Engineered stone importation ban to start January 1

After years of harrowing stories of workers as young as 30 years old suffering and dying from silicosis, the Albanese Government is taking further action to protect workers from this disease.

A ban on the importation of engineered stone benchtops, slabs and panels will be implemented from 1 January 2025, to protect the future health and safety of workers.

This follows the world-first domestic ban on the use, supply and manufacture of engineered stone products in Australia that started on 1 July this year. 

The move aims to safeguard workers from silicosis, a lung disease caused by respirable crystalline silica, which tragically has led to a number of deaths.

The importation ban will provide an extra layer of deterrence at the border. Most engineered stone products are imported into Australia.

The Government provided $32.1 million over two years to the Australian Border Force to enforce the import prohibition in this year’s Budget.

The Government will recommend proposed regulations to the Governor-General, Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC, implementing the prohibition prior to its proposed commencement on 1 January 2025.

Further information on the prohibition of engineered stone under work health and safety laws is available on the Safe Work Australia website at www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/esban.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon Tony Burke MP:

“From the start of next year, it won’t only be illegal to install these products. It will be illegal to bring them into the country at all.”

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Murray Watt:

“No one deserves to have their health compromised due to their working environment.

“Evidence strongly suggests exposure to respirable crystalline silica when working with engineered stone can lead to silicosis and other serious lung diseases.

“These illnesses have been devastating and debilitating for Australian workers and their families, and we cannot continue to allow it to happen.

“That’s why we are introducing an import ban on engineered stone to protect workers from this deadly disease, providing an extra layer of deterrence at the border.”