Good morning,
I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate this great initiative jointly organized by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Construction, Ministry of Industry and Trade to push forward the process for phasing out of asbestos use in Viet Nam.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Asbestos has long been recognized as a carcinogen causing two third of occupational cancer deaths. According to the latest estimates in 2016, globally asbestos use resulted in over 220,000 cancer deaths representing roughly 2/3 of total global cancer deaths. Viet Nam also recorded more than 2,000 death cases due to asbestos use. These included about 160 mesothelioma and 1800 asbestos-related lung cancer deaths.
Asbestos is a toxic chemical and has been abandoned in many countries. Up to now, close to 70 countries have banned completely the use of asbestos. Some other still allow the use of asbestos but on a very limited scale such as for military purposes. Many more countries are in the process or attempting the journey towards total ban of asbestos use including Viet Nam.
This workshop is organized at a critical time in light of the 9th Conference of Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions meeting being held in Geneva from 29 April to 10 May. The theme of the meetings will be "Clean Planet, Healthy People: Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste". Among other important agendas of the meeting, chrysotile asbestos is scheduled for consideration for inclusion in Annex 3 of Rotterdam Convention by the Conference of the Parties at this ninth meeting. I commend Viet Nam for its progressive decision to agree to list chrysotile asbestos in Annex 3 at the 8th COP in 2017. I hope Viet Nam will keep its position this year at COP 9.
Today we will also have an opportunity to hear more details about the Rotterdam Convention to be presented by a secretariat from FAO country office in Viet Nam. Details about the scope and implementation of the Convention will be presented, including the status of listing of chemicals to Annex 3 subjecting to Prior Informed Consent Procedure.
In addition, important experiences gathered by the high level visit of Vietnamese officials to the Republic of Korea and Japan in mid-March 2019 on phasing out of asbestos in these 2 countries will be shared. You will also be able to receive information on the process leading to ban of asbestos use in the Republic of Korea and Japan including its support policies for victims and replacement of asbestos products.
I commend the announcement by the Prime Minister of Viet Nam on 16 January 2018 urging for total ban of asbestos in Viet Nam before 2023. I hope this workshop will help further strengthen Viet Nam’s position towards phasing out of asbestos use and help Ministry of Construction to finalise its road map to stop using asbestos in production of construction materials Viet Nam.
It’s now a critical time to take actions for the health benefits of millions of people of Viet Nam.
WHO remains committed in supporting Viet Nam in its efforts for a total ban of asbestos use in the country.
Thank you.