Small paint units set to lose lustre

Reduction of toxic levels in paint set to hit SME sector in Telangana, AP

​Hyderabad: The Central government’s move to formulate new rules to reduce toxic lead levels to a minimum of 90 particle per million (ppm) in households is expected to hit the small and medium scale paint manufacturing industries in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh hard.

According to officials in Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB) and the Andhra Pradesh State Pollution Control Board (APSPCB) the draft rules had been circulated by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The modalities are, however, yet to be finalised. “The new rules are expected to come into force from November of this year,” said a senior official from the APSPCB.

Exposure to higher levels of toxic lead would have an impact on the brain development and would cause neurological diseases among children, besides posing other health hazards to people. These health issues were discussed for four years, said M V N Rao, member of the Indian Paint and Coating Industries from Hyderabad.

Terming the new rules as the result of pressure exerted by the big and multinational companies, the Indian Small Scale Paint Association (ISSPA), TS and AP region chairman Jnanadev Emani told to The Hans India, “there are about 150 small and medium enterprises engaged in the manufacturing of paints in both the Telugu States.

We had commissioned a study by hiring a consultant firm and it has been found that there are any adverse health issues.” However, we will take a final view after going through the new rules, he said.
The new rules cover industrial paints, including automotive paints, protective and marine coatings, powder coatings, refinishing paints, road marking paints waterproofing materials.

The household purpose paints include enamel, primer, interior, undercoating and finishing colouring materials as prescribed for household and decorative paints by Bureau of India Standards (BIS). The Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) contribution to the paints market in both the States would approximately around 20 per cent.

The new rules mandate the existing manufacturers and importers to self-certify by labelling “lead contents does not exceed 90 parts per million” or “lead content does not exceed 90mg/kg” and the labelling shall be durable and legible. The new paint manufacturers have to get their products pre-tested for lead confirm by certifying agencies before brining it out to market.

The Bangaluru based Central Power Research Institute, and its regional centres at Bhopal, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Nagpur, Nashik and Noida and any other agency notified by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will act as testing agencies for monitoring under the new rules.

A senior official from the CPCB Southern Zone at Bangalore said the new rules are all set to come into force from November this year. However, the official expressed that they are not aware of any data on the number of SMEs which will be affected under its jurisdiction, once the rules come into force.