MI & Preservative Free Paints
Having a range of MI free paint is important to us.
Fundamentally, if you have acute issues from MI/MIT, then you are limited to certain white paints only. Although paints such as Graphenstone Ambient Pro are MI free in white, the coloured variations of this paint are not MI free. Auro 524 white is one of the only white only paints that does contain trace MI, even though most of the range of white paints are MI free. Confusing, I know….!
Graphenstone Paints: None of the white paints or primers in the Graphestone range contain MI. The (trace) MI only appears in the pigments. Please see below for further details.
Auro Paints: The white paints below are MI Free:
We are updating this page to bring up up to speed, as the last time we had a statement about MI was in 2017 from Auro “Do Auro paints contain MI?”
If you are sensitive to MI please double check the products as recipes change.
Does Graphenstone Paint have MIT in it?
24th March 2023 –
Source: MIT Statement PDF & Biocide update
“None of our white paints or primers contain MIT”
Bear in mind that pigments (in the coloured paints) can contain trace levels from manufacturing…
We have had people who are highly sensitive to MITs use some if the darkest colours – so with the highest concentrations of pigments – without any reaction. However, being cautious, it is best to advise if they want 100% MIT free, it needs to be white. They can then get a sample of the colours to test”
23rd December 2019
“OFFICIAL STATEMENT
Products with biocidal preservatives
According to the Health Ministry, the classification approved for the MIT under the CLP regulation will be mandatory on May 1st 2020, through the publication of the European Regulation 2018/1480 (which also introduces changes in the classification for other substances). Thus, waterborne paints containing more than 15 ppm MIT will have to be marked with the pictogram with the key word “Caution” and the hazard statement H317 – “May cause allergic skin reaction”.
Graphenstone has chosen to raise the pH of our paints to a minimum of 10.5, so they will not need any In Can preservative and will be exempt from both the pictogram and the H317hazard statement.”
Does AURO use MI, MIT or MCI as a preservative?
Yes, in some water-based products:
- 307 / 308 / 309 Roll & Brush Plaster
- 311 Natural Fibre Plaster
- 330 Full shade tint, No 81 & 82 only
- 370 Wall glaze wax
- 380 Natural resin universal adhesive
- 382 Floor covering adhesive
- 391 Wall covering adhesive
- 396 Cork filler Product
- 431 Floor care emulsion
- 505 / 506 Grip coat
- 524 Premium washable emulsion
- 657 Linoleum care
- 661 Wooden floors cleaning and care
- 662 Intensive furniture care
MI (also known as MCI or MIT – or to give their full names: methylisothiazolinone methylchloroisothiazolinone) and their Benzene relatives BI/BCI/BIT have long been used as a preservative in mainstream paint (and make-up) and have become an increasing source of anguish for many as they can be an allergen.
Previously AURO avoided these through using natural ethereal oils, however an EU directive on Biocides has enforced the use of a couple of prescribed synthetic products, the most natural of which was Thiazole which AURO managed to use in the smallest possible amounts of 0.01 – 0.02%. However as AURO are always striving to combine the healthiest possible product with high-performance products we have worked hard to move away from a known allergen and are pleased to announce that we are steadily removing MI and are endeavouring to have a completely MI free range – it is important to remember though that many AURO products have always remained MI Free (Mineral paints, wood work paints, oils, stains etc.)
AURO’s best-selling 321 Classic Emulsion was effected and we are now delighted to announce that all White 321 is now completely MI Free – currently some pigments do still contain MI but over the next few months AURO will be launching a range of MI Free coloured paints.
In addition AURO 301 Plaster Primer and the Grip Coast 505 & 506 are now MI Free and more products will follow suit throughout the year meaning that at present only a hand full of AURO products use (the tiniest amount of) MI preservative.