India announces the draft of IS on sampling and test methods for lead in paints and varnishes 
In early December 2020, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) released a draft revision of part 8/sec 5 of the Indian Standard IS 101, which specifies sampling and test methods for lead content in paints, varnishes and related products. The proposed revision will replace the existing IS 101:1964 and is open for comments until January 8, 2021.
The draft of IS 101 can be downloaded from the following URL.
https://www.services.bis.gov.in:8071/php/BIS/WCDraft/wcfiles/16648.pdf
The draft stipulates that the following four methods may be used for lead limit testing. In case of differences in the test results of the different methods, the test results of the electrolysis method shall be adopted.
- Electrolysis method
- Molybdate method
- Sulphide method
- Atomic Absorption Spectrometry method
The proposed revision defines the procedures and calculation methods for each of the above methods.
Determination of lead in lead-free paints is carried out by treating the ash of the paint with nitric acid and then with ammonium acetate solution, and precipitating lead as lead sulphide and finally oxidizing to lead sulphate.
In India, “Regulation of Lead Contents in Household and Decorative Paints Rules, 2016” was published on November 2, 2016. It prohibits the manufacture, trade and import/export of household and decorative paints containing more than 90 ppm of lead or lead compounds (of the weight of the total non-volatile content of the weight of the dried paints film).b Household and decorative paints manufactured or imported shall be labeled stating that the lead contents does not exceed 90 parts per million.
http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2016/172451.pdf
However, industrial paints are not included in the scope of this rule.
