Laws to reduce toxic metals in paints

Chamikara Weerasinghe

The Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry yesterday said it will introduce regulations aimed at limiting toxic metals, such as Lead and other metal compounds in paints to avoid health hazards.

An official of the Ministry’s Consumer Affairs Authority yesterday said, studies in this regard have been launched with the stakeholders concerned. The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and Health and Nutrition Ministry is among them, the official said.

Several environment organizations have urged the Consumer Affairs Ministry, Health Ministry and Central Environment Authority to impose quality standards to the paint industry and make them mandatory without delay. Sources at the Consumer Affairs Authority said, they appreciate the concern by environmentalists for bringing the matter of Lead to their attention, but said, they have to meet all stakeholders including the manufacturers before they make any Paint Standards mandatory.

This can take time, the official said adding that they have arranged meetings with the Central Environment Authority, the Health Ministry and the paint manufacturers.

Asked from Central Environment Authority Director General Pasan Gunasena how they would look at the issue of harmful chemical content being used in paints, he said that current legislation does not give them any power to ensure safety standards of a product.