A landmark law with unanimous support
Councillor Sílvia Paneque, head of Territori, Habitatge i Transició Ecològica, described the law as “pioneering” in Europe and the beginning of “the definitive stage” to eliminate asbestos from Catalonia. The legislation, initially championed by the government of Pere Aragonès and maintained in full by Salvador Illa’s administration, received the backing of every parliamentary group.
Dr. Josep Tarrés, a respiratory pathology specialist and leading voice in the fight against asbestos in the Vallès Occidental region, called the situation “a silent pandemic that has caused far more damage than people understand.” According to Dr. Tarrés, asbestos remains a growing global threat, as most countries have still not banned the material.
Key measures in the new legislation
The law establishes a comprehensive legal framework for the detection, management and safe removal of asbestos from buildings and installations across Catalonia. Its provisions include several first-of-their-kind measures in Spanish legislation.
- Creation of a Catalan census to map and register all asbestos-containing materials across the region.
- Periodic inspections to verify the condition of materials and ensure compliance.
- Mandatory asbestos presence certificate for all real estate transactions involving buildings constructed before 2002.
- Establishment of the Office for Asbestos Eradication, under the Agència de Residus de Catalunya.
- A dedicated fund for asbestos management, removal, awareness and public education.
- Formal recognition of victims and promotion of medical research into asbestos-related diseases.