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SON, stakeholders partner on lead reduction in paints

By BusinessNews Staff on August 13, 2015

Concerned on the harmful effect of lead in paints, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in collaboration with stakeholders in the paint industry said it has planned effective measures to check the ugly trend. Lead in paints, according to experts, remains life-threatening, especially to children and the young at heart.
At a joint stakeholders meeting in Lagos, Director General of SON, Dr. Joseph Odumodu sounded it loud and clear that the organisation was out to ensure that paint manufacturing in the country was conducted in line with global best practices, stressing that SON has the mandate to ensure quality and safety of end-users of products.
The Technical committee meeting was convened by SON to finalise the appropriate standard regulation on paints with a view to tackling the vexed issue of heavy lead in locally made paints.
Odumodu who was represented by Director of Standards SON, Mr. Abiola Komolafe declared: “We have resolved that the appropriate benchmark is 90ppm (part per million) and this is acceptable all over the world.”
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“‎For the consumers, if the content of lead is high, it is very hazardous and can create a lot of health problems particularly to children. All over the world, the focus is for the content to be brought down to the barest minimum so that it will be safe for consumers,” he said.

Odumodu explained SON’s processes of establishing and reviewing products standards, which when set are presented to Management and the Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment which is the supervisory ministry for approval, saying once it is approved, the stakeholders would decide on implementation.

“Paint Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) is here and I am sure once everything is put in place, they will know what to do. The public will benefit more through the implementation of our decision.”

According to Mrs. Mbah Adaora of Consumer Protection Council (CPC), “Our ‎ major concern is the lead content in paint because of the effect it has on human beings particularly in the bright colours, where you have the lead content more and these bright colours are what we use in our schools.

Children are the most affected, so it borders on consumers as far as CPC is concerned and that is why we are sticking out our neck here to bring down the level of lead in our paint.”

She urged SON to carry out adequate sensitisation on the proposed reviewed standards adding that CPC was ready to partner with SON and move into the market for enforcement.

In her words, “SON is doing a wonderful job because they are the standards body empowered to set the standards so what they are doing is in line with their statutory duty. Manufacturers should be committed to safety and quality,”

She emphasised that sustained awareness programmes would be needed adding that once new standard is in place, awareness should be the next line of action. “The public should be enlightened. Buyers should know what they are looking for. Once they are sensitized, you can go ahead to prosecute,” she said.

An industrialist, Mr. Tosin Dania, commended SON for the initiative, saying that this was the right path to go in ensuring all the nation’s products meet safety standards. He said the manufacturers should feel encouraged that they are being brought to a better standard where they can compete at the global market.
“It reposes more confidence in us by our consumers outside the nation and others seeking to buy things from Nigeria. It is good that Nigeria is taking the issue of safety seriously. “When you look at the global trend of event now, suppliers themselves are going for certification that can enhance their capacity to meet the need of more stringent clients. Suppliers have to meet safety specifications,” he added.

As for Mr. M. Adefarati, the Technical Committee Chairman, the review was also to harmonise ECOWAS standards to boost intra African trade.
“Lead is a toxic pigment. It is very important we need to control this in the environment. Children can eat the paint and if they do, it will affect their nervous system. We have addressed the situation to keep to international standards so that our products will be acceptable all over the world as well as in ECOWAS region.”
Adefarati advised stakeholders to be in tune with the ever changing technologies while also taking into cognisance safety of consumers and the environment.
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“On that basis, we need to exploit other areas that we do not need to use lead pigment in making paints. We advise that the paint manufacturers look for alternatives for lead because we are considering safety.”
Professor (Mrs) Kehinde Olayinka of Department of Chemistry, University of Lagos and Member, Technical Committee, lauded Odumodu, saying that‎ he has been doing his best by bringing SON out into the open more than ever before.
She also called on the agency to direct focus on consumer education, saying that the more people understand the benefits of standards, the better for the nation’s economy.

[ThisDay]

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