Law No. 15.441 establishing the maximum permitted limit for lead in paints and similar surface coating materials.

This Law establishes a new regulatory framework governing the allowable concentration of lead in paints and similar surface-coating materials in Brazil. Its primary objective is to protect public health and the environment by restricting the manufacture, commercialization, distribution, and importation of products containing excessive levels of lead. The law sets a maximum lead concentration of 90 parts per million (ppm) for paints and related coatings, while providing limited exceptions for certain industrial and maritime paints, such as anti-fouling and anticorrosive products, which may contain up to 600 ppm of lead under specified conditions. The legislation also defines the products and actors covered by the law, including manufacturers and importers, and requires compliance to be verified through laboratory testing conducted according to recognized technical standards. The law further aims to strengthen enforcement of lead-content standards by establishing administrative penalties for non-compliance, including notification, seizure of products, and fines equivalent to the value of the seized goods. It empowers the Executive Branch to adopt implementing regulations and repeals the previous legal framework established by Law No. 11.762 of 2008. To facilitate a transition for industry and regulators, the law provides that it will enter into force 12 months after its official publication, allowing affected stakeholders time to adapt their production processes and comply with the new lead limits.