The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is notifying the public that Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) is banning the sale of indoor paints containing formaldehyde from 1 January 2026.
To ensure compliance, paint manufacturers and importers will be mandated to submit test reports demonstrating that the formaldehyde content in their products falls within the prescribed limit (the measured total in-can formaldehyde content in each indoor paint product is below 0.01% w/w). These reports must be prepared by laboratories accredited by recognized bodies such as the Singapore Accreditation Council.
Industrial paints and paints used for outdoor applications with formaldehyde content are excluded from the ban but must have a “for outdoor use only” label.
China and the European Union have implemented similar measures.
Formaldehyde is a chemical used as a preservative in some interior paints to prevent bacterial and fungal growth.
Exposure to high levels of formaldehyde may cause health issues such as eye, nose, skin, and throat irritation. Long-term exposure may increase the risks of asthma and even other forms of cancer.
It is important to note that formaldehyde is a highly restricted chemical in Nigeria. NAFDAC implores importers, distributors, retailers and buyers or users of paint products to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to avoid the importation, distribution, sale and use of the formaldehyde containing paint products. Members of the public in possession of such product should discontinue sale or use and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.
Consumers are advised to report any suspicion of the sale of banned, substandard and falsified products to the nearest NAFDAC office, call NAFDAC on 0800-162-3322 or via email: sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng
Healthcare professionals and consumers are encouraged to report adverse events experienced with the use of hazardous chemicals to the nearest NAFDAC office, via pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng, E-reporting platforms available at www.nafdac.gov.ng or via the Med- safety application for download on android and IOS stores.
NAFDAC…… Customer- focused, Agency- minded!!!
Signed Management
