QUEZON CITY, Philippines – IPEN, an international non-profit leader in environmental health and chemical safety, announced that paint products manufactured by Sycwin Coating & Wires Inc. (Sycwin), a leading paint manufacturer from the Philippines, have been certified under the Lead Safe Paint^® standard. Sycwin is the first company to have its industrial paint brands certified lead-safe in conformity with the approaching phase-out period for industrial paints in the Philippines at the end of the year.

The certification encompasses the company’s entire portfolio of architectural paints, including PureCoat Premium, WeatherGard, Sycwin, PureCoat Advance, Minnesota, Delaware, Alabama, and Kansas, as well as industrial paint brands Guilder and Illinois – 10 brands and 590 products in all.

"Our company is extremely proud to receive Lead Safe Paint certification for all our brands. We are especially proud of the recognition of our leading premium brand, Guilder, as the first industrial paint brand to achieve the Lead Safe Paint certification in the world," said Michael Sy, President of Sycwin. "Earning this certification even for our economy-grade paint brands shows our company's full commitment to protecting the health and safety of the children and families in our community and the environment."

Lead Safe Paint is an independent certification program that verifies paints contain less than 90 parts per million (ppm) total lead on a dry weight basis — the strictest regulatory limit for lead content in paint established by any government anywhere in the world and the limit recommended by the UN Environment Program. The current regulatory limit in the Philippines, Nepal, Cameroon and Ethiopia is a total maximum lead content of 90 ppm for all paints. Adherence to this limit ensures that a manufacturer can sell its paint anywhere in the world. This limit is achievable when a manufacturer does not use lead compounds in pigments, driers and other paint additives in its products.

“Despite strong scientific evidence establishing the dangers of lead exposure, paints containing high, unsafe lead levels continue to be sold in many countries, especially in developing countries and countries in economic transition. The leadership taken by Sycwin and other companies will improve the health and safety of communities in the developing world,” said Jeiel Guarino, Global Lead Paint Elimination Campaigner, IPEN.

“There is growing education and awareness driving global demand for safer paint products. The lead-safe paint certification will enable customers to make informed choices that will protect their families from the hazards of lead exposure,” added Nicole Muñoz, Managing Director for SCS Global Services, IPEN’s exclusive third-party certification body.