Global Action

The main lead-containing ingredients in paints used today are lead chromates – yellow, orange, and red pigments used to make bright paint colors. In countries where lead paints are banned, lead chromates cannot be added to paint, but some of these countries continue to allow production and exports of lead chromates. An IPEN report in 2024 found that while the EU and other countries have banned the use of lead chromates, they allow ongoing production and export of this paint ingredient, putting children and families in recipient countries at risk.

The Rotterdam Convention requires countries that are Parties to the Convention to ensure that certain hazardous chemicals are only exported to a country that has given its explicit consent through a “Prior Informed Consent” (PIC) procedure. By listing lead chromates under the Convention’s PIC procedure, countries that ban lead paint will be better equipped to enforce their bans, and countries without lead paint restrictions will be incentivized to adopt a ban. IPEN advocates for countries to join the call to list lead chromates under the Convention to promote countries’ right-to-know when this toxic ingredient crosses their borders.