The Health and Safety Executive has included the use of anti-spill spout adaptors in revised Petrol Container Storage Regulations that came into force on 1st October.

Fully compliant petrol containers must be fitted with anti-spill safety spout adaptors which prevent overfilling and the ignition of petrol vapour inside both spout and container.

The UK petrol can market is dominated by the sale every year of around three million 5 litre plastic containers, 80% of which are sold from garage forecourts. Retailers and manufacturers have over a year to comply.

Richard George, whose company invented and manufactures an anti-spill safety spout adaptor called Fill & Stop says initial reactions from forecourt operators suggest that most will switch as soon as fully compliant options are available, rather than risk being left with unsaleable stock. He says he expects both retailers and consumers to welcome the change. "For the consumer, the minor extra cost is easily outweighed by the safety, pollution and cost-saving benefits, whilst retailers will enjoy higher margins," Richard said.

Richard's Fill & Stop solution is already widely available in petrol cans sold in Scandinavia, Italy and Australia, with over 500,000 units already in use.

Further details of the legislation can be found on the HSE website here and here