Introduction There is an international consensus that the most efficient way to eliminate asbestos-related diseases is to stop using asbestos. However, 80% of the global population lives in countries that lack any national policy that achieves a total ban on asbestos. We investigated whether national policies were in line with international conventions and identified countries that lag behind the global trend toward a total asbestos ban.

Methods We obtained data on the year that each country implemented policies that ban chrysotile, crocidolite, and amosite. We also obtained the list of countries that have ratified the C162 Asbestos Convention and the Basel Convention, and their date of ratification. Data retrieved from the search databases were compiled for statistical analysis. We calculated the numbers and proportions of countries enforcing total bans, partial bans, and no bans.

Results As of 2018, there were 62 countries implemented the total asbestos ban policy. Countries that ratified both conventions and countries that ratified either one or unratified any convention, we found the former group had a higher proportion of implementing total ban compared to the latter group (65% vs. 41%, p-value<0.05). However, some countries, such as Russia and Kazakhstan, are still among the biggest producers of asbestos, despite they have ratified C162. Asbestos may have been consumed longer in countries not ratifying conventions than those ratifying conventions.

Conclusions Historical asbestos consumption and loose regulations have introduced challenges to eliminate asbestos-related diseases. Although several countries have reoriented the national policy in line with the global trend of banning all types and forms of asbestos, the gap between adopting interventional conventions and developing national policies remain, warranting efforts to analyze driving forces behind successful political processes to ratify the international conventions, establish asbestos control limits, and eventually create a national policy for a total asbestos ban.