Colombia.
The Association of Andean Coating Technicians (STAR), the International Council of Paint and Paint Ink (IPPIC) and the Brazilian Association of Coating Manufacturers (Abrafati) organized workshops for paint companies in order to learn more about the United Nations Lead Alliance (LPA), and its efforts to eliminate the use of lead in paints and coatings.
The workshops, held in Medellín and Bogotá, were the first organized by IPPIC and Abrafati, and were made possible thanks to the support of STAR, which is a key communication resource for the painting industry in Colombia and throughout the Andean region. Nearly 100 technical industry officials attended, as well as representatives of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Clean Technology Centre and local support organizations.
The workshops provided information on three key themes: 1) the position established by IPPIC on restrictions on lead paint and efforts in support of the APL, emphasizing engagement with governments; 2) a "case study" on the restrictions established in Brazil and the opportunities for the industry; And 3) requirements of the technical formulation.
Participants were very sensitive to the message of establishing lead restrictions, in particular, LPA's current goal of addressing the use of lead in residential and decorative paints, where the recognized risk of children's exposure is a global concern. While government involvement is critical to establishing a "level playing field," industry participants were informed of different ways to achieve enforceable restrictions including legislation, regulation, or formal voluntary agreements.
The success of these initial workshops has led to requests from other Andean countries for IPPIC to organize additional events. Therefore, IPPIC is looking for ways to package the workshop materials to enable their delivery at upcoming industry events in the region, starting in early 2017.
Source: American Coatings Association.
