On January 26, Administrator Samantha Power met with Johnson Ongking, the former Vice President of Pacific Paint (Boysen), the leading manufacturer of paint in the Philippines. They discussed the steps needed to phase out lead in consumer goods in low- and middle-income countries, an enormous opportunity to save hundreds of thousands of lives. Administrator Power recently issued a global call to action to spur global action and awareness to phase out toxic lead exposure, which kills more people each year than malaria and HIV/AIDS combined, and affects one-in-two children in low- and middle-income countries.
Specifically, the two discussed the important roles and opportunities for the private sector in addressing lead in paint. Ongking described how his company successfully eliminated lead from its supply chain without adversely affecting - in some instances even improving - its financial performance. This achievement was facilitated by the availability of cost-comparable alternatives to various lead components, and by the fact that the move enhanced the company's brand image by establishing it as a lead-free and environmentally-responsible manufacturer. They also discussed the importance of regulation and enforcement in phasing out lead from paint at the industry level.
Administrator Power noted USAID's complementary efforts to expedite the phase out of lead from paint in low- and middle-income countries. USAID recently became the first bilateral development agency to join the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint to accelerate the curtailment of lead in paint.
