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1 July, 1999The report contained a number of serious errors, says union leader.
GENEVA: After considerable criticism of the report "Asbestos and Health," published in April 1999 by the European Office of the World Health Organisation, the WHO's headquarters in Geneva has stopped distribution of the report in order to consider possible revisions.
Among protest letters written to WHO Director General, Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, when the report was released, was the following comment from the General Secretary of the International Federation of Building and Wood Workers, Ulf Asp: "We are surprised to find that the report contains a number of serious errors and has not been revised to reflect criticisms of earlier drafts by experts. The report is intended to help local authorities but in no way reaches the standards of objectivity we have come to expect from the WHO. We would urge you to withdraw the report pending further in-depth expert review."
"In addition," continued Asp, "the report may be used in the dispute over asbestos currently before the World Trade Organisation. In that case, Canada is challenging the asbestos ban by France as an unfair trade practice, and this WHO report may be used there to buttress Canada's effort to halt the spread of national bans on asbestos."
Among protest letters written to WHO Director General, Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, when the report was released, was the following comment from the General Secretary of the International Federation of Building and Wood Workers, Ulf Asp: "We are surprised to find that the report contains a number of serious errors and has not been revised to reflect criticisms of earlier drafts by experts. The report is intended to help local authorities but in no way reaches the standards of objectivity we have come to expect from the WHO. We would urge you to withdraw the report pending further in-depth expert review."
"In addition," continued Asp, "the report may be used in the dispute over asbestos currently before the World Trade Organisation. In that case, Canada is challenging the asbestos ban by France as an unfair trade practice, and this WHO report may be used there to buttress Canada's effort to halt the spread of national bans on asbestos."