Banned in the US and the UK

In 1971, the United States government banned lead-based paints on public housing. In 1978, nearly two decades after the actions of local departments of health, the federal government banned the use of lead in virtually any paint intended for sale to consumers. In 1992, European Union legislation was implemented within the United Kingdom by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). This legislation, under Controls on Injurious Substances Regulations, prevents the addition of lead to all paints except those intended for use in historic buildings and as artwork.