Potentially deadly asbestos is being imported into Australia, the Senate inquiry into non-conforming building products has heard.

The probe was prompted by the Lacrosse apartment blaze in Melbourne’s Docklands last November. The fire spread rapidly up flammable building cladding, which was imported from China.

Such cladding is believed to have been widely used, but is feared to be only part of a much bigger problem.

The Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency says all forms of asbestos were banned from Australian workplaces in 2003, and importation of products containing asbestos is also prohibited.

But in its submission to the inquiry it says asbestos has been detected in a wide range of imported goods and materials, such as cement compound board. “It is likely that… equipment and materials containing asbestos have made their way into Australia’s building and construction industry without detection by any regulator,” it says.

Because the materials would not be included on affected buildings’ asbestos registers, they could be disturbed, releasing deadly fibres.

In addition to the risk to lives, companies could face higher maintenance, demolition and insurance costs, the agency warns.

Certification by overseas providers “cannot always be relied upon”, and increased screening of products is required.

Submissions to the inquiry, which will report on October 12, are now closed.