Notice 6

POST IMPLEMENTATION SURVEY ON IMPACTS OF THE RESTRICTION OF LEAD COMPOUNDS IN INDUSTRIAL SURFACE COATINGS AND INKS

 

This notice is directed to persons who

• Import or manufacture industrial surface coatings and/or inks
• Import or manufacture components of industrial surface coatings and/or inks
• Use industrial surface coatings and/or ink products/components.

NICNAS is conducting a review of the impact on industry, workers and the public of restricting the concentration of lead in industrial surface coatings and inks. We are seeking to collect data by way of a voluntary, web based survey which will run until Friday 29 April 2012. The restrictions have now been fully implemented since January 2009 and the Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR) requires this review to be undertaken post implementation, as a Regulatory Impact Statement was not completed prior to introduction of the restrictions.

 

The review will consider impacts across industry, the public and the not for profit sector and will consider not only financial, but health and safety impacts as well.

 

In September 2007, NICNAS published its assessment report on the health effects of certain lead compounds used in industrial surface coatings and inks http://www.nicnas.gov.au/Publications/CAR/PEC/PEC29.asp). The report recommended that the Australian Inventory of Chemical Substances (AICS) be annotated to restrict the concentration of lead to 0.1% or less. The Director of NICNAS accepted the recommendation and annotated the AICS, in accordance with S13 of the Industrial Chemicals (Notification and Assessment) Act (1989), via a phased approach to minimise the impact on business.

 

Industrial surface coatings, which include liquid products and powder coatings, are those not typically used in domestic situations. For example, painting of factories, bridges, motor vehicles, machinery and equipment, and coating of materials used in commercial buildings such as window frames. Restrictions on lead compounds in inks relate not only to industrial uses, but to any uses of inks.

 

The survey can be completed and submitted online and is available on the NICNAS website at http://www.nicnas.gov.au/Consultations.asp.

 

For further information contact Stephen Zaluzny on 02 8577 8883, or if outside the 02 STD area freecall 1800 638 528, or by e-mail at Stephen.zaluzny@nicnas.gov.au

 

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