About Aerosols
Do Aerosols use HFCs in novelty products?
Download the 'Do Aerosols use HFCs in novelty products?' fact sheet here
European F-Gases Regulation
• EU measure to combat climate change (global warming) - part of Kyoto protocol
• Aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in EU: Refrigeration; mobile air conditioning; range of products containing HFCs including novelty aerosols
BAMA & FEA (European Aerosol Federation) Voluntary Code of Practice on use of HFCs in Aerosols
HFCs should only be used in the aerosol industry in applications where there are no other safe, practical, economic or environmentally acceptable alternatives
• Listed on Single Market Observatory (SMO) of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) database of European self- and co-regulation initiatives http://eesc.europa.eu/self-and-coregulation/full.asp?ID=21
Current Position
• F Gases Regulation 842/2006 effective from 4 July 2007
• Some technical aerosols must use HFCs as part of a non flammable formulation to ensure safety in use
• HFCs with global warming potential (gwp) > 150 banned in novelty products from 4 July 2009
• Other aerosols unaffected by HFC ban
Marketing & Use Directive 94/48/EC – Novelty Products
• Not implemented in most of the EU, including UK, as yet
• Will be implemented automatically from 1 June 2009 through the repeal of 76/769/EEC and incorporation of its requirements into REACH
• Novelty products must be non-flammable in use as defined in the Aerosol Dispensers Directive
• Non flammable HFCs have a gwp >150. No alternative formulations have yet been found for silly string. Other novelty products may be reformulated more easily.
