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Asbestos has been completely banned in Australia since December 2003. Workers in buildings constructed after this time should not expect to find this toxic material. However, it is still being uncovered, and is unfortunately far from being completely eliminated. Practising caution and arranging a professional analysis as soon as possible on construction sites is highly recommended if asbestos is suspected in any shape or form. 

Click here to download the National Asbestos Forum Q&A Booklet (PDF)

Australia is one of the only countries in the Asia-Pacific that has a full ban on all types of asbestos. Imported building materials, such as pre-fabricated house kits, cut stone, tiles, any heat resistant or flame-resistant structural goods, cement fireboards and panels may be at higher risk of containing asbestos, according to the Australian Border Force (ABF). 

Asbestos in a sink pad liner. Photo by Malcolm Fabiny, © Greencap2021

Is this still a problem in 2021? 

Asbestos and Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM) continue to be uncovered frequently in many buildings and building materials constructed after 2004. Recently, bituminous asbestos was discovered in a sink pad liner that was constructed around 2013. 

The Australian Border Force (ABF) has been focusing on eliminating imported asbestos in building materials from Australia and is also urging project managers to have regular dialogue with overseas importers in their processes around hazardous asbestos.

Bringing asbestos into Australia may be done unintentionally, and Australian importers of building materials or any other household items should be aware of their country of origin’s practices regarding this. 

The Australian Government has a guide for importers and exporters as part of the Asbestos Safety & Eradication Agency. 

Other recent examples of asbestos found in imported goods was in a child's remote control car, purchased in 2020, and in a manifold gasket to a fire pump that was installed in 2014. These particular circumstances for finding asbestos are common and seen frequently. 

Asbestos in the clutch/slip plate of a child's toy car. Photo by Ross Connell, © Greencap 2021. 

Asbestos in a fire pump. Photo © Greencap 2021. 

The Australian Border Force (ABF) has also had recent detections in motor vehicles and scooters, mineral stones, slabs, and more. 

As the above examples highlight, the continued widespread use in other jurisdictions makes it difficult to regulate asbestos in imported goods, no matter the product category. 

Examples of imported asbestos containing products 

Common examples from imports include: 

Building products 

• Expanded polystyrene sandwich panels - imported from China 
• Cement fibre boards - imported from China 
• Mineral slabs (marble) - imported from India 

Old car parts - vehicle parts designed to withstand heat 

• Brakes - imported from USA 
• Clutch - imported from USA 
• Linings to boot, floor and seals - imported from USA 
• Window seals - imported from USA 

New electric bikes & scooters 

• Brakes and calliper pads - imported from South Africa, Vietnam and China 

"If you don't look, you won't know, and you may never know," says Malcolm Fabiny, Greencap Licenced Asbestos Assessor. 

"Asbestos is still being uncovered in the most unlikely of places, and construction workers at all levels need to stay vigilant," he added. 

What to do if you suspect an item may contain asbestos? 

High-risk imported items that may contain asbestos should always be tested.

Before imported building products arrive on site, they should be sampled to verify that they do not contain asbestos, and it should be done before it leaves the country of origin. This means focuses on the total supply chain. 

Even if your state or territory’s regulations say that an asbestos register is not required, or no asbestos has been identified and no asbestos is likely to be present, it is important to stay aware of the risks. 

Any product or mineral that contains actinolite, amosite, anthophyllite, chrysotile, amosite, or crocidolite is considered as asbestos.  It should be noted that sometimes you may get a sample analysis report that states Mineral Fibre of Unknown Type (MFUT) which should be treated as containing asbestos until further testing is undertaken.  MFUTs are fibres observed by the laboratory exhibiting most optical characteristics of asbestos fibres, but which fail the test for dispersion staining (DS). Further testing is required such as X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis.

The health effects of asbestos are well-known, and include asbestosis, mesothelioma, and multiple cancers, such as lung, larynx and ovarian cancer. Asbestos importation also carries significant penalties which can result in large fines and jail time for the individual or business involved so it is best not to take any undue risks.

Click here to download the Asbestos Importation Checklist (PDF)

How Greencap Can Assist

Greencap has offices in all mainland states and territories of Australia and has been specialising in the area of asbestos for over 35 years.

Additional Asbestos & Hazardous Materials Services

• Asbestos in soils
• Asbestos audits
• Asbestos compliance risk assessments
• Demolition and refurbishment risk assessments
• Clearance inspections and reporting
• Asbestos fibre air monitoring
• Preparation of asbestos removal specifications
• Project management and tendering services
• Due diligence assessment and reports
• A range of innovative and cost effective risk and contractor management tools
• Competent and Licensed Asbestos Assessors across Australia

For more information about how asbestos could impact your workplace or facility, and how Greencap can help deliver value to your business:

Contact Greencap’s asbestos & hazardous materials risk management experts

The information in this material is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon, for legal or professional advice and is subject to change. This material provides general information only and does not take into account your particular circumstances. Before making any decisions, you should assess whether this material is appropriate for you and obtain legal advice tailored to you having regard to your particular needs and circumstances. Greencap Pty Ltd (Greencap), its officers, employees and agents believe that the information in this material and the sources on which the information is based (which may be sourced from third parties) are correct as at the date of publication. While every care has been taken in the preparation of this material, no warranty is given for its reliability or accuracy and no responsibility is accepted by Greencap, its officers, employees or agents. If this material contains links to third party websites, Greencap does not control and is not responsible for the information contained within these websites. None of these links imply Greencap’s support, endorsement or recommendation of any other company, product or service.