June 23, 2015

　　This update focuses on the activities of the International Paint and Printing Ink Council (IPPIC). ACA serves as IPPIC Secretariat.

　　Nanotechnology Standards and Government Regulation

　　At the last IPPIC meeting in Australia, the Secretariat reported that IPPIC has excellent representation on the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) development committee for nanotechnology. The French association, FIPEC, has worked meticulously through the French national delegation to convey consensus technical positions reflecting coatings industry interests. This effort continues to be important for two reasons:

　　1. Emerging terminology for nanotechnology standards has the potential to integrate common, everyday paint and coatings products under the umbrella of “nanomaterials,” resulting in unwarranted regulations requiring continuous reporting, labeling, and even restrictions on end use applications. This outcome can be avoided by providing sound, science-based recommendations to the standards development community.

　　2. Continued research on the use and fate of engineered nanomaterials and nanoscale raw materials is increasingly seeking to assess potential exposures. Where such exposures are identified, researchers often point to as yet “undefined” public health and environmental concerns, which often drives moves by national authorities to increase scrutiny of nanomaterials usage and bolster claims for increased controls.

　　IPPIC seeks to identify emerging international legislative and regulatory interests and work to establish a consistent, recognized approach that aligns with or improves upon those in place in other IPPIC member nations.

　　The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is pursuing a rule that would require recordkeeping and reporting on chemical substances when “manufactured or processed” as nanoscale materials. ACA has joined a coalition of industry associations representing formulators of products to develop common technical positions to help shape any final rule in the United States. This is the first nanotechnology-related requirement to emerge in the country, and IPPIC’s efforts help the groundwork by ensuring standards definitions and terminology.

　　Also recently, the Swedish Chemicals Agency has begun an investigation on how nanomaterials could be included in the Swedish product register. It is not clear if the Swedish effort will only address chemical products or if it will include (nanomaterials used in) articles as well. As with other European Union (EU) member actions on nanotechnology, the overwhelming position of industry is that some sort of rational and uniform EU effort would be preferable to multiple varying initiatives in each of the member states.

　　This last point reinforces the need for IPPIC members to continue to share information on emerging national initiatives on nanotechnology. This will ensure that any resulting requirements take into account the paint and coatings industry’s longstanding safe use of nanoscale materials, and the care and consideration necessary to define any continued claims of risk.

　　Support for the UN’s Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint

　　IPPIC continues to work closely with the United National Environmental Program (UNEP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to move governments to act in restricting the use of lead in paints, focusing on decorative paints and coatings that have the potential to result in exposure to children. Recently, IPPIC participated in a high-profile endorsement of the United Nations’ (UN) Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint at the “Earth Day Concert” on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Support for the Alliance was showcased by Hollywood actor Don Cheadle, who himself is an Ambassador for UNEP. Citing the need for working with governments and the focus on eliminating lead use in decorative paints, Cheadle called on the crowd to commend the Alliance effort.

　　IPPIC has also supported the recent UNEP North American Conference briefing on the Alliance effort in Ottawa, Canada — an event that drew support from ACA and the Canadian Paint and Coatings Association (CPCA), another IPPIC member. Constructive remarks were also offered by U.S., EU, and Canadian authorities on the public health successes associated with existing lead paint restrictions, which highlights the need for government action in developing economies.

　　IPPIC also pledged financial and in-kind support for the planned technology-transfer project by the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in Latin America. Supported by the newly established LatinPIN organization — an alliance of paint trade associations in Mexico, Central, and South America — IPPIC hopes to work with industry and government representatives in four countries under the banner of UNIDO. IPPIC’s contributions demonstrate industry commitment and support, and the launch of the project awaits additional funding from governments and the U.N.’s Global Environment Facility (GEF).

　　International Maritime Organization Marine Environmental Protection Committee-68

　　At the 68th session of the International Maritime Organization Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC), it was announced that the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention is close to entering into force, since the number of ratifications required to meet the criterion has nearly been reached. The number of countries is currently 44, representing 32.86 percent of the world’s merchant fleet tonnage. The BWM Convention will enter into force 12 months after the date on which no fewer than 30 States — the combined merchant fleets of which constitute not less than 35 percent of the world’s gross tonnage — have ratified it. The IPPIC Marine Coatings Technical Committee has participated in the development of a test method to determine the compatibility between ballast tank coatings and active ingredients used in the treatment systems.

　　Also at the IMO, the last hurdle to adoption of the environmental chapter of the Polar Code was overcome, making the associated amendments to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). As a result, the mandatory code is now expected to enter into force on Jan. 1, 2017. The restriction on biocidal antifouling coatings that was in early drafts, and which IPPIC’s Antifouling Coatings Committee advocated against because there was no scientific justification, did not make it through the final process, so there is no unique restriction on their use in polar waters.

　　IMO Editorial & Technical Group

　　The British Coatings Federation represented IPPIC at the 23rd session of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Editorial & Technical Group in May. IPPIC’s contribution successfully helped prevent adoption of a Special Provision in the organization’s International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code indicating generic/N.O.S. entries which require addition of the technical name when they are marine pollutants. IPPIC was also invited to make a proposal to harmonize (to raise) the package size limit for viscous flammable liquids.

　　UN Sub-Committees of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and on GHS

　　Three delegates from IPPIC will participate in the UN Sub-Committees of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) in Geneva, Switzerland — June 22-26 and June 29-July 1, respectively. Although IPPIC has not submitted any papers itself this time, it will engage in advocacy on the following:

　　A practicable approach for packing group assignment for corrosive mixtures of Class 8;

　　Hazard communication for Class 9 environmentally hazardous goods;

　　Workable solutions for labelling of small packages and of non-dangerous goods during transport; and

　　Flexibility in linguistic variation of label elements where safety is not affected.

　　Contact ACA’s John Hopewell for more information.