Research and Advocacy :Toxics Link began its work against lead in paints with the launch of its report A Brush with Toxics: An Investigation on Lead in Household Paints in India in 2007. This was followed by three more reports on the issue of lead in paints, in order to investigate the extent of lead content in decorative paints found in India and other developing countries. The report Double Standards, released in 2011, was an investigative report on lead content in leading enamel paint brands in South Asia. All these reports are based on empirical analysis of samples in an accredited laboratory.

Several factsheets and other IEC materials have been prepared and widely distributed across a range of stakeholders. Apart from the information dissemination there have been a number of meetings on the issue and several sessions. Numerous lectures have been delivered in the schools and colleges.

Policy Intervention :  Reports and information material on the issue of lead in paints have been widely circulated among the regulators and government agencies. The issue was raised in the parliament of India and answers were sought from the concerned ministries. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) happens to be the major stakeholder for intervention in this campaign. Through information exchange and meetings, Toxics Link strengthened advocacy with the BIS to formulate lead standards for paints in India. The Government of India had notified the Regulation on Lead Contents in Household and Decorative Paints Rules, 2016 on 1st November, 2016 which came into force from 1st November, 2017. The regulation prohibits manufacturing, trade, export and import of household and decorative paints containing metallic lead in concentrations exceeding 90 parts per million.” Read the Regulation on Lead contents in Household and Decorative Paints Rules, 2016

Toxics Link has been actively campaigning in the South Asian region on the issue of chemical safety through a chain of regional partners. Reports published by the organisation have raised debate and discussions in countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. After the 2011 report was released, Sri Lanka formulated a mandatory standard decorative paints (ranging from 90ppm to 300ppm).