The Swedish government is moving to restrict the sales of nitrous oxide. Recently released draft legislation would limit sales of "laughing gas" for recreational use starting on 1 July. The draft would bar sales to people under 18 and cap the amount of N2O that can be bought by one person in a single purchase at two canisters with a maximum content of 9 grams each, with exceptions for medical purposes and merchants. The draft would also regulate imports and marketing.
According to the text of the proposed legislation, the act is intended primarily to discourage the use of nitrous oxide as an intoxicant. However, the government also acknowledged the waste management issues associated with nitrous oxide tanks. It referred to coverage in Swedish media of the damage caused by exploding tanks in waste-fired district heating plants.
Early this month, several European associations active in the waste management industry issued a statement supporting the proposed restriction of NOS sales under the European chemicals Regulation REACh and calling for a ban onf the sale of large canisters to improve safety....
