The 2024 asbestos ban, explained
In March 2024, the EPA banned ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos, the only form still imported into the US. The ban covers new products, such as brake linings and gaskets, with phase-outs running to 2029 and beyond for a few industrial uses. It doesn't require removing asbestos that's already in homes.
What the ban covers
The rule (published March 28, 2024, effective May 28, 2024) bans the manufacture, import, processing, distribution and commercial use of chrysotile asbestos for its remaining uses (EPA; 40 CFR 751 Subpart F):
| Use | Banned after |
|---|---|
| Aftermarket automotive brakes and linings, other vehicle friction products, oilfield brake blocks, other gaskets | November 25, 2024 |
| Sheet gaskets in chemical production | May 27, 2026 (later for titanium dioxide and nuclear material processing) |
| Diaphragms in chlorine and caustic soda (chlor-alkali) plants | Imports from May 28, 2024; use phased out by 2029, with limited extensions to 2036 |
Products already installed, such as brakes on a car you own, aren't affected.
What it means for your home
- No removal required. The ban covers ongoing commercial uses. It doesn't require removing asbestos already in buildings.
- Asbestos already in homes is "legacy" asbestos. In November 2024 EPA concluded that disturbing and handling legacy asbestos poses an unreasonable risk to health, but that "if undisturbed, asbestos associated with legacy uses does not pose an unreasonable risk to human health" (EPA).
- More rules may come. EPA says it will propose a rule on legacy asbestos (Part 2) by June 3, 2027, and has asked for information about activities that disturb asbestos materials, including work by self-employed people.
Is the ban being challenged?
The rule has been challenged in the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (Texas Chemistry Council v. EPA). As of October 29, 2026, we hadn't found a decision, and the rule remains in the Code of Federal Regulations. We'll update this page when it changes.
Sources
- EPA: Risk Management for Asbestos, Part 1: Chrysotile (updated October 22, 2026)
- 40 CFR Part 751 Subpart F
- EPA: Risk Evaluation for Asbestos
Last reviewed October 29, 2026. See our sources.