SAICM GEF Project - Lead in Paint component

Promoting regulatory and voluntary action by government and industry to phase out lead in paint

The lead in Paint component is part of the SAICM Global Environment Facility (GEF) project “Global best practices on emerging chemical policy issues of concern under the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management". The two other components are chemicals in products and knowledge management.

The project outcome is for 40 countries to legislate and implement legislation to restrict the use of lead paint; and for at least 50 small and medium enterprises (SME) paint manufacturers in eight countries to phase out lead from their production processes.

The project component on lead in paint involves working with governments to support the development of lead paint laws, and working with SMEs to promote the phase-out of the use of lead additives.

Through nationally focused interventions, project activities will work with SMEs to demonstrate the replacement of lead paint to non-lead alternatives using Best Available Techniques (BAT) and Best Environmental Practice (BEP).

Through a globally coordinated approach with governments and regional standard setting organizations the project will accelerate the adoption of legal limits to lead in paint.

The project started in January 2019 at its inception workshop and is scheduled to to end in 2021.

Project partners

• UN Environment Chemicals and Health Branch – Lead Project Coordinator for lead in paint component, providing overall project coordination with Executing Partners and supporting countries where Ministries of Environment will be leading the national process to develop laws in collaboration with UN Environment Law Division.
  
  
• World Health Organization – As Project Executing Partner, WHO Headquarters, Regional Offices and Country Offices will support countries where Ministries of Health will be leading the national process to develop laws, and providing health and lead paint law advocacy where needed. WHO Country Offices will be guided by relevant technical officers of Regional Office and Headquarters for the coordinated and harmonized implementation.
  
  
•  IPEN – a global network of environmental NGOs and Project Executing Partner, together with its local partners providing on-the-ground support e.g. for awareness raising and stakeholder outreach in countries with lead paint manufacturing. IPEN will engage with local paint industry where relevant and conduct pilot demonstrations for best practices in the small and medium enterprises in Nigeria and Indonesia.
  
  
• American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) – Project Executing Partner providing and coordinating legal support for countries drafting lead paint legal limitations in collaboration with UN Environment Law Division... Legal support may include activities such as researching existing regulatory frameworks or providing analyses, feedback, or suggestions for drafting lead paint laws.
  
  
• National Cleaner Production Centres (NCPCs) – Project Executing Partners; providing industry technical information as needed in the development or revision of lead paint laws in four pilot countries: China, Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia. NCPC Serbia is providing overall coordination of NCPC work on the project. NCPCs comprise a global network of organizations providing specialized technical and advisory services to industries in low- and middle-income countries, creating synergies between its members and improving their capacities.
  
  
• Secretariat of the Economic Organization of West African States (ECOWAS) – Project Executing Partner in West Africa providing support for the development of a sub-regional lead paint standard.
  
  
• US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) – a non-funded Executing Partner. USEPA chairs the Lead Paint Alliance and led the development of the Model Law and Guidance for Regulating Lead Paint. USEPA will provide advocacy and technical support to countries.
  
  
• World Coatings Council (WCC) - a non-funded Executing Partner. WCC is a global network of national trade associations representing companies that make paints and coatings. WCC will organise industry workshops and will engage with companies in countries where lead paint restrictions are not in place to increase industry awareness and provide technical expertise for paint reformulation.