The European Commission has issued a draft decision to the REACH Committee that would authorize use of two toxic lead pigments in the EU for non-consumer use, despite the availability of well-known alternatives. The decision was made over strong objections from EU governments, industry and NGOs.
The European Environmental Bureau (EEB), The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), ChemSec and IPEN sent two letters to the REACH Committee calling on the members to reject authorization when it is put to a final vote on July 6th-7th. In addition, NGOs around the world have signed a letter to the Committee highlighting the potential harmful consequences from such an authorization in non-EU countries, as lead-containing products may be exported to markets where there aren't any safeguards to prevent these hazardous products from being sold to consumers.
Numerous IPENers, including representatives from AGENDA (Tanzania), Centre for Environment Justice and Development (Kenya), Eco-Ehtics (Kenya), and Pesticide Action Nexus (Ehtiopia), are currently participating in the East African Coatings Congress taking place in Nairobi, Kenya. IPEN's goal at the conference is to meet representatives of the paint industry serving African paint manufacturers and encourage them to eliminate lead in paint, in line with IPEN's global campaign to eliminate lead paint.
The Arnika Association examined hundreds of pieces of printed china dishes, within the framework of its campaign Let's Eat Toxics Free. A vast majority of them, including goods for children, contained high lead concentration in the colour printing. A very alarming fact is that concentrations were often found in the order of tens of thousands ppm (parts per million) of lead.
30 May 2016, Quezon City. The EcoWaste Coalition, an advocate for a lead-safe school environment, exhorted the principals, teachers and parents to be vigilant to ensure lead-free school makeovers during the week-long Brigada Eskwela (school repair and maintenance) starting today.
The chemical and waste watch group has partnered with the Sto.Cristo Elementary School in Bago Bantay, Quezon City to drum up awareness and compliance to government directives on lead paint.
