The Secretariat of the Strategic Approach to Chemicals Management (SAICM) and the University of Cape Town (UCT) are launching a new Community of Practice (CoP) on Lead in Paint to bring representatives from different sectors together and to create a learning network around issues related to the elimination of Lead Paint. This is a summary of the discussion on Setting low limits for lead in paint – legal side, which took place on 18 August 2020.

Presenters: Desiree M. Narvaez (UNEP), Steve Wolfson (US EPA), Amanda Rawls (ABA-ROLI)

The second LiP CoP discussion, presented by Desiree Narvaez from UNEP, Steve Wolfson from US EPA and Amanda Rawls from ABA-ROLI, reviewed three questions focusing on the legal aspects of setting low limits for lead in paint. Legally binding limits on the lead content in paint are necessary to eliminate lead paint. Why and how to establish low lead paint limits is an important topic for discussion within the lead paint community. The UNEP Model Law and Guidance for Regulating Lead Paint provides sample legal text for a 90ppm limit, which is the lowest technically feasible limit to date.