The market for paints and varnishes is a valuable one with significant global reach.

The Global Paint and Varnish Market Insights publication stated in its latest estimates that market size will increase to US$5.37 billion by 2025, from US$3.47 billion in 2018, at a compound annual growth rate of 5.6 per cent.

To protect the health of consumers, the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) is currently circulating a new draft standard on lead content in paints and varnishes.

Lead is now classified as a harmful substance when ingested or exposed to humans and animals, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Ingestion can result in anaemia, behaviour problems, hearing problems, and even coma and death.

Lead is added to paint for faster drying, durability, and moisture resistance. However, it has been generally phased out due to its toxic nature. Alternatives are water-based paints. In the United States and the United Kingdom, there are regulations prohibiting the addition of lead in household paints. The BSJ is a statutory body established by The Standards Act of 1969 to promote standardisation in relation to commodities, processes, and practices. Its proposed standard for Jamaica prescribes a maximum limit on the lead content in paints and varnishes supplied in fluid form.

The full draft document, which can be viewed on the agency’s website, proposes that the maximum lead content of paints or varnishes shall be 0.009 per cent (90 ppm) by weight, calculated based on the total solids (non-volatile) content.

It applies to paints and varnishes that are used in households, on domestic furniture and appliances, in buildings and places open to the public, for example, shops, offices, factories, or for commercial purposes.

This standard also applies to paints used for Industrial and Automotive applications.

However, it does not apply to paints supplied in the form of dried powders. The proposed standard comes with methods of sampling and analysis

The new draft was prepared by the BSJ’s Paints and Surface Coatings Technical Committee which is comprised of a wide cross-section of stakeholders.

Lead content, as indicated in the draft, means the percentage by weight (mass) of lead (expressed as Pb) in a dried film of paint or varnish, or in the total solids content of the paint or varnish.

As indicated, the paint or varnish to be tested is in the form of a dried film on a surface, it should be removed from the surface with techniques that prevent or minimise contamination by the substrate material.

An increase in demand for paints and varnishes is attributed to growth in construction and infrastructure development projects. Meanwhile, there is increasing consumer awareness regarding the presence of harmful content in paints and varnishes with a higher demand for safer products.

The BSJ has expanded to include the provision of services in relation to conformity assessment (certification, inspection and testing, and calibration) and metrology.

The bureau’s portfolio includes ensuring compliance with The Standards Act (1968), The Processed Food Act (1959), and the Weights and Measures Act (1976). Other aspects are implemented under The Trade Act (1955), The Customs Act (1941), The Petroleum (Quality Control) Regulations (1990), and The CARICOM Regional Organization for Standards and Quality Act (2005).

The Bureau operates as an agency under the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce (MIIC) and is governed by a 14-member Standards Council.

Comments on the new standard can be directed to Standards Development, Bureau of Standards Jamaica, 6 Winchester Road, Kingston 10.