PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Heidi McAuliffe
hmcauliffe@paint.org(202) 719-3686

World Coatings Council Supports WHO International Lead Poisoning Prevention
Week of Action
October 25, 2021 – Washington, DC – The World Coatings Council (WCC) supports the World HealthOrganization’s (WHO) International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week of Action, Oct. 25 - 31, 2021.
During the campaign week, the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint (the Lead Paint Alliance or LPA),
led by the United Nations’ Environment Program (UNEP) and the WHO, aims to: raise awareness about
health effects of lead poisoning; highlight countries and partners' efforts to prevent particularly childhood
lead poisoning; and urge further action to eliminate lead paint through regulatory action at the country
level. WCC applauds all the proposed activities being advanced by other interested parties during WHO’splanned week of action.
WCC is an organization whose membership is comprised of trade associations from around the globe
representing the coatings, paint, and printing ink industries. WCC member associations have long had aninterest in addressing the health, safety and environmental impacts associated with the manufacture anduse of paints and printing inks, including the recognition, evaluation and control of hazards arising fromthe use of lead in paint. And the WCC has participated in workshops around the globe to educate industry
on the LPA goals.
WCC actively supports the efforts of the LPA to engage governments and implement effective andenforceable legislation and regulation. This work is centered in countries not currently restricting lead use
in paint, and WCC has committed to support industry outreach and education efforts in key regions.
The WCC continues to promote its longstanding policy statement (first published in 2009 under its
predecessor organization the International Paint and Printing Ink Council or IPPIC) that reflects enhanced
commitment and support by the global industry for restriction on the use of lead compounds in paint:“IPPIC notes the long-standing effectiveness of lead-use restrictions that are already inplace in many jurisdictions around the world and recommends their widespread adoption
by authorities not currently regulating the use of lead in paint and printing ink. To this end,
IPPIC supports the UN’s Lead Paint Alliance “Model Law,” as a useful starting point forboth government and industry to collaborate on developing restrictions that ensure
widespread and verifiable compliance.”
With its fellow LPA partners, WCC will work to establish effective controls and formalize the necessary
technical aspects of regulations to support reliable industry compliance. Notably, WCC is a recognizedNon-governmental Organization (NGO) that has consultative status with the United Nations Economicand Social Council (ECOSOC).
About WCC: WCC is comprised of members representing associations from Australia, Brazil, Canada,China, EU, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, Turkey, United Kingdom,and the United States. The Secretariat position is currently served by the American Coatings Association.
WCC provides a forum for information exchange and cooperation on the major issues and priorities
facing the paint and printing ink industries worldwide. For information about WCC and the activities it isinvolved in on behalf of the global paint and coatings industry, go to www.worldcoatingscouncil.org.
Administrative Office: 901 New York Ave., NW, Suite 300 West, Washington, DC 20001
Phone: + 1 202 462 6272 Fax: + 1 202 462 8549 • Email: worldcoatings@paint.org
Web site: www.worldcoatingscouncil.org