About Aerosols
What is the Aerosol Dispensers Directive?
Download 'What is the Aerosol Dispensers Directive?' fact sheet here
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BACKGROUND |
SCOPE |
Original Directive 75/324/EECPublished in OJ 9 June 1975 |
1. Container size by material |
Amended in 1994 94/1/ECPublished in OJ 28 January 1994 |
2. Testing of empty cans |
Amended in 2008 2008/47/ECPublished in OJ 08 April 2008 |
3. Testing of finished aerosol product |
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KEY Changes in 2008 Revision
• Approved alternative to waterbath now permitted
• Increases maximum pressure at 50ºC to 13.2 bar for non flammable propellants (only)
• Reinforces hazard assessment of spray
• Allows for the development of alternative hot tests
• Limits maximum fill to 90% at 50ºC
• All aerosols can now be labelled by volume only (not just prescribed quantities)
• Introduces GHS classification for aerosols
• Reintroduces flammable liquids with flash point up to 93ºC
• ‘extremely flammable’ if ≥85% flammable contents
• ‘non flammable’ ≤1% flammable contents
• Full test methods reproduced
• In line with UN GHS for transport (already implemented)
ADD is an ‘Optional Directive’
The ADD is an optional harmonising directive, i.e. it requires all Member States to allow the marketing of aerosol dispensers which comply with the provisions of the ADD on their territory; it also allows individual Member States to permit other aerosol containers not regulated by ADD. The other EU Member States have made the Directive mandatory.
Compliance with the ADD is indicated by an ADD-specific mark on the container, the “reversed epsilon”. Aerosol dispensers marketed under national law, for which compliance with the ADD is not claimed, do not bear this mark.
BAMA strongly supports the position that the ADD should become mandatory in the UK.