New UAE scheme to reduce effects of toxic paints on health and environment

Dubai: To reduce the effects of toxic paint on people’s health and environment, a new certification scheme has been launched to test and certify paint products before their use.

Given the prevalence of paints in the UAE that continue to contain toxic heavy metals, the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (QCC) announced the launch of the Exterior and Interior Paint Conformity Scheme, which aims to improve the quality of paints in the emirate, particularly the heavy metals content, and identify eco-friendly paint products that release low toxic emissions.

The QCC, responsible for the development of quality infrastructure and raising awareness on quality in Abu Dhabi, announced the scheme as the latest addition to the Trustmark for Environmental Performance - Abu Dhabi’s certification programme that ensures the compliance of products to safety, environmental and sustainability performance standards.

Since certain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in paint are key contributors to indoor air pollution, the scheme will focus on 12 types of exterior and interior varnishes and stains.

VOCs can be a serious concern because when they are emitted into the air, they can lead to serious health issues including asthma, respiratory diseases, and allergy in children.

Abdullah Hassan Al Muaini, executive director of Conformity Scheme services, said, “The certification ensures that these products are embedded with features that enhance safety, sustainability and performance standards. We continuously seek to launch schemes that meet Abu Dhabi’s priority to ensure the well-being of consumers and the environment as a whole.”

“The Environmental Performance Trustmark also enables consumers to make educated choices and opt for certified environmentally sustainable products,” he added.

To gain the Trustmark for Environmental Performance, paint manufacturers and suppliers must have their products tested and verified by an internationally accredited laboratory when applying for the Abu Dhabi QCC.

Certification by the QCC is then gained on the successful testing of the product against the criteria of the scheme.

The scheme was planned in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council through its Estidama programme and the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD).

Mary Achkhanian is an intern at Gulf News