5 June 2026.  On World Environment Day, IPEN and its over 730 member groups from around the world are highlighting the ongoing risks to children from lead paint, noting that a key ingredient in lead paint, the pigments known as lead chromates, should be considered for global controls under the Rotterdam Convention. Morocco, Cameroon, Switzerland, and Australia have notified the Convention of their bans on the use of lead chromates in paint, putting the chemicals on the path for the agenda at the next Conference of the Parties to control the toxic trade of these pigments.

IPEN member groups in more than 20 low- and middle-income countries are currently assessing the trade and uses of lead chromates in their nations and will call on their governments to join in supporting the Rotterdam Convention action. Listing under the Convention would subject lead chromates to a Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure, whereby exporting countries must notify recipient countries and receive explicit consent before the substance can be exported.

"Lead paint remains one of the most widespread sources of lead exposure to children. Controlling the production and trade of lead-containing paints is essential to prevent lead exposure from paint in low- and middle-income countries," said Sara Brosche, IPEN Science Advisor and director of its lead paint elimination campaign. "A global approach is needed to protect millions of children, workers, and other highly impacted groups who remain at risk from this toxic product that can easily be replaced with existing, safer alternatives."

The unrestrained entry of lead-containing paints into the Philippines violates the country's lead paint ban.

"Despite the ban on lead-containing paints in the Philippines, we still find paints with high lead levels in store shelves and in online shopping platforms, many of them imported," said Manny Calonzo, Campaigner, EcoWaste Coalition.  "As a recognized champion in the global movement to eliminate lead in paints, we urge our government to actively advocate for the Rotterdam Convention listing of lead chromates, as this will help in controlling the trade of lead chromates and paints containing these pigments, and protect vulnerable sectors, the children, women, and workers in particular, from harm caused by lead exposure."

A recent IPEN report, "Exporting Lead Poisoning: The Toxic Trade in Lead Chromates," found that while the EU and other countries have banned the use of lead chromates, they continue to allow production and export of this paint ingredient with very little ability for importing countries to know or control what comes in over their borders, putting children and families in recipient countries at risk from lead poisoning. The study found that:

Between 2020 and 2022, EU exports of lead chromates were exported to between 43 and 48 countries, including between 36 and 39 countries that have banned or restricted lead paint.

Export data from India for the same period showed exports of lead chromates to 78 countries. This data shows that 44 countries import lead chromates despite having banned or restricted lead paint.

65 countries reported annual imports of a total of about 4,000 metric tonnes of chrome-based pigments from Canada between 2020 and 2022. However, Canada only reported exports to one country. These are likely lead chromates, though the publicly available data does not allow certainty.

In 2009, 120 countries called for a global phase-out of lead paint. Lead paint is a well- known source of childhood lead exposure, which has been linked to serious health concerns including damage to the developing brain and the nervous, immune, reproductive, and cardiovascular systems, with a range of adverse effects including loss of IQ, attention deficit disorder, hypertension, and other physical and behavioral problems. Often, these effects are permanent, irreversible, and untreatable.

Since 2007, IPEN member groups have collected and analyzed more than 5,000 paints in 59 countries and conducted awareness-raising efforts using the testing data. This work has supported the development and adoption of lead paint regulations in the East African Community (EAC) in 2019, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in 2024, the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) in 2025, and in more than 30 countries, with close to 30 more countries developing regulations. But more work needs to be done to end lead paint globally, including by regulating the trade in lead chromates.

IPEN's lead paint elimination work is supported in part by Coefficient Giving, a philanthropic funder and advisor working with a range of donors who share its commitment to cost-effective, high-impact giving.

Source: Pressenza