Forgotten French asbestos ban may cause mayhem

18 December 2001: It was reported earlier this month that from January, France is to ban sales of cars and farm vehicles more than five years old because of the risk that certain parts may contain asbestos.

According to the news agency AFP, France's former right-wing government passed a decree in 1996 preventing the resale of any cars registered before January 1, 1997, on the grounds that there could be asbestos in brake discs, gear systems and cylinder head gaskets. The almost forgotten decree - which affects 20 million of the 28 vehicles in use in France - comes into force on January 1, 2002, AFP said.

If that is really true, there could be a few people feeling a tad miffed about the cars they're not allowed to sell next year. Somebody better pass a countermanding law and quick!