G/TBT/N/SGP/57  
19 February 2021  
(21-1416) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  SINGAPORE   
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:  National Environment Agency (NEA)  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
Ms Stefa nie Koh  
Senior Scientific Officer, Pollution Control 2 Division  
40 Scotts Road, #12 -00 Environment Building  
Singapore 228231  
Email: stefanie_koh@nea.gov.sg  
Mr Chen Fu Yi  
Principal Engineer, Pollution Control 1  Division  
40 Scotts Road, #12 -00 Environment Building  
Singapore 228231  
Email: Chen_Fu_Yi@nea.gov.sg   
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):   
HS heading  Description  
32081020  Anti-fouling or anti -corrosive paints for ships' hulls based on polyesters 
in non -aqueous medium  
32081090  Other paints based on polyesters in non -aqueous medium & solutions  
32082040  Anti-fouling or anti -corrosive paints of acrylic or vinyl polymers i n non -
aqueous medium for ship hull  
32082090  Other paints & varnishes in non -aqueous medium & solutions based on 
acrylic or vinyl polymers  
32089030  Anti-fouling or anti -corrosive paints for ships' hulls based on other 
polymers in non -aqueous medium  
32089090  Other paints in non -aqueous medium & solutions based on other 
polymers  G/TBT/N/SGP/57  
 
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  32091050  Anti-fouling or anti -corrosive paints of acrylic or vinyl polymers in 
aqueous medium for ships hulls  
32091090  Other paints & varnishes of acrylic or vinyl polymers in aqueous 
medium  
32099000  Other paints & varnishes of synthetic or chemically modified natural 
polymers in aqueous medium  
32100091  Anti-fouling or anti -corrosive paints for ships hulls  
32100099   Other paints & varnishes  
 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Environmental 
Protection and Management Act (Amendment of Second Schedule) Order 2021 
(3 page(s), in English)  
6. Description of content:  NEA is proposing the following enhancements to the control of 
lead in paints:  
a) The manufacture and import of all paints, except zinc -based anti -corrosion and 
copper -based anti -fouling paints, with total lead concentration exceeding 90  ppm 
will not be allow ed, unless solely for export; and  
b) Zinc-based anti -corrosion and copper -based anti -fouling paints with total lead 
concentration exceeding the limit of 90 ppm can only be used for industrial 
applications and the following label must be affixed on the paint c ontainers, unless 
solely for export: "This paint contains lead. Restricted to industrial applications 
only. Do not use on furniture, buildings or in publicly accessible areas".  
c) The manufacture/import of all paints with total lead concentration exceeding 
90 ppm for export will require a Hazardous Substance license from NEA.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Lead is a cumulative toxicant that poses serious risks to the environment 
and human health. The exposure to lead can be from occupational and environmental 
sources (i.e. via inhalation of lead particles and/or ingestion of lead -contaminated dust, 
water an d food). According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), paint 
producers have increasingly eliminated the use of intentionally -added lead additives in 
their paints for architectural and industrial applications. Many countries like the United 
States, Canada, Philippines and India have adopted the 90 ppm total lead concentration 
limit, in line with the recommendation from UNEP. As part of NEA's efforts to further 
protect our environment and public health, NEA reviewed the current control of lead  in 
paints considering the technological developments in the paint industry and control 
measures implemented by other countries, and is proposing to enhance the control of 
lead in paints.  
8. Relevant documents:   
• Environmental Protection and Management Act  (EPMA) (version in force from 
12 February 2020).  
The above document is available online at http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  Notice will be published in the Republic of Singapore's 
Government Gazette when adopted  
Proposed date of entry into force:  Notice will be published prior to the date of entry 
into force  G/TBT/N/SGP/57  
 
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  10. Final date for comments:  60 days from notification  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [X] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body: