Philippine FDA bans spray paint containing lead

Quezon City, Philippines - The nonprofit EcoWaste Coalition urges retail outlets across the country to heed the public health advisory issued by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prohibit their distribution and sale of 37 spray paints with volatile lead content, a highly toxic chemical banned in paint manufacturing.

"We call on the country's retail industry to stop selling aerosols or spray paints that contain lead additives, in violation of the Chemical Control Act, which prohibits the manufacture of lead in paint," said Thony Dizon, a chemical safety campaigner with EcoWaste Coalition.

These paints are readily available to consumers in the Philippines and are often promoted for general use, such as refinishing cars and household appliances, as handy materials for trimming accessories and decorations, and even as materials for school projects.

Dizon noted, "Retailers, including online distributors, should immediately heed the FDA's advice or face sanctions for selling products that do not comply with the country's lead-based paint regulations."

Through Advisory No. 2020-1585, the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) declared, " Laboratory tests of 37 spray paint products have shown that these products have exceeded the 90 ppm maximum limit."

Philippine FDA Director General Dr. Rolando Enrique Domingo, who signed the advisory, said, "All concerned agencies are sternly warned and directed to stop the distribution and sale of the said products that pose unnecessary health risks."

He further warned, "Following the issuance of this recommendation, appropriate regulatory sanctions will be imposed on companies that continue to sell these products."

The EcoWaste Coalition and the International Pollutant Elimination Network (IPEN) released a report on "Leading Spray Coatings Used by Filipino Consumers" in July 2020, which showed that of the 87 spray coatings analyzed, 37 were obtained from retailers in 20 cities and one municipality that did not pass the 90 ppm regulatory limit.

Worst of all, 29 of the 37 failed samples contained more than 10,000 ppm of lead, and the samples contained a dangerously high 82,100 ppm of lead. Even the products with the "lead-free" pictogram contained between 14,600 and 33,300 ppm ("Pb" is the chemical symbol for lead).

None of the 87 samples were produced locally by member companies of the Philippine Paint Manufacturers Association (PAPM), a partner of global lead paint elimination alliances such as the EcoWaste Alliance, IPEN and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

To protect public health and the environment, the EcoWaste Coalition and IPEN earlier called for the immediate removal of volatile products from the market. They likewise urged paint manufacturers, including those exporting to the Philippines, to obtain third-party Safe Lead Paint® certification to help consumers make informed choices when purchasing paint.

As stated in the Philippine FDA advisory, "Lead is a cumulative toxic substance that affects multiple body systems, is particularly harmful to young children, and may suffer profound and permanent adverse health effects, particularly affecting brain and nervous system development."

The FDA emphasized that "lead exposure levels that are known to have no harmful effects are not permissible."

In addition, the FDA says, lead exposure "causes long-term harm to adults, including an increased risk of high blood pressure and kidney damage," adding, "High levels of lead exposure in pregnant women can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth . and low birth weight."