No more fines for asbestos? The government is working on changes

The Ministry of Development and Technology commented on the position of the Congress of Rural Municipalities of the Republic of Poland regarding insufficient financing for asbestos removal. The response quoted by Infor.pl shows that in 2026, as part of the implementation of legislative tasks arising from the Program, legislative work is being carried out on a draft act on products containing asbestos.

Will the government change asbestos regulations?

The project includes, among others: simplification of reporting to the commune head, mayor or city president and the voivodeship marshal (product users will submit a declaration once and update it only in the event of changes) and the introduction of the so-called permanent protection of products. Permanent protection means leaving the types of products specified in the Act under the ground surface or building them in (sections of underground installations, sandwich or ribbed panels located in the curtain wall of the building or in sandwich coverings permanently connected to the curtain wall of the building or in the roof structure) without the need to dismantle them. During work on the draft act, the imposition of penalties on residents for failure to submit declarations was withdrawn.

Let us remind you that Polish law obliges owners of houses and other properties to annually report information about products containing asbestos. This obligation applies to natural persons who are not entrepreneurs, as well as other entities having such products on their property. The documents must be submitted by January 31 each year to the city or commune office. Owners who do not submit the declaration risk sanctions. If the inspection detects unreported products containing asbestos, building owners can expect to be fined from PLN 10 to PLN 20,000. zloty.

Referring to the response of the Ministry of Development, local governments point out that they do not in any way solve the key problems indicated by municipalities in connection with asbestos removal.

Skeptical local governments

The Government Program for Cleaning the Country of Asbestos assumes that by the end of 2032 all asbestos products will disappear from Polish farms. Local governments point out that this deadline was imposed top-down and did not result from the actual operational or financial capabilities of local governments, and the state does not provide sufficient funds or mechanisms enabling the removal of dangerous products.

The Association of Rural Municipalities of the Republic of Poland believes that the lack of a comprehensive approach and stable financing results in the fact that the goals of the asbestos cleansing program in Poland by 2032 are in practice unrealistic, and residents are left without support in implementing pro-ecological activities.

Asbestos is considered one of the most dangerous pollutants in the world. Its fibers, although invisible, can lead to serious diseases, including cancer, years later. For over 100 years it has been used to produce many asbestos-cement materials. It is estimated that there are approximately 15,000 in Poland. tons of products containing this mineral.