Paint study: sampling and analysis methods

LEEP in partnership with the Office Congolais de Contrôle (OCC), the government conformity assessment agency under the Ministry of Commerce, conducted two studies to determine the lead content of paints available on the market in the DRC. We conducted the first study in Kinshasa in July 2025, and the second in Lubumbashi in December 2025. A total of 84 paint samples were tested: 46 samples collected in Kinshasa and 38 samples collected in Lubumbashi.

LEEP collected paint samples in DRC’s two most populated cities.

The paints were purchased from a wide range of retail outlets to ensure that the samples reflected what consumers can readily access. The products included water-based, oil/solvent-based paints and tints intended for household use. We prioritised white, yellow, and red paints (when available).

As no accredited laboratory in the DRC currently exists to test lead in paint, we dried and shipped the paint samples to an accredited laboratory at the University of Wisconsin in the United States. The lab analysed the samples using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) to determine total lead concentration based on dry weight. The analytical methods used are consistent with those recommended by the WHO for measuring lead in paint.

Paint study results

The paint study results showed that many paints contained lead levels that exceeded the WHO and UNEP recommended limit of 90 ppm. We tested 84 samples of paints and tints intended for home use in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi. The results showed that 46 of the 84 samples (55%) contained hazardous levels of lead above the recommended level.

• Kinshasa: 59% of samples exceeded 90 ppm, with the highest concentration reaching 76,000 ppm.
• Lubumbashi: 50% of samples exceeded 90 ppm, with the highest concentration reaching 50,000 ppm.
• Overall: 55% of all paints tested across both cities exceeded the recommended limit

A large proportion of paints contained extremely high levels of lead:

• In Kinshasa, 70% of samples that tested high lead (>90 ppm) exceeded 600 ppm.
• In Lubumbashi, 89% that tested high lead (>90 ppm) exceeded 600 ppm.

These dangerous levels pose serious risks to public health, particularly for children. Lead exposure from deteriorating paint can impair cognitive development, reduce educational attainment, and limit lifetime earning potential. 

The studies also revealed clear patterns in the origin of paints exceeding the 90ppm lead limit:

• In Kinshasa 63% of paints exceeding the limit were locally manufactured.
• In Lubumbashi 68% of paints exceeding the limit originated from the United Arab Emirates, 21% originated from DRC, and 11% from India.

These findings demonstrate that the problem in the DRC is both a domestic production issue and an import control issue. Effective regulation and enforcement must therefore address both locally manufactured and imported products. Importantly, non-lead paints were found in both cities. This demonstrates that the production and sale of lead-free paints is technically and economically feasible in the DRC. 

View the paint sample analysis results for additional details.

New Regulation Adopted

Building on the evidence generated through the Kinshasa and Lubumbashi paint studies, LEEP supported the Ministry of Industry, through the National Standardization Committee (Comité National de Normalisation), in strengthening the regulatory framework for paints.

On January 13, 2026, the National Standardization Committee officially adopted:

• Nine East African Community (EAC) standards on paints, including a binding 90 ppm limit on total lead content, aligned with the UNEP and WHO recommendations; and
• Ten ISO standards, which complement the EAC standards and strengthen quality control, safety, and industrial compliance.

This milestone aligns the DRC with regional and international best practices and establishes a clear regulatory foundation for eliminating hazardous lead paints from the market.

The adoption of these standards represents a major milestone for public health protection, environmental safety, and industrial modernization in the DRC. The next critical step is to publish these standards in the official gazette and raise awareness among the relevant stakeholders. LEEP will continue to provide support to the government in the DRC for an effective implementation and enforcement of this new regulation to ensure full compliance.

Supporting manufacturers to transition to lead-free

Following the release of the paint study results, the Office Congolais de Contrôle (OCC), in collaboration with LEEP, took proactive steps to engage the paint industry. The OCC issued formal notification letters to local manufacturers, communicating their specific laboratory results and highlighting cases of non-compliance. The letters included an invitation to participate in reformulation efforts and take advantage of LEEP’s technical support to transition toward compliant, lead-free paint production.

LEEP will continue to engage with the manufacturers to support reformulation using lead-free raw materials and to facilitate alignment with the newly adopted standards. This approach combines regulatory action with constructive industry engagement. The presence of compliant paints in both Kinshasa and Lubumbashi demonstrates that reformulation is achievable. Continued collaboration will be essential to ensure that all manufacturers and importers fully comply with the 90 ppm standard.

Acknowledgements

LEEP expresses its sincere appreciation to:

• The Office Congolais de Contrôle (OCC) for its leadership in conducting the paint studies and engaging industry stakeholders;
• The Ministry of Industry and the National Standardization Committee for championing the adoption of the EAC and ISO standards that embed the 90-ppm lead limit;
• The technical teams and laboratory partners who ensured rigorous analysis; and
• All stakeholders committed to protecting children and communities from preventable lead exposure in the DRC.