Forty one percent solvent-based paint samples tested in Malaysia exceed lead limit, as industry and consumer groups back a mandatory standard

Press release

October 27, 2026 (Kuala Lumpur) — One in four decorative paint samples tested in Malaysia contained lead above 90 parts per million (ppm), the internationally recommended limit, according to a study released by Lead Exposure Elimination Project (LEEP), the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP), and the Malaysian Paint and Coating Manufacturers’ Association (MPCMA).

The study tested 122 decorative paint samples from 31 manufacturers, bought from retailers, hardware stores, and online platforms across Peninsular and East Malaysia. Samples were chosen to cover major brands, three paint types, and the colours most likely to contain lead (white, yellow, and red).

Thirty-one of the 122 samples (25.4%) exceeded 90 ppm, and 15 of the 31 manufacturers sold at least one paint above the limit. The study found lead above 90 ppm in solvent-based and aerosol paints, up to about 99,000 ppm in one yellow aerosol (roughly 1,100 times the limit), and none in the water-based samples tested.

The study also examined lead concentrations across different paint colours.

Among the samples exceeding 90 ppm, yellow and red paints accounted for 26 of the 31 samples above the limit.

The findings are consistent with the historical use of certain lead-containing pigments in yellow and red paint formulations, particularly in solvent-based and aerosol products.

Malaysia introduced a voluntary standard, MS 2762, in 2022, setting a 90 ppm limit on lead in decorative paint. Compliance is not legally required. The share of high-lead paints has fallen since CAP’s earlier studies in 2016 and 2022, and several manufacturers have reformulated successfully. But the new findings show that voluntary action alone has not removed lead paint from Malaysian shelves.

Industry progress and commitment to lead-safe paints

Malaysia’s paint industry has shown progress in transitioning away from intentionally added lead compounds.

The introduction of Malaysian Standard MS 2762 in 2022 established a voluntary 90 ppm lead-content limit for decorative paints, providing manufacturers with a common benchmark. Many manufacturers have already adopted alternative pigments, driers, and raw materials to produce paints meeting the threshold.

The latest study demonstrates the progress achieved and the areas where further action is necessary. In particular, the absence of exceedances among the 31 water-based samples tested is an encouraging finding, while the elevated levels identified in certain solvent-based and aerosol products highlight the need for continued reformulation and market surveillance.

MPCMA remains committed to working with manufacturers, regulators, consumer organisations, and technical partners to support the transition towards lead-safe paint products across all relevant categories.

Joint support for a mandatory 90 ppm limit

LEEP, CAP, and MPCMA reaffirm their support for strengthening Malaysia’s regulatory framework by making the 90 ppm lead-content limit mandatory for relevant paint products, with a reasonable transition period, technical support for small and medium-sized manufacturers, and the same requirements for locally made and imported paint.

Because lead-free alternatives are already commercially available, the cost of a mandatory standard is small. An independent Regulatory Impact Assessment commissioned by LEEP estimates the total cost to industry and government at about US$11m over 20 years in present-value terms, less than a single year of the harm lead paint causes, however that harm is counted. Even under the assessment’s conservative scenario, the health and productivity benefits outweigh these costs by 4,059 to one.

These are preliminary, modelled estimates. No Malaysian study has yet measured how much lead exposure comes from paint, so the assessment uses a central estimate of 15%, drawn from UN Environment Programme, World Health Organization, and Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation evidence, and a conservative scenario of 10%. Benefits would accrue gradually as compliant paint replaces older stock.

Lead exposure causes permanent damage to children’s developing brains, lowering educational attainment and lifetime earnings. In adults, it is linked to high blood pressure and heart disease. Symptoms are often mild or absent, so exposure frequently goes undetected. Lead paint becomes a hazard as it ages, breaking down into dust and flakes that children can swallow or inhale.

The organisations support continued engagement with the relevant government ministries and agencies to determine the appropriate regulatory mechanism, product coverage, certification requirements, and implementation timetable.

Statements from participating organisations

Mageswari Sangaralingam, Chief Executive of the Consumers’ Association of Penang, said: “Lead exposure, even at low levels, is a serious risk to human health, especially for children, whose developing brains are particularly vulnerable. Lead paint breaks down into dust and flakes that are easily ingested or inhaled, often unknowingly, causing lifelong cognitive and physical harm. We have tested and found lead in Malaysian paint for decades. It is time for the voluntary standard to be made mandatory.”

Prescilla Ngan, Honorary Secretary of MPCMA, said: “Many Malaysian manufacturers have already moved to lead-free production, and none of the 31 water-based samples tested exceeded the 90 ppm limit. The results show where further action is needed, particularly in some solvent-based and aerosol paints. MPCMA supports making the 90 ppm limit mandatory, with a reasonable transition period and technical support, so that locally made and imported paints meet the same standard. Responsible manufacturers should not be undercut by those who continue to use lead.”

Ivan Mahardika, Program Manager at LEEP, said: “The evidence is clear, and so is the solution. Malaysia already has the right direction in MS 2762. Making it mandatory is the step that will protect the next generation of Malaysian children. LEEP will continue to support the government in this work, and we are offering free technical assistance to any manufacturer that wants to reformulate.”

Moving forward: an evidence-based approach

The 2026 Malaysia Lead Paint Study provides an important basis for strengthening consumer protection and advancing industry standards.

It demonstrates that elevated lead concentrations were identified in specific categories of the selected samples, particularly solvent-based and aerosol paints, while none of the water-based samples tested exceeded the 90 ppm threshold.

The findings support a focused approach combining mandatory lead-content requirements, continued product testing, manufacturer reformulation, appropriate controls on imported products, and clear consumer information.

LEEP, CAP, and MPCMA reaffirm their shared commitment to working collaboratively with the Malaysian government and paint industry to achieve the long-term objective of eliminating lead paint and ensuring that consumers have access to safe, high-quality, and affordable products.

Notes

About the study: LEEP purchased 122 decorative paint samples (56 solvent-based brush-applied, 35 aerosol, and 31 water-based) from retailers, hardware stores, and e-commerce platforms across Peninsular and East Malaysia. Where available, white, yellow, and red shades were selected from each brand. The 31 manufacturers sampled account for at least 85% of Malaysia’s decorative paint market. The study was designed to identify where lead is present. It was not weighted by sales volume.

Dried paint samples were analysed by the Wisconsin Occupational Health Laboratory (WOHL), which is accredited under ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO/IEC 17043, and by the American Industrial Hygiene Association under the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program. WOHL digested the samples in acid and measured total lead content by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, following NIOSH Method 7303. Results are reported in ppm dry weight.

About the 90 ppm limit: The 90 ppm limit is set out in Malaysian Standard MS 2762, which is currently voluntary, and is consistent with international guidance on lead in paint.

About the Regulatory Impact Assessment: LEEP’s independent Regulatory Impact Assessment estimates the costs and benefits of making MS 2762 mandatory over a 20-year horizon. It identifies the Trade Descriptions Act 2011 as the most direct route, with the Consumer Protection Act 1999 and the Environmental Quality Act 1974 as complementary measures. The assessment presents LEEP’s analysis and does not represent the position of any government ministry or agency.

About LEEP: LEEP’s mission is to end childhood lead poisoning. We work globally to eliminate lead exposure at its source, by first identifying lead prevalence through market studies, supporting governments to introduce and enforce lead regulations, and assisting industries to transition to lead-free alternatives.

About CAP: The Consumers’ Association of Penang is a Malaysian consumer advocacy and public interest organisation focused on consumer rights, public health, environmental protection, and sustainable development.

About MPCMA: The Malaysian Paint and Coating Manufacturers’ Association is the principal industry association representing paint and coating manufacturers in Malaysia, supporting industry standards, technical collaboration, and regulatory engagement.

Media contacts:

• Ivan Mahardika, LEEP, ivan@leadelimination.org

• Izzuan Kayat, Agyl & Partners (Kuala Lumpur), izzuan.k@agylpartners.com, +60 17-371 3667