Asbestos Regulation in Iraq
Regulation summary
Asbestos is fully prohibited in this country. All use, trade, import and manufacture of asbestos-containing materials is banned. Existing asbestos in buildings still requires certified professionals for safe removal and disposal.
Iraq banned asbestos through Cabinet Decision No. 41 of 2016, which prohibits the import, production, and marketing of all asbestos and asbestos-containing products. This was the first comprehensive asbestos ban in the country, though earlier safety rules had limited some uses since 2002. Despite the ban, enforcement remains uneven. A 2021 Iraqi study noted that asbestos is still widely used in the country, and legacy asbestos remains in many older buildings and war-damaged sites.
Asbestos was commonly used in Iraqi construction for corrugated roofing sheets, pipe insulation, floor and ceiling tiles, cement pipes, and wall panels. Post-conflict surveys have documented large deposits of hazardous asbestos in damaged sites, including Mosul's airport and central garages after the conflict. The Ministry of Environment is responsible for enforcement.
Key dates
2002: Initial safety regulations limit some uses of asbestos in Iraq
2016: Decision No. 41 of the Council of Ministers bans the import, production, and marketing of all asbestos and asbestos-containing products
2021: Iraqi academic research documents continued widespread use of asbestos despite the ban, highlighting enforcement gaps
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