While Russia is continuing to mine Chrysotile (also known as white asbestos), other countries are still using this mineral in their products, for example Indonesia, China and Vietnam and in particular India, which accounts for one-third of the global production.

For over 20 years efforts have been made to include this most common form of asbestos in the list of hazardous substances under the Rotterdam Convention. Although the inclusion of Chrysotile does not automatically lead to a ban on its use, exporting countries would be obliged to inform importing countries about the health hazards once a substance is listed.

During the Triple COPs in early May 2023 in Geneva, various countries, including Switzerland, attempted to introduce a new list that would be binding only for the countries that have ratified it. Unfortunately, even this proposal failed to reach the required three-quarter majority of contracting parties to the Rotterdam Convention. As a result, significant health consequences will persist for decades to come due to economic reasons, mostly without knowledge of those affected. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 200,000 people die each year from asbestos-related diseases.