Painting the town
Allowable levels of lead impurities in paints have been significantly reduced. Further reductions apply not only to building paints, also to art materials, such as chalk, crayons, and felt-tip pens.
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has made the changes to a series of group standards that cover these products to reduce any potential exposure to lead and further protect people’s health and safety.
Group standards are approvals and rules for using a group of hazardous substances of a similar nature, type or use. At high levels, lead can cause serious health effects, such as permanent damage to the brain and nervous system, anaemia and kidney damage. It is also toxic to plants, animals, and micro-organisms.
Although lead is not intentionally added to modern paints, some products can contain trace levels as an impurity.
“We’ve cut the amount of lead impurities allowed in paints to ensure our rules are as robust as possible, and that they align with other international regulators,” says Dr Shaun Presow, Hazardous Substances Reassessments Manager.
“Modern paints do not contain lead pigments, but houses with old lead-containing paints are a known risk to people through chipping and flaking. We want to make sure this same issue can’t happen in the future.
“We’re taking a precautionary approach to how we regulate lead, and all these changes will protect people’s health by reducing the risk of exposure to this substance,” says Shaun.
The new rules will take effect from 1 March 2025. Importers, suppliers, retailers, and consumers must safely dispose of any products or substances that do not meet the requirements of the amended group standards by 1 September 2025.
KEY CHANGES
• Reduce lead impurity levels allowed in paints, including corrosion inhibitors, to 0.009% (90 parts per million/ppm), in line with countries including Australia, Canada, and the United States
• Require test results (or other evidence) showing lead impurity levels in paints
• Adjust group standards so all graphic materials marketed to children are covered only by the Graphic Materials Group Standard
