Objective
The Aerosol Dispensers Directive (ADD) requires Member States to allow for the marketing of aerosol dispensers complying with the provisions of the ADD on their territory, but leaves the decision whether certain other aerosol dispensers which do not comply with the ADD can be marketed in an individual Member State to the national legislation of this Members State.
Contents
Compliance of aerosol dispensers with the ADD is indicated by an ADD-specific mark, the "inverted epsilon". Aerosol dispensers "only" marketed under national law, for which compliance with the ADD is not claimed, do not bear this mark.
This Directive covers 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.
If a Member State notes, on the basis of a substantive justification, that an aerosol dispenser, although complying with the requirements of the Directive, represent a hazard to safety or health, it may provisionally prohibit the sale of the dispenser or subject it or them to special conditions. Other Member States and the Commission shall be informed, stating the grounds for the decision.
Read the full text of the consolidated version of the Directive (including later amendments)
Read the full text of the original Directive
National laws implementing this Directive
See also information of the European Commission - Enterprise and Industry
See Directive 97/23/EC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning pressure equipment