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ToxinFree
SENTINEL ARCHIVE / CASE #051

Egypt

The Egyptian trade minister prohibited the import and manufacture of all types of asbestos and asbestos materials in 2005. Blue asbestos (crocidolite) had been banned since the 1970s. The ban followed a workers' strike at the ORA-Egypt cement factory demanding safety measures. However, the legislation has loopholes: it does not mention scientific names of asbestos types, and importation of products containing asbestos is not explicitly prohibited.

2005Full Ban
2005
Year Banned
—
Mesothelioma Rate
—
Data not available
1960s-2000s
Peak Usage Era

Regulatory Timeline

  1. 1970s

    1. 1970Regulation

      Blue asbestos (crocidolite) banned in Egypt after its dangers were established internationally

      ↗ Source

  2. 2000s

    1. 2005Legislation

      Trade minister bans import and manufacture of all types of asbestos; asbestos factories officially closed following workers' strike at ORA-Egypt cement factory

      ↗ Source

  3. 2010s

    1. 2019Event

      Investigations reveal asbestos processing facilities had dumped contaminated waste across Egypt prior to ban, with legislation loopholes allowing continued import of asbestos-containing products

      ↗ Source

Material Identification Guide

Common materials still present in buildings

asbestos-cement roofing sheets

HIGH RISKNon-friable

1930–2000

asbestos-cement flat sheets

HIGH RISKNon-friable

1930–2000

asbestos-cement water pipes

MODERATENon-friable

1930–1990

brake linings

HIGH RISKFriable

1920–2000

↗Learn more

What To Do If You Live Here

  • Your country has banned asbestos, but older buildings may still contain legacy materials.
  • Buildings built before the ban year may contain asbestos-containing materials.
  • Hire a certified asbestos surveyor before any renovation or demolition work.
  • Do not disturb older building materials without professional testing.

Check Your Property

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Sources

Last updated: 2026-03-24

Information aggregated from public sources including IBAS, EPA, and WHO. Not legal or medical advice.

How we source our data →