In Phnom Penh, over 300 delegates—including government officials, employers, and trade union representatives—gathered for the launch of an independent economic impact assessment on a total asbestos ban in Cambodia. The report, funded by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and conducted in 2025 by Alluvium Pty Ltd., incorporated input from four key Cambodian ministries: Labour, Health, Construction, and Commerce.
The event, hosted by the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction (MLMUP&C), was opened by Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister, His Excellency Say Sam Al, alongside Australian Ambassador Derik Yip. Attendees included representatives from multiple government ministries, construction organisations, employer groups, labour federations, and trade unions. The Australian Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency (ASSEA), the Australian Embassy, and Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA, also participated in discussions on Cambodia’s path toward an asbestos-free future.
The report, procured through a competitive and transparent tender process, delivered a clear verdict: banning asbestos in Cambodia is not only economically viable but overwhelmingly beneficial.
The study reads:
“The economic assessment of a proposed ban on asbestos-containing materials and raw asbestos fibres was found to be economically viable, with the health benefits from avoided disease far outweighing the cost of implementation and transition by a ratio of 4:1, even under conservative assumptions. Given the serious and well-documented health risks of asbestos exposure and the clear net welfare gains demonstrated by the analysis, it is recommended that a comprehensive ban be implemented in Cambodia. In the same vein, a strategic and targeted policy implementation plan that improves awareness, prioritises industry engagement, and facilitates transition, together with strong enforcement, can provide a pathway to mitigate significant public health risks from exposure to asbestos.”
Global evidence supports a ban
This report aligns with a well established body of international research demonstrating that the economic, health, and environmental benefits of banning asbestos far surpass the costs of continued use. A 2018 World Health Organisation (WHO) study found no negative economic impact from asbestos bans in countries that had already implemented them. Instead, it confirmed that nations consuming or producing asbestos would not experience GDP declines from reducing or eliminating its use.
Thailand and Laos: Proof that banning asbestos delivers social benefits
Recent studies in Thailand and Laos replicate these findings. In 2025, Thai academics found that the social and health costs of chrysotile asbestos use outweigh any economic benefits. Their recommendations to accelerate policies to phase out asbestos included:
- Supporting manufacturers to produce asbestos-free products through measures such as reducing raw material import costs, providing tax incentives, and providing technical knowledge support.
- Disseminate information and raise public awareness about asbestos hazards.
- Establish government procurement criteria that prioritise asbestos-free products.
- Set and enforce safety standards for asbestos removal and waste management.
Similarly, a 2025 economic impact assessment in Laos, supported by ASSEA, found that continuing current asbestos use would cost the country more than US$1 billion in health and social expenses over the next 75 years. Phasing out asbestos by 2030 could prevent 6,000 cases of disease, saving nearly US$700 million.
The international evidence of significant overall net health, economic, and environmental gains from countries that have implemented a ban on all types of asbestos, including chrysotile, is clear. As Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA works closely with DFAT, ASSEA, and Asbestos and Dust Diseases Research Institute (ADDRI) in technical assistance across 8 countries in the Asia Pacific region in the campaign to eliminate asbestos-related diseases, Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA stands ready to continue supporting the Royal Government of Cambodia’s journey towards an asbestos-free future.
The Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction’s program is supported by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency.
