March 31, 1999.

III. REGARDING THE USE OF CHRYSOTILE ASBESTOS AND PRODUCTS AND MATERIALS CONTAINING CHRYSOTILE ASBESTOS IN CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES

1. It is prohibited to use Chrysotile asbestos as stuffing, padding or heat-insulating materials in construction projects. For industrial projects and/or equipment that require heat insulation and fire resistance with Chrysotile asbestos, adhesives should be used to keep Chrysotile asbestos fibers from diffusing in the air.

2. Necessary measures must be taken to control the emission of Chrysotile asbestos dust from such activities as sawing, grinding, carving, cutting... products containing Chrysotile asbestos.

3. Environmental protection plans must be worked out before starting the dismantlement, repair or renovation of industrial projects and/or equipment containing Chrysotile asbestos.

4. Discard containing Chrysotile asbestos must be gathered and transported to the prescribed places; such discard must not be used as road-surfacing materials.

IV. IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

1. The Environment Department of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment shall coordinate with the Department for Sciences and Technologies, of the Ministry of Construction in monitoring and summing up the implementation situation, then reporting it to the leaders of the two ministries.

2. The Services of Science, Technology and Environment shall coordinate with the Construction Services of the provinces and centrally-run cities in guiding, inspecting and supervising the production and/or business establishments in their respective localities in strictly implementing the provisions of this Joint Circular.

3. This Circular takes effect 15 days after its signing for issuing.

Any difficulties or problems arising in the course of implementation shall be promptly reported to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment and the Ministry of Construction for study and settlement.

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