About BAMA
The BAMA Standard for Consumer Safety and Good Manufacturing Practice
Issue 4 – Now Online
The safety of its products during consumer use, manufacture and distribution is of paramount importance to the aerosol industry. In the 1960s, in the absence of legislation or recognised standards, BAMA developed a Code of Practice to provide advice on safe practices. Subsequent editions of this Code have included advice on the legislation as it evolved and references to BAMA guides to safety in manufacturing, the aerosol laboratory and warehousing. With the annual UK production of aerosols now around 1.3 billion units, the excellent safety record of the aerosol industry is a testament to the responsible stance that the industry has taken.
In 1997, BAMA committed to a Strategy Action Plan which focuses on safety in the manufacture and use of aerosol products. Key to the plan is The BAMA Standard for Consumer Safety and Good Manufacturing Practice. In a series of modules, The BAMA Standard defines good practice and provides a step-by-step guide for companies to assess their performance against clear requirements. Some indications of best practice are also included as an aid to continuous improvement. Teams of experts from the aerosol industry have written The Standard not just for BAMA Members but for the industry as a whole. The aim is that The Standard will help to maintain and raise safety standards throughout the industry. Each module is designed to fit together with the others to ensure coverage of the aerosol from 'the cradle to the grave'. A summary of what is covered by each module is given below.
BAMA has always worked closely with Government Agencies on questions of aerosol safety. The Department Business Innovation and Skill’s Consumer Safety Unit, LACOTS and the Health and Safety Executive have been consulted on the contents of The Standard.
For reference, the terms used in The BAMA Standard are defined as:
Good Practice
Practices in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements plus those that the industry believes ensure safety of the consumer and/or in the workplace. A Good Practice Requirement will be specified using the word ‘shall’.
Best Practice
Recommendations that provide enhancements over and above Good Practice. A Best Practice will be specified using the word ‘should’.
Guidance
Descriptive information giving background and/or advice on how to meet Good or Best Practice and on what to look for to assess compliance with the requirement.
What are the key changes for issue 4?
• Module 1 – new guidance relating to REACH and the revise EU Aerosol Dispensers Directive
• Module 3 – new requirements to incorporate existing BAMA guidance on packing of finished aerosols for transport.
• Module 4 – new requirements and advice to reflect the implementation of REACH, the revision of the EU Aerosol Dispensers Directive and the introduction of the new EU Regulation on the Classification, Labelling and Packaging of substances and mixtures (CLP).
• Module 5 - adjustment to align with the ADR 2009 Transport regulations and to highlight changes due to be implemented from 2011.
• Module 7 – changes to the regulatory framework to reflect the difference in how waste management regimes work in the devolved administrations of the UK.
• Module 9 – to reflect the reality that most of the activities relating to product recall and consumer returns are outside the direct control of the aerosol manufacturers, BAMA has decided to issue expanded ‘stand alone’ advice on this issue. Module 9 has therefore been withdrawn and the expanded advice can be found at http://www.bama.co.uk/regulatory/
Impress Merthyr Tydfil Ltd (formerly USC Europe UK Ltd) received accreditation to the BAMA Standard in April 2006.
All members can access the online Standard by logging in your username and password.
For login details, please tel: +44 (0)20 7828 5111
