Singapore tightens limit of lead content in paint to 90ppm

The “Environmental Protection and Management Act (Amendment of Second Schedule) Order 2021” was promulgated in Singapore on June 3, 2021. This amendment strengthens the limit of lead content in paint to 90ppm (0.009%). This order will take effect on January 3, 2022. The original text of this order can be downloaded from:
https://sso.agc.gov.sg/SL-Supp/S365-2021/Published/20210603?DocDate=20210603&ViewType=Pdf&_=20210604054914

Limit raised from 600 ppm to 90 ppm

This order amends the provisions on lead compounds in paint in Part I “Toxic Substances” of Appendix 2 of the Environmental Protection Administration Law. According to the previous regulation, paints containing more than 600 ppm (0.06%) of lead compounds were restricted, but this revision raises the limit to 90 ppm (0.009%). This 90 ppm limit is in line with international trends, and similar regulations have recently been promulgated in countries such as Vietnam, the Philippines, and India. In Singapore, even if the concentration exceeds 90 ppm, it is exempted if all of the following conditions are met

• • Copper-based antifouling paints or zinc-based anti-corrosion paints; and
  • Paints imported into Singapore or manufactured in Singapore (except for export purposes only); and
  • Paint in a container labelled in accordance with Part III of Appendix 2 of the Environmental Protection Management Act.

Part III of Appendix 2 above specifies the wording that must appear on the label of the paint container as follows:

This paint contains lead.

Restricted to industrial applications only.

Do not use on furniture, buildings or in publicly accessible areas.

*Note that according to the above amendment, Part IV of the Second Schedule has been deleted.

In addition, the provisions regarding “antifouling compositions” in Part II (General Exemptions) of the Second Schedule are also amended by this order as follows. The general exemption refers to applications that are not subject to the Environmental Protection and Management Act, including ceramics, adhesives, inks, and plastics.