Kingston, 30 November 2017.- Local and regional representatives of the paint industry as well as supporting stakeholders and partners will meet to discuss possible regulations and standards for lead in paint at the Caribbean Seminar on the Development of National and Regional Regulations and Standards on Lead in Paint scheduled to be held at the Norman Manley Law School on December 1, 2017.
Globally, it has been noted that lead exposure is toxic to humans and presents significant risk of lead poisoning, especially for young children, causing lifelong impacts including learning disabilities, behavioural and mental disorders.
The seminar is one of several initiatives of the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead in Paint following a request by CARICOM, subsequent to a side event at the second UN Environment Assembly in 2016, to learn more about global trends regarding legal limits of and issues relating to the matter of Lead in Paint.
“The seminar is of importance to Jamaica and the Caribbean as it presents an opportunity for them to continue efforts to implement regulations and standards for the sound management of chemicals and waste,” says Vincent Sweeney, Head of the UN Environment Caribbean Sub-Regional Office.
“Lead in Paint regulations will help reduce significant risks to human health and environment while protecting our children’s future and economic productivity of countries in the region.”
The seminar, held in conjunction with Norman Manley Law School and the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead in Paint which is co-led by the UN Environment and World Health Organization and chaired by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, seeks to present options for the elimination of lead paint through the enactment of national and regional standards and regulations which will limit lead in paint to 90 parts per million (ppm).
Prior to the seminar, Government ministries and agencies in Jamaica in collaboration with international environmental and legal experts will participate in a discussion with an aim to consider the possible outcomes for Jamaica in adopting recommended lead paint standards.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
We kindly invite you to cover the event and/or arrange interviews.
Learn more about the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead in Paint
For more information and to arrange interviews, please contact:
Miss Deonne Smith, Communications and Partnerships Officer, UN Environment Caribbean Sub-Regional Office, Deonne.smith@pnuma.org/ 922-9267 ext 6245
