Asbestos scandal: Austrian quarries may have exploited an EU legal loophole

Asbestos-bearing rocks exist across many parts of Europe, yet EU policymakers have not yet closed a long-known regulatory gap. EU law has long banned the mining of asbestos itself (i.e., extracting the fibers for use) and the marketing of products with intentionally added asbestos, such as old corrugated roofing sheets. However, it does not prohibit mining rock that naturally contains asbestos, as long as the primary purpose is to extract crushed stone or aggregate, not the fibers.

Geologist Dr. Tamás Weiszburg (ELTE University) explains: “People struggle to understand that asbestos is not a separate substance – it is a morphological form of certain rocks. The same mineral deposit can have asbestos-bearing and non-asbestos parts.” There is no mandatory requirement during permitting or operation for geological surveys that would necessarily detect asbestos. Once mined, the crushed stone is treated as a “substance” or raw material rather than a “product,” placing it under different, less stringent rules. Current EU regulations do not impose a blanket ban on the marketing of naturally asbestos-containing rock.

Labeling is required above 0.1% asbestos content by weight (under CLP Regulation), but this does not prevent placing the material on the market. Interpretations differ sharply: some authorities and industry players argue that naturally occurring fibers bound in rock differ from added fibers and are less hazardous; environmental groups like Greenpeace contend that carcinogenic rules should apply above the 0.1% threshold, effectively restricting trade.

This gap has allowed quarries to operate legally while potentially releasing asbestos into the environment through crushing, transport, and use in roads or construction.

What happened in Burgenland and Hungary

In December 2025, Austrian authorities in Burgenland closed four quarries (temporarily, pending final decision) after investigations revealed significant asbestos content. The trigger included air quality measurements and the EU’s tightening of occupational exposure limits for asbestos fibers (from 100,000 to 10,000 fibers/m³ effective January 2026, with further reductions planned).

Crushed stone from these quarries had been used in western Hungary (e.g., Szombathely’s new residential areas), where measurements later detected asbestos in roads and aggregates. Similar issues have been found elsewhere in Austria. The material was sold openly for years as road base, construction fill, or even decorative stone.

Health risks of naturally occurring asbestos

Asbestos consists of extremely thin, durable fibers that, when disturbed (e.g., by traffic on unpaved or lightly surfaced roads), become airborne as fine dust. Once inhaled, they do not break down and can cause chronic inflammation, scarring, and cancers – particularly mesothelioma (linked almost exclusively to asbestos) and lung cancer – with latency periods of decades.

Workers in dusty conditions face the highest risk, but widespread use in public roads exposes broader populations. Geologists note that while intact rock in the ground poses little risk, mechanical breakdown (crushing, vehicle traffic) liberates fibers into air and soil.

Stakeholder positions

Quarry operators claim measurements were flawed or exaggerated, insist naturally occurring fibers bound in rock are harmless (unlike added fibers), and cite supportive experts (some with industry ties). They emphasize compliance with prior occupational limits.
Austrian authorities (e.g., Burgenland officials) acknowledge the regulatory ambiguity but believe existing rules could have prevented environmental release. They are conducting further tests and plan decisions by mid-2026.
Experts like Weiszburg stress ethical responsibility: even without a strict ban, operators should have stopped once asbestos was known. He and others have warned EU lawmakers for years about this gap.
Greenpeace calls for applying full carcinogenic restrictions to natural asbestos above 0.1%.

Broader implications and the need for EU action

Europe’s geology includes many asbestos-bearing formations. Without preventive mapping, restrictions on quarrying in high-risk zones, or clear rules on natural asbestos in aggregates, similar scandals can recur – during road building, tunneling, or even farming.

Dr. Weiszburg notes: “Brussels is not shy about regulating, so it is incomprehensible that this loophole remains open.” The incident highlights the need for EU-wide preventive measures: mandatory asbestos screening for quarries in susceptible areas, stricter controls on crushed stone from natural deposits, and harmonized rules treating high-content natural materials similarly to products. Remediation in affected Hungarian and Austrian sites is ongoing, but the underlying regulatory weakness affects the entire Union. Closing the loophole would protect public health without banning all mining in geologically complex regions.

The original of this article in Hungarian by EUalive’s partner Átlátszó can be found here.

Caption: Quarry in Badersdorf, Burgenland, Austria [ Átlátszó]