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On June 24, 2025, Peru’s Ministry of Health (MINSA) enacted Decreto Supremo N° 007 2025 SA, establishing the Reglamento de la Ley N° 31182. The regulation sets a maximum lead content of 90 parts per million (ppm) in paints and other coating materials, with the aim of protecting public health from lead exposure.

Why It Matters

Lead exposure, especially harmful to children, pregnant women, and other vulnerable groups, leading to developmental delays, neurological damage, and a range of health issues. The new regulation aligns Peru’s standards with international benchmarks used in the EU and the US.

This decree mandates that all paint products manufactured, imported, or sold in Peru comply with new lead concentration thresholds, ensuring safer paints across the market. The regulation also sets requirements for labeling and mandates that manufacturers and importers adjust their formulations to meet the new standard.

Over the coming months, regulatory bodies will begin compliance inspections, and manufacturers and importers must adjust formulas to meet the legal standards.

Next Steps and Enforcement

The decree will enter into force six months after its publication in the official gazette, MINSA, through Digesa (the National Directorate of Environmental Health), will oversee implementation, inspections, and sanctioning of noncompliant paint products. Consumers should soon start seeing labels marking “low lead” or “lead free” paints, offering greater confidence in safety.

Broader Context

This decree operationalizes Law N° 31182, part of ongoing efforts to reduce lead poisoning risks, a public health priority in Peru. Similar regulations exist worldwide, such as in the EU and US, where lead in paints has been restricted for decades. Peru’s move aligns the country with global health and safety standards.

Public Impact

Families and daycare centers can expect safer indoor environments. Construction and paint industries will need to update supply chains and production practices, likely increasing costs short term but improving health outcomes long term. Environmental health professionals can leverage this as a foundation for further monitoring and outreach on lead hazards.

Summary

Peru’s Decreto Supremo N° 007 2025 SA, published today, officially establishes lead content limits in paints through the Reglamento de la Ley 31182. Starting now, paints in Peru must meet new safety standards, with inspections and enforcement mechanisms to follow. It is a positive public health stride toward reducing lead poisoning and follows international best practices.

Peru’s Ministry of Health has introduced new exemptions to streamline the importation of personal-use cosmetic and hygiene products, as part of efforts to modernise regulatory processes and facilitate non-commercial trade.

In a public statement released Monday, the General Directorate of Medicines, Supplies and Drugs (DIGEMID), through its Directorate of Medical Devices and Health Products, confirmed that individuals importing small quantities of specific sanitary goods will no longer be required to present a Mandatory Health Notification (Notificación Sanitaria Obligatoria) or Health Registration Certificate.

The measure applies exclusively to natural persons using simplified customs regimes, including postal packages, express delivery services, and simplified import schemes.

Scope and Limitations

To qualify for the exemption, the following conditions must be met:

• The importer must be a private individual, not a business entity.

• The products must be declared for personal use only.

• Shipments must not exceed four (4) units per package.

• No more than three (3) such shipments may be made per calendar year, regardless of product type.

DIGEMID further clarified that if multiple parcels addressed to the same individual exceed the unit threshold under a single manifest, the exemption will no longer apply. In such cases, standard import requirements, including health registration, would be enforced.

Individual Responsibility Emphasised

Authorities emphasised that responsibility for the use and safety of imported products lies solely with the individual requesting entry. "The use of health products declared for personal use is under the exclusive responsibility of the applicant," the notice stated.

The updated guidance was previously communicated to the National Superintendency of Customs and Tax Administration (SUNAT) via Official Letter No. 355-2018-DIGEMID-DG-EA/MINSA. Further details can be found here (in Spanish).