HC Deb 14 July 1977 vol 935 c260W
Mr. John Evans

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when he expects to make regulations implementing the EEC directive relating to aerosol dispensers (No. 75/324/EEC); and if he will make a statement.

Mr. John Fraser

The Aerosol Dispensers (EEC Requirements) Regulations 1977, which have been laid before Parliament today, implement this directive. They make it an offence for any person responsible for the initial marketing in the United Kingdom of filled aerosols bearing the reversed epsilon—" 3 "—symbol to sell them if they do not comply with the prescribed requirements. In addition, they ban the use of vinyl chloride monomer as a propellant in all aerosols, whether or not they bear the "3" mark.

The regulations, which have been made under the European Communities Act 1972, come into operation on 1st September 1977. Separate regulations will be made as soon as possible under the Consumer Protection Act 1961 imposing safety requirements for aerosols not marked with the reversed epsilon.