Aerosol Dispensers Directive

FEA has always supported strict, yet flexible, legal provisions in the Aerosol Dispensers Directive (ADD) 75/324/EEC, one of the oldest EU legislations related to product safety in order to ensure a high level of safety for professional users and consumers.

The ADD 75/324/EEC includes specific requirements related to flammability and pressure hazard as well as a general obligation to analyse all hazards which could apply to a particular aerosol product. Based on such an analysis, the aerosol dispenser is designed, constructed and tested accordingly and meets the appropriate safety requirements concerning its use.

For example every aerosol product must be tested in a hot water bath (50°C), or an approved equivalent alternative, to guarantee that the aerosol dispenser is sufficiently pressure-resistant and remains virtually hermetically sealed. To help fulfil these obligations, FEA is also developing industry standards and guidance for both members (free of charge) and non-members.

The ADD 75/324/EEC followed an evaluation process. The ADD contains a coherent and user-friendly text incorporating the provisions related to all aerosol dispensers which has contributed greatly to an effective operating market for aerosols within the EU. It has also proven to be successful by providing a very high level of safety. The evaluation study concluded that the ADD is still highly relevant, effective, efficient and coherent. The ADD also provides EU added-values in relation to consumer protection and better functioning of the single market.

In 2017, the EC Aerosol Dispensers Directive Working Group supported to initiate a new adaptation to technical progress to include updated provisions for plastic aerosols. FEA would welcome that discussion on a draft legislative proposal follows without further delay following FEA

Currently PET aerosols dispensers placed on the EU single market usually contain metal valve components. The European aerosol industry commits to replacing these with PET aerosol dispensers that contain no metal or non-floatable plastic components except PET, and which fully aligns to the European PET Bottle Platform (EPBP) Design for Recycling Guidelines.

FEA requests that the European Commission urgently introduces an adaption to technical progress to amend the provisions of the ADD for plastic aerosols because the related safety provisions are outdated, and the continued delay is disadvantaging EU based companies.

FEA developed a Guide on Hot Water Bath Testing and Its Alternatives. Additionally FEA makes recommendations on small aerosols and reversed epsilon.