ESDO’s Successful Intervention in 5th Asia-Pacific regional meeting on the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM)

Adopted by the First International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM1) on 6 February 2006 in Dubai, the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) is a policy framework to promote chemical safety around the world.

Recently the 5th Asia-Pacific regional meeting on the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) is being held in Bangkok, Thailand from 23-25 January, 2018. Siddika Sultana, Executive Director, ESDO took part in the meeting and successfully intervened on ESDO’s emerging policy Issue ‘Lead Safe Paint’.

According to Siddika Sultana, “Lead in Paint is one of the priority issue in the Asia Pacific Meeting. We all aware that lead in paint is one of the largest sources of exposures to lead in children. Also, lead causes the unacceptable risks to environment and human health. However, after lead in paints has been accepted as an emerging issue in SAICM, I would like to update some progress taking place in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is committed to phase out lead from paints and has drafted a strict national standard to contain lead content in paint. In an important development, the Bangladesh National Paint company one of the largest paint company has got Lead Safe Paint certification. The certification program was established in 2015 with collaboration of the IPEN.

However, globally lead in paints need to be phased out  and many developing countries are  still struggling resulting huge burden on the environment and human health.

The region agreed in the 4th Asia Pacific meeting  that calls on countries to promote regulatory frameworks and requests UNEP to consider organizing a regional Asia Pacific workshop at which multi-stakeholder participants can receive information, training and advice on how to eliminate lead paint. The resolution invites UNEP and others to support the environmentally sound management of lead paint wastes in developing and transition countries. Finally, the resolution requests WHO to assist with efforts to conduct regular monitoring.

Hence I would urge SAICM to give adequate attention to  lead in paint issue beyond 2020”

Learn More: http://ipen.org/site/saicm-regional-meetings-2018