New regulations for portable fuel containers

Whatever your New Year’s resolutions were, it’s doubtful the list included buying a new gas can, but maybe it should. As of January 1, 2009, all portable fuel containers sold in the United States are required to conform to two new regulations:

1. They must meet new federal Mobile Source Air Toxic regulations, based on California’s CARB regulations that have been in place there and in some other states for a number of years; and

2. They must meet the requirements of the Children’s Gasoline Burn Prevention Act (Public Law 110-278, 122 Stat. 2602- 2603), signed into law by President Bush last year, by including childproof features.

Photo Courtesy of No-Spill.


As of January 1, 2009, all portable fuel containers (such as this model by No-Spill) manufactured nationwide will need to meet new federal regulations regarding emissions and child safety.

These new regulations do not apply to OSHA-approved metal safety containers (required on construction sites; check with your OSHA representative), but rather to the common red plastic, portable gas cans. The regulations apply only to newly manufactured gas cans, and there is no requirement on the part of users to discard their existing cans or to upgrade.

good info.... thanks

Thanks Matt...I guess the good thing about the new law is that folks are not required to get rid of their old gas cans.

I gave up the red plastic cans 2 years ago, after I had a fire when refilling one of my machines. The worst damage was to my truck, but I knew it was scary when I looked over at my son, and he was hiding under a truck to stay away from the flames. There were a lot of things that contributed to teh fire, but many can be alleviated by OSHA cans.