Sri Lanka bans asbestos contaminated talc powder of Johnson& Johnson, India yet to ban it

To

Chairman

National Human Rights Commission (NHR
C)

New Delhi

Through Registar, NHRC

Subject:Complaint on asbestos contaminated talc powder of Johnson & Johnson to NHRC w.r.t. Diary No. : 223234/CR/2018. -NHRC,

Sir,

With reference to my complaint to the Commission on carcinogenic asbestos contaminated talc powder of Johnson & Johnson to
NHRC case Diary No. : 223234/CR/2018, this is to inform you that Sri Lanka has halted imports of Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder pending asbestos tests. The new report is available at :

www.reuters.com/article/us-johnson-johnson-cancer-sri-lanka-excl/exclusive-sri-lanka-halts-imports-of-johnson-johnson-baby-powder-pending-asbestos-tests-idUSKCN1PP0O1

I submit that this creates a logical compulsion to undertake similar measures in our country to safeguard the health rights of present and future generations from exposure to all kinds of asbestos including white chrysotile because asbestos causes preventable but incurable asbestos related diseases like Mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, ovarian cancer etc. 

 It is noteworthy that unmindful of conflict of interest, the company in question and similar firms are in the Standards Committees of Bureau of Standards, Ministry of Consumer Affairs. As a consequence, asbestos is not even mentioned in the existing Standards. It has been scientifically and medically established that safe and controlled use of all types of asbestos is impossible. Some 60 countries have banned mining, manufacturing, trade and use of all kinds of asbestos including white chrysotile asbestos. It is significant that India has banned it's mining as well but ironically it is yet to ban its trade, manufacturing and use.

In view of the above, kindly allow me to submit that Commission ought to consider recommending immediate ban on asbestos contaminated talc powder of Jhonson & Johnson and such products of other companies to save Indians from grave harmful effects of these products which are quite ubiquitous. 

Thanking you in anticipation.

Yours Sincerely

Gopal Krishna,

ToxicsWatch Alliance (TWA)

Mb:9818089660

E-mail: krishnagreen@gmail.com

Web:www.toxicswatch.org