Two Philippine Companies Receive First Lead Safe Paint® Certifications

QUEZON CITY, Philippines, and EMERYVILLE, Calif., July 12, 2016 /3BL Media/ - Two companies, Pacific Paint (Boysen) Philippines, Inc. and Davies Paints Philippines, Inc., are the first in the world to earn the Lead Safe Paint® mark under a newly-established certification program. The certification program, established by the international non-profit IPEN, was created to let customers know that the paints they are purchasing meet the Philippines mandatory regulatory standard[1] and the world’s strictest regulatory standard for lead content in paint.

Paints from Boysen and Davies were certified by leading third-party certifier SCS Global Services (SCS), the program’s exclusive certification body. SCS’ independent analysis confirmed that paint brands from the two companies contained less than 90 ppm lead. As a result, both companies are licensed to use the Lead Safe Paint® certification mark on their paint can labels and other promotional materials. Using this mark will provide consumers with confidence that these paints will protect their families from the hazard of lead exposure.

“Paints with high levels of lead continue to be sold in many countries in the world, despite the strong science demonstrating the dangers of lead contaminations. Boysen and Davies should be lauded for voluntarily meeting the strict requirements of the Lead Safe Paint® label, and taking steps to let their customers learn about the importance of buying lead safe paint products. We encourage other companies and brand leaders around the world to join Davies and Boysen and seek certification,” said Sara Brosché, IPEN.

"It's certainly an honor to be one of the first companies in the world to earn Lead Safe Paint®,  certification." said Johnson Ongking, Vice President of Pacific Paint (Boysen) Philippines, Inc. "Boysen voluntarily removed lead containing raw materials from its paint products over a decade ago, even when there were no regulations that required us to do so; so we're certainly pleased that our efforts to promote lead safe paints have been recognized by a global program."

“Davies Paints has always been committed to manufacture high quality paint products to meet global standards with the goal of making a positive impact in the industry, in people's health and safety, and in environmental protection. As a member of both the US and the Philippine Green Building Council, our efforts are directed towards providing green decorative and industrial coatings to our customers. This distinction as one of the world's first certified Lead Safe Paint® is a testament to the Davies Mission,” said Johnlee Garcia, President, Davies Paints Philippines, Inc.

Nicole Muñoz, Operations Manager for SCS Global services stated, “SCS is proud to partner with IPEN to certify eligible brands to meet the Lead Safe Paint®  certification criteria and work with brand leaders to make lead safe paint available for wider consumer use.  We look forward to expanding this program globally.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) calls lead paint “a major flashpoint” for children’s potential lead poisoning, and points out that “lead paint is one of the largest sources of exposure to lead in children.” Moderate lead exposure during early childhood years has been linked to an increased likelihood of impaired cognition and executive function, impulsiveness, aggression and delinquent behavior. Brain damage caused by chronic, low-level exposure to lead is irreversible and untreatable.

Lead Safe Paint® is an independent, third party certification program that verifies paints contain less than 90 parts per million (ppm) or 0.009% total lead (dry weight). More information is available at www.leadsafepaint.org. The 90 ppm standard is used in mandatory regulation in the U.S., Philippines, Nepal and other countries. This standard is achievable when a manufacturer avoids the use of lead pigments and driers in its products, and when reasonable care is taken to avoid the use of ingredients that are contaminated or falsely labeled.

The EcoWaste Coalition, a public interest NGO in the Philippines, and the Philippine Association of Paint Manufacturers, with support from IPEN and the Occupational Knowledge International, deliberated and endorsed the lead safe paint certification standard in 2014.  This endorsement followed the adoption in 2013 of a historic government policy phasing out leaded architectural, decorative and household paints by January 1, 2017 and leaded industrial paints by January 1, 2020.

About IPEN
IPEN is a global non-government organization (NGO) with participating organizations in more than 100 countries working for a toxics free future. It has conducted lead paint testing and analysis in more than 40 countries and is a member of the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint Advisory Group. It is also the Scheme Owner for the Lead Safe Paint® standard and certification mark. For information, visit, www.ipen.org

About SCS Global Services
SCS Global Services has been providing global leadership in third-party environmental and sustainability certification, auditing, testing, and standards development for more than 30 years. Programs span a cross-section of industries, recognizing achievements in green building, manufacturing, food and agriculture, forestry, and more. SCS is a chartered Benefit Corporation, reflecting its corporate commitment to creating a material positive impact on society and the environment, and 2016 recipient of the Acterra Award for Sustainability.  For information, visit www.scsglobalservices.com.

[1] The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Administrative Order 2013-24 sets a mandatory limit of 90 ppm for lead in paint and establishes a three-year phase-out period for lead-containing architectural, decorative and household paints (2013-2016) and a six-year phase-out period for lead-containing industrial paints (2013-2019).