Flanders Passes 500,000 Asbestos Certificates, 2.3 Million Properties Remain
Flanders has officially issued over 500,000 asbestos certificates for buildings across the region, marking a significant milestone in its ambitious program to identify and manage asbestos risks. However, with approximately 2.3 million properties still awaiting assessment, the Flemish public waste management agency OVAM warns that the road ahead remains long and challenging.
The milestone was announced by OVAM on Friday, June 19, 2026, as reported by Het Laatste Nieuws. Since November 2022, an asbestos certificate from a certified expert has been mandatory when selling buildings constructed before 2001. By 2032, every owner of a pre-2001 building must have one.
The Scale of the Challenge
Out of approximately 2.8 million properties requiring certification, fewer than one-fifth have been assessed so far. The remaining 2.3 million buildings represent a massive workload for certified asbestos experts, and OVAM has warned that delays could lead to market bottlenecks and rising costs.
“If too many owners wait, there is a risk of market over-demand by the deadline, leading to rising rates and delays in real estate transactions,” OVAM cautioned, as reported by VRT NWS.
Public Awareness Gap
A survey conducted by OVAM among 1,000 Flemish residents reveals a significant gap between perception and reality. While only one-fifth of respondents suspected asbestos in their homes, certificates show that 59% of pre-2001 homes actually contain asbestos. “In 69 percent of those homes with asbestos, the situation is moreover not asbestos-safe,” OVAM emphasized.
The main reasons owners have not yet requested a certificate are a lack of selling plans (36%) and the belief that no asbestos is present (34%).
A Pervasive Problem
Asbestos was widely used in Belgian construction throughout the 20th century and can be found in over 3,500 different applications — from corrugated roofing sheets to less obvious uses such as vinyl flooring, kitchen cabinets, and insulation around electrical outlets. An OVAM analysis from November 2025 estimated that approximately 3.18 million tons of asbestos remain in Flemish buildings, with 2.2 million tons in residential properties alone, according to VRT NWS.
Government Response and Costs
Flemish Minister of Environment Jo Brouns (CD&V) acknowledged the achievement while stressing the work ahead. “The milestone of 500,000 asbestos certificates is an important milestone, but we still have a long way to go. The asbestos certificate is and remains one of our most important instruments to make Flanders asbestos-safe by 2040,” Brouns said.
The Flemish government has set the ambitious goal of making the region “asbestos-safe” by 2040. OVAM previously estimated government costs at €343 million between 2018 and 2040, while making Flanders completely asbestos-free is projected to require approximately €3 billion. Curbside collection programs have already gathered 100,000 tons of asbestos waste, as VRT NWS reported.
Key Deadlines Ahead
Property owners face a series of approaching deadlines. By the end of 2027, common areas of apartment buildings must be certified. From 2030, schools, youth buildings, workshops, and rental properties follow. The final deadline of 2032 requires all pre-2001 building owners to have an asbestos certificate. The OVAM website provides detailed guidance on the certification process and requirements.
Analysis and Outlook
While the 500,000 certificate milestone represents meaningful progress — approximately 18% of the target — the pace of certification will need to accelerate significantly to meet the 2032 deadline. The gap between public perception and the reality of asbestos prevalence remains a major challenge for policymakers.
Asbestos remains a significant public health issue in Belgium, with related reporting noting that it still causes approximately 300 deaths annually. The certification program is a crucial tool for identifying and managing these risks, but the ultimate goal of an asbestos-safe Flanders by 2040 will require sustained investment, public cooperation, and effective enforcement of compliance deadlines.
With 2.3 million properties still to go and costs potentially reaching into the thousands of euros per property for removal, the question of affordability — particularly for lower-income homeowners — looms large over the program’s long-term success.