Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili participated in a panel discussion on ‘Towards a Lead-Free Future‘ in the framework of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

In his speech, the PM stated that lead poisoning stands out as one of the “most pressing” public health challenges in the world, and “this challenge extends beyond Georgia and other countries.”

“As for Georgia’s success story, first of all, multiple-indicator, cluster surveys conducted in our country in 2018 by UNICEF with support from the USA, revealed that 41% of children aged between two and seven years had blood lead levels above the acceptable threshold. These data triggered immediate action by the government. We swiftly initiated relevant steps aimed at mitigating and preventing lead poisoning in the country. The national response package launched in 2019 with support from UNICEF and USAID including the wide-scale awareness campaign.

In order to identify the sources of exposure, we have started the assessment of environmental conditions within the same program. These interventions resulted in speed improvements indicating the effectiveness of the response package. And at the fourth year of the lead response program implementation, we have observed a remarkable, 75% decrease in the prevalence of blood lead levels among children in the region. In order to sustain these achievements, Georgia has bolstered the regulatory framework, considering the lead-containing products aligned with EU Association Agreements. Since July 2023, we have implemented a string of technical regulations, controlling the manufacturer, sale, and import of construction paints. Legal limits have been set to govern the production, sale, and input of paint with higher lead concentrations. Additionally, to address potential risks, Georgia has enhanced its regulatory framework concerning lead migration in toys. Relevant regulation in force since 2021 focuses on ensuring the safety of toys, incorporating legal limits to govern the production, sale, and import of toys with high lead migration. We are also actively working on establishing government regulations to ensure the safety of these products, aligning with EU legislation and following the WHO recommendations. In order to improve the ambient air quality monitoring in the country, we have started continuous 24/7 sampling and analysis of heavy metals, including the content of lead in major cities. The current results show that ambient air pollution may not be considered as a source of lead exposure,” Garibashvili stated.

The PM underlines the importance of the international organizations, saying they play “a pivotal role” in this global effort.

“Georgia has been fortunate to receive substantial support from international entities, partners, and friends, such as USAID, UNICEF, WHO, Germany, and the Arctic University of Norway. This support is directed towards strengthening chemical by monitoring, building laboratory capacity, establishing surveillance models, developing communication campaigns, and training human resources. Importantly, our active involvement in the European environment and health process showcases our commitment.

Georgia is steadfast in his commitment to strengthening both human and technical capacities. We aim to further develop our lab surveillance systems, conduct thorough research on sources of lead poisoning, Implement effective mitigation strategies, and contribute progressively to the reduction of the burden and lead exposure.

To conclude, the World Economic Forum provides us with a unique opportunity to reinforce and elevate our collective political commitment to a shared vision – a world free of lead poisoning; adopting rigorous monitoring, strict regulations, and fostering international collaboration is Georgia’s commitment to address lead poisoning comprehensively. And I believe that at the united global community, we can achieve greater results, ensuring a healthier and more prosperous future for generations worldwide,” the PM added.