Lead now banned in toys, paints, food packs

Philippine Environment Secretary Ramon Paje . AFP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Local manufacturers of paints, toys, food packaging and other consumer products are now banned from using lead and its compounds due to the harmful effects of the chemical on health and the environment.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Thursday announced the issuance of a chemical control order prohibiting the use of lead in the local production of consumer products, as well as its importation, sale, distribution and disposal.

“The Chemical Control Order (CCO) for Lead and Lead Compounds is a result of numerous consultations with various stakeholders with the intention of reducing unreasonable risks and injuries to people as a result of their exposure to the chemical as well its negative impact on the environment,” Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said in a news release.

He also said the order was in support of the global action for the elimination of lead in paints.

Highly toxic

Lead is a highly toxic heavy metal that can severely damage the nervous system of people who have been exposed to it or who have ingested it by accident.

It can also affect the development of children, damage the cardiovascular, reproductive and immune systems, impair the kidneys and cause hearing loss and tooth decay.

Under DENR Administrative Order No. 2013-24, lead and lead compounds are strictly prohibited in the local manufacture of packaging for food and drink, toys, school supplies, cosmetics, water pipes and other consumer products.

It also reiterates the ban on the use of lead as a fuel additive.

“With the CCO, existing prohibitions by other agencies of the government governing the use of lead and lead compounds in various consumer products are further strengthened,” Paje said.

Standard content

The order has also set the standard content of lead for locally produced paints at 90 parts per million, as well as the time frame for the strict implementation of the standard, which starts in 2016 for paints intended for architectural, decorative and household applications, while the ban for paints for industrial applications begins in 2019.

RA 6969 was issued by the government in response to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal.—DJ Yap