Aerosol dispensers are regulated by the Aerosol Dispensers Regulations S.L. 427.26 which transposes the provisions of the Aerosol Dispensers Directive (Council Directive 75/324/EEC as amended by Commission Directive 2013/10/EU and Commission Directive 2016/2037). The legal framework established by these regulations aims that products covered within its scope will be safe for consumers and other users in respect of hazards related to pressure and where appropriate, flammability and inhalation, and to secure the free movement of aerosol dispensers throughout the European Union.
These Aerosol Dispensers Regulations stipulate 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.
Scope of the regulations
These regulations cover within its scope any non-reusable containers made of metal, glass or plastic and containing a gas compressed, liquefied or dissolved under pressure, with or without a liquid, paste or powder, and fitted with a release device allowing the contents to be ejected as solid or liquid particles in suspension in a gas, as a foam, paste or powder or in a liquid state.
These regulations apply to all aerosol dispensers, with the following exceptions:
Metals cans which are either < 50 mL or >1000 mL
Protected glass and plastic cans which are either < 50ml or > 220 mL
Unprotected glass and plastic cans which are either <50 ml or >150 mL
Marking
Each aerosol dispenser shall bear the following:
name and address or trademark of the person responsible for marketing the aerosol dispenser
the symbol ‘3’ (inverted epsilon) certifying conformity with the requirements of these regulations,
code and markings enabling the filling batch to be identified,
the details referred to in point 2.2 of the Schedule,
the net contents by weight and by volume,
quantity of flammable material contained in the aerosol dispenser must be stated clearly on the label (case when an aerosol dispenser contains flammable components but the aerosol dispenser is not considered as flammable).