Thirty years after France banned asbestos, compensating victims remains a challenge, with only 2,745 claims filed last year despite 85% approval rates.
Asbestos ban in France turns 30
Thirty years after France banned asbestos, the country still struggles to compensate victims, with only 2,745 people applying last year to the Fund for the Compensation of Asbestos Victims (FIVA). Asbestos use and health risks
Asbestos, a fibrous mineral resistant to fire, was widely used in French industry and construction before its ban in 1997. Exposure to asbestos can lead to serious, untreatable diseases, including lung cancer and pleural mesothelioma. Latency period and exposure numbers
The High Authority for Health (HAS) reports that the average time between asbestos exposure and the onset of related diseases can be 20 to 40 years or more. In 2007, one to two million workers may have been exposed to asbestos, with 900,000 in the construction sector alone. FIVA's role and compensation efforts
Since its creation in 2001, the FIVA has received over 117,000 claims from victims and their families. The fund, supported by the Social Security, has awarded nearly 8 billion euros in compensation, approving 85% of requests. New initiative to reach victims
A new measure, part of the 2024 Social Security Financing Act, allows the FIVA to directly contact individuals with asbestos-related occupational diseases. The fund now receives names from the Health Insurance and the Mutual Social Security Agricultural Funds (MSA). Challenges in claim filings
Anne Thauvin, director of FIVA, noted that many claimants are elderly, with men averaging 71 years old. Some victims may have died without filing a claim, highlighting the urgency of the outreach efforts.
