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.
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