N-VA calls for mandatory asbestos certificates in Brussels too

Many Brussels residents have no idea whether their homes contain asbestos. Yet exposure to asbestos can cause serious health problems, including lung cancer. To mark Cancer Awareness Day, Brussels MP Mathias Vanden Borre is calling for mandatory asbestos certificates when older buildings are sold.

Asbestos remains widespread in buildings across Brussels. According to a 2017 study, an estimated 80 to 90% of buildings in the Brussels-Capital Region contain asbestos. This includes not only homes but also schools, nurseries and hospitals. Despite this, there is still no clear picture of exactly where asbestos is present.

“This is deeply concerning,” says Vanden Borre. “Asbestos is not a problem of the past. The effects of exposure often only become apparent decades later. What’s more, asbestos can become even more dangerous as it ages and deteriorates. We need to identify the risks so we can better protect Brussels residents.”

Linking an asbestos register to mandatory certification

On Thursday, Vanden Borre questioned State Secretary Ans Persoons (Vooruit) during a meeting of the Brussels Parliament’s Environment Committee. Persoons announced plans to revise Brussels’ asbestos regulations and launch an online register before the end of the year.

The N-VA welcomes these plans but believes they do not go far enough. According to Vanden Borre, a register will be of limited use unless property owners are required to systematically check for asbestos. He is therefore calling for asbestos certificates to become mandatory when buildings constructed before 2001 are sold. Flanders introduced this requirement back in 2022, while Wallonia is also working on tighter regulations.

“A register alone isn’t enough. The real question is how we make sure asbestos is actually identified and recorded,” says Vanden Borre. “Requiring a certificate when a property is sold would give buyers a clearer understanding of the risks and gradually help us build a more accurate picture of where asbestos is present across Brussels.”

Resolution to be tabled in Brussels Parliament

Vanden Borre has announced that he will table a resolution urging the Brussels Government to adopt a comprehensive, long-term approach based on the Flemish model. He also wants greater attention to be paid to victims of asbestos pollution and to the historical responsibility of companies that produced asbestos.

“On Cancer Awareness Day, we must not only remember the victims of asbestos exposure but also recognise the risks that remain today,” he concludes. “The health of Brussels residents is far too important for us to simply let this issue go unaddressed.”