IPEN’s Asian Lead Paint Elimination Project was developed to eliminate lead in paint in seven Asian countries: Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
The Asian Lead Paint Elimination Project is one part of a larger campaign to eliminate lead paint worldwide. In 2007 and 2008, NGOs in IPEN’s network collected and analyzed decorative (home use) paints on the market in 11 developing countries, and in countries with economies in transition. The results were startling. In every one of these countries, many of the solvent-based, decorative enamel paints contained dangerously high lead levels. In response, IPEN launched a worldwide lead paint elimination campaign. Since then, IPEN-affiliated NGOs and others have sampled and analyzed paints on the market in approximately 40 low- and middle-income countries.
This report tells the story of how seven Asian countries succeeded in reducing lead levels in paint in their countries and highlights the project accomplishments in each country. Read it here.
IPEN’s Citizens’ Report details the implementation of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) by IPEN Participating Organizations between 2012 and 2015. More than 120 IPEN Participating Organizations actively executed more than 500 activities in 65 countries in all UN regions to work towards implementing all five objectives of the SAICM Overarching Policy Strategy and 228 of the 299 items in the Global Plan of Action.
The final Asian Lead Paint Elimination Project Partner Newsletter is now available, and contains news about the Project achievements, such as: one of the strictest lead paint standards in the world in Nepal, 90% of the market meeting the mandatory 600 ppm standard in Sri Lanka, third party paint certification program developed in India, and a world class lead paint regulation in the Philippines, amongst others.
National Environment Management Council (NEMC) says the government has no strategies to eliminate lead poisoning in paint, the number one environmental health concern for children globally.
At present there is the general plan addressing all chemical hazards which are harmful to human beings, NEMC’s Director General Boneventure Baya told The Guardian on Sunday this week
Government of Nepal, Ministry of Science Technology and Environment (MOSTE) enacted Lead Paint Standard of 90 ppm to eliminate Lead based paint from Nepal through publishing a Gazette Notification (Nepal Gazette, Khand 64, Number 30, Part 5, dated 22 December 2014, Notice 3) as per the Rule 15 of EPR 1997. This standard has become effective from June 20, 2015.
The seven NGOs participating in IPEN’s Asian Lead Paint Elimination Project are releasing new national reports on lead levels in paints between now and June 20. The 2015 reports follow-up on analyses conducted in 2013 and are designed to test whether or not lead levels have fallen since that earlier study, especially in paints with high lead levels in 2013.
“Even minimal exposure to lead can impact children. We must completely eliminate it in paint. Whether large or small amount, it has a harmful effect,” Dr. Mengistu Asnake, President of the World Federation for Public Health Association, said at a workshop organized by PAN Ethiopia on June 4th. Attending the workshop were leaders from the Ethiopian government and major media outlets.
