The British Aerosol Manufacturers’ Association (BAMA) has published new recommendations for the use of markings and precautionary messages regarding inhalation in aerosol products in the UK. Although not legally required, the association advises that all aerosol dispensers marketed in the country carry an appropriate warning mark, instructions for use, and precautions.
Companies have two options: continue using the solvent abuse caution mark (SACKI), introduced in 1997, which includes the phrase “Solvent Abuse Can Kill Instantly” along with “Use only as directed”, or adopt the new inhalation caution mark, which warns: “Intentional misuse can kill instantly. Do not deliberately inhale”. The new signal incorporates indications on color, placement, and a complementary text detailing the risks of direct inhalation and safe use in well-ventilated places.
The update responds to research from the cosmetics and toiletries sector, academic contributions, and a report from the British organization Re-Solv, which underscore the need to modernize the language since the introduction of the SACKI warning.
According to Patrick Heskins, CEO of BAMA, the revisions seek to reflect changes in communication over the last two decades and offer clearer information about the dangers of misuse. Heskins emphasized that excessive inhalation of aerosols remains a risk, even a fatal one, especially among young people, and recommended that all aerosol products, regardless of their content, include one of the two marks to avoid focusing attention only on higher-risk products
