Media Release

Pending Government crackdown on sale of leaded paint looms

The National Department of Health plans to investigate reports of the ongoing availability of hazardous lead-based paint in South Africa despite the promulgation of legislation nearly a year ago, to ban its manufacture and sale.

Professor Angela Mathee, Director of the Medical Research Council’s (MRC) Environment and Health Research Unit, said she had been watching with interest the SA Paint Manufacturing Association (SAPMA) initiative to remove leaded paint from retail shelves in recent years.

“I was shocked to learn from SAPMA that there are still manufacturers and major retail outlets that are not taking government legislation or this major public health problem to heart. It is shameful that manufacturers or suppliers would willfully impose on unwitting members of the public a known and banned hazard, especially to young children,” she added.

She gave her support to the SAPMA lead-free campaign and advised consumers to look for the stickers at retail outlets indicating that they have joined SAPMA’s lead-free paint quest. “One child who contracts lead poisoning by chewing paint coatings with illegally high lead levels is one too many,” added Mathee, who spearheaded the anti-lead campaign - and exposed the prevalence of lead poisoning in children - some years ago.

Professor Nicky Padayachee, Deputy Director General within the Department of Health said that the health consequences of lead poisoning were severe, including reductions in IQ scores, hyperactivity, learning difficulties and poor performance at school. “In light of this, we are obliged to act to the full extent of the law against those who ignore the lead paint legislation, and in so doing pose a serious, yet preventable, risk to the South African public,” he added.

Deryck Spence, Executive Director of SAPMA, said the association would welcome increased governmental pressure to aid its campaign against leaded paints. “Apathetic paint retailers –who do not believe that they are part of the paint industry and are immune from responsibility, are risking major consumer resistance as well as public health,” he added.  

Ends

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

National Department of Health:
Fidel Hadebe –079 517-3333

Medical Research Council
Professor Angela Mathee – 082 464 7038

South African Paint Manufacturing Association
Mr Deryck Spence – 082 894 6402