The Asian Lead Paint Elimination Project Partner Newsletter for January, 2015 is now available, and contains news about the new, mandatory 90 ppm standard that was established in Nepal at the end of December, 2014. Additionally, the newsletter comments on the launch of the new IPEN African Lead Paint Elimination Project. The Project will take place in four African countries – Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast and Tanzania.
Bangladesh Paint Manufacturers' Association (BPMA) has demanded an immediate ban on the import of lead pigments and dryer, which will encourage the medium and small manufacturers to begin producing lead-free paints. BPMA Secretary Md Shamsuzzaman also welcomed the collaborative initiative of green activist group - Environmental and Social Development Organisation (ESDO) and IPEN.
Civil society representatives from Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Thailand have agreed to a declaration that calls to end the use of mercury in amalgam fillings in dental care in Asia.
The standard, published through a Gazette Notification, will be mandatory and will regulate all paints imported to Nepal, as well as produced, sold, distributed and used in Nepal. It will be effective six months from now, and will require labels that show lead content and provide a precautionary message in order to avoid occupational exposures.
IPEN launched its African Lead Paint Elimination Campaign with an Inception Meeting held in Dar es Salam, Tanzania in late November. The project involves four African countries – Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast and Tanzania – and is being implemented in partnership with the Global Environment Facility and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which provided $1 million in funding.
