QUEZON CITY — In a bid to uphold the law and protect public health, the toxics watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition appealed to socially responsible retail establishments to cease and desist from selling imported paints laden with lead, a potent neurotoxin and endocrine-disrupting chemical banned in paint manufacturing.
The group, a strong advocate for a society free of harm from chemicals and waste, issued the clarion call after monitoring the local sale of leaded spray paints from China and Thailand in at least 47 general merchandise, hardware and home improvement stores in Region III (Bulacan, Pampanga), Region IV-A (Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal) and the National Capital Region (12 cities).
According to the investigation conducted by the group from June 10 to Aug. 12, 47 of the 70 stores visited were found selling one or more spray paint brands that have been analyzed to contain lead in excess of 90 parts per million (ppm), the maximum limit set by the Chemical Control Order (CCO) on lead and its compounds.
The CCO promulgated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in 2013 banned lead-based raw materials in the production of paints and similar surface coatings, and phased out lead-containing decorative paints on Dec. 31, 2016, and lead-containing industrial paints on Dec. 31, 2019.
Among the lead-containing paints found on store shelves were products already flagged by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to their lead content such as the medium yellow JM Spray Paint, canary yellow Koby Spray Paint, grass green and light yellow Nikko Spray All Purpose Quick Drying High Gloss Acrylic, and Jialing red and orange yellow Standard Aerosol Paint.
The group further found leaded YiAD Paint, an aerosol paint made in China, on sale in some chain stores. Manufactured in May 2025, this paint prominently features the image and signature of boxing icon Manny Pacquiao on the front label. The former senator has yet to issue a statement disassociating himself from lead-containing YiAD Paint.
“We are appalled by the proliferation of imported lead-containing paints in the domestic market as if the lead paint ban is not in effect,” said Manny Calonzo, campaigner, EcoWaste Coalition. “The unlawful importation has not eased, as evidenced by our discovery of highly leaded paints with 2024 and 2025 as manufacturing dates, which are being offered for sale to consumers who are not informed of the risks. Government regulators need to flex their muscles and enforce the ban.”
“As for store owners, we appeal to them to shun imported paints unless independently verified as compliant with product safety standards such as the 90 ppm lead content limit. In keeping with their corporate social responsibility, we advise them to ask for third-party certificates of analysis and conformity from their suppliers before making such paints available to their valued customers,” he added.
“To help the Philippines in enforcing the lead paint ban, we request the DENR to nominate lead chromates, the most common lead-based pigments used in paint manufacturing, for listing under the Rotterdam Convention,” suggested Jeiel Guarino, Global Lead Paint Elimination Campaigner, International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN). “An affirmative decision by the Conference of the Parties will list lead chromates and lead paints as hazardous chemicals subject to the treaty’s Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure. If listed, companies that export lead chromates or paints containing them will no longer be permitted to export these commodities to a country that has not consented to import them.”
During its market investigation, the EcoWaste Coalition found on the shelves leaded spray paints bearing the names Aeropak, Anton, JM, JMJAFA, King Sfon, Koby, Korona, Nikko, Silvestre, Sinag, Standard, Standard JR, Top Standard, Top Tibay, Yatibay, and YiAD.
Based on the studies conducted by the group, the said paint brands have one or more colors containing lead above the 90 ppm limit as per X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) and laboratory analyses.
Some of the above named paints can be found in the “Public Notice on Lead-Containing Paints” co-published by the EcoWaste Coalition, Philippine Paint & Coatings Association, Inc. (PPCAI) and IPEN to guide consumers and retailers on paint products with lead content.
