MANILA, Philippines — A toxics watchdog group urged customs authorities Tuesday to tighten controls to bar the entry of paint products that do not conform with the country‘s strict lead paint regulation. According to the group, the products were found being "sold to uninformed consumers" by offline and online retailers despite the country’s regulations banning lead above 90 ppm in paints. None of the 50 violative products was produced by companies belonging to the Philippine Association of Paint Manufacturers, the coalition added. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources issued in 2013 a policy recognizing that lead paint is a major source of childhood lead exposure eliminating lead-containing paints. The department's Administrative Order 2013-24, or the Chemical Control Order for Lead and Lead Compounds, which, among other provisions, phased out lead-containing decorative paints in 2016 and lead-containing industrial paints in 2019.

Source: Philippine Star March 23, 2021 03:00 UTC