Study on safety of plastic aerosol dispensers

The European Commission, through its Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW), has issued a tender for a study on the safety of plastic aerosol dispensers, especially those containing a significant proportion of recycled materials. This open procurement opportunity is identified as EC-GROW/2025/OP/0087, with a TED reference of 172/2025 586663-2025.

The aim of the study is to conduct an independent technical assessment to confirm the safety of plastic aerosol containers, particularly those with a capacity up to 1000 ml, in terms of their composition and safety standards compared to virgin plastic. This research is crucial to inform future legislative proposals, addressing a regulatory gap where previous studies had primarily concentrated on virgin materials.

The total estimated value of the contract is set at 150,000 EUR, and the duration of the contract shall not exceed 12 months. The selection will be based on the best price-quality ratio, and no framework agreements will be related to this tender.

Key milestones include:
- TED publication date: 09/09/2025
- Date and time of public opening: 14/10/2025 at 10:00 Brussels time
- Deadline for the submission of tenders: 13/10/2025 at 23:00 Brussels time
- The deadline for inquiries is set for 03/10/2025 at 06:00 Brussels time.

Submissions must be made electronically, following the specifications laid out in the tender documents, which include an invitation letter, declarations, draft contract annexes, tender specifications, and a financial offer form.

The procurement procedure does not specify a requirement for a consortium, allowing both single applicants and groups to submit tenders. It is open to any eligible organization, including research institutes, universities, and other entities specializing in materials science and regulatory compliance related to aerosol dispensers.

Attachments must be submitted according to the eSubmission system's guidelines, which supports multiple languages and employs encryption for document integrity. A Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for participation.

In summary, the European Commission seeks to undertake an independent study focusing on the safety of aerosol dispensers composed of recycled materials. This tender presents an opportunity for qualified organizations to contribute to critical regulatory advancements in environmental safety, with a clear budget and straightforward application process.

The European Commission, DG GROW - Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs is seeking tenders for a study on the safety of plastic aerosol dispensers. The call for tenders is identified as EC-GROW/2025/OP/0087. The TED reference is 172/2025 586663-2025.

The objective of this open procedure is to conduct an independent technical study to demonstrate that the safety of plastic aerosol containers up to a capacity of 1000 ml and made with a high proportion of recycled material is guaranteed. The study's results are necessary to prepare a legislative proposal. Prior studies have focused solely on virgin plastic material.

The estimated total value of the contract is 150,000 EUR. The contract's nature is for services, with a maximum duration of 12 months. The award method will be based on the best price-quality ratio. No framework agreement is associated with this tender.

Key milestones include:
TED publication date: 09/09/2025
Date and time of public opening: 14/10/2025 10:00 Europe/Brussels
Deadline for receipt of tenders: 13/10/2025 23:00 Europe/Brussels
Deadline for questions: Contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after 03/10/2025 06:00 Europe/Brussels

Submissions must be sent electronically via the address for submission provided.

The main classification (CPV) code is 71335000 - Engineering studies.

The following documents are available for download:
1. Invitation letter: ENEN-Invitation to tender EC-GROW2025OP0087 Study on safety of aerosol dispensersInvitation letter, published on 09/09/2025, Version 1, No translations available
2. Declaration on honour (tender): ENANNEX I annex 2 to TS declaration-of-honour-tenders Study on safety of aerosol dispensers EC-GROW2025OP0087Declaration on honour (tender), published on 09/09/2025, Version 1, No translations available
3. Draft contract annex 3 vat-2023-en (2): ENANNEX II Draft contract annex 3 vat-2023-en (2)Draft contract annex, published on 09/09/2025, Version 1, No translations available
4. Draft contract annex 4 - IPR (1): ENANNEX II Draft contract annex 4 - IPR (1)Draft contract annex, published on 09/09/2025, Version 1, No translations available
5. Security requirements: ENAppendix 1 Security requirements en 2025 (2)Draft contract annex, published on 09/09/2025, Version 1, No translations available
6. Tender specifications: ENANNEX I EN TENDER SPECIFICATIONS EC-GROW2025OP0087 Study on safety of aerosol dispensersTender specifications, published on 09/09/2025, Version 1, No translations available
7. Financial offer form: ENANNEX I annex 6 financial formFinancial offer form, published on 09/09/2025, Version 1, No translations available
8. Draft Direct Service Contract: ENANNEX II Draft Direct Service Contract EC-GROW2025OP0087 1Draft contract, published on 09/09/2025, Version 1, No translations available

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In summary, this tender opportunity is a call for an independent technical study on the safety of plastic aerosol containers made with recycled materials. The European Commission is seeking a contractor to conduct this study, which will inform future legislative proposals. The tender is open to all eligible organizations, and submissions must be made electronically by the specified deadline. The contract will be awarded based on the best price-quality ratio, and the maximum contract duration is 12 months. A key aspect of the submission process is adherence to the eSubmission system's technical requirements, including file size limits, naming conventions, and supported file types. A Participant Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for participation.

Eligible Applicant Types: The opportunity details do not explicitly state eligible applicant types. However, given the nature of the call for tenders and the requirement for an independent technical study, eligible applicants could include research institutes, universities, engineering firms, consulting companies, or other organizations with expertise in material science, chemical engineering, safety testing, and regulatory compliance related to aerosol containers and recycled materials.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a procurement, specifically a service contract. The call is for a "Study on safety of plastic aerosol dispensers," indicating the European Commission is procuring a service.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity details do not explicitly state whether a consortium is required or if a single applicant is sufficient. The FAQ section mentions that a Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory to participate in a call for tenders as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium), suggesting that both single applicants and consortia are eligible.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The opportunity details do not explicitly define geographic eligibility. Given that it is a European Commission tender, it is highly likely that the eligibility extends to entities within the EU and potentially the EEA. Further details would be found in the tender specifications document.

Target Sector: The target sector is related to the safety and regulation of aerosol dispensers, specifically those made from plastic with a high proportion of recycled material. This touches on areas of manufacturing, environment, and regulatory compliance. The CPV code 71335000 indicates a focus on engineering studies.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned in the opportunity details. The contracting authority is the European Commission, implying that the opportunity is relevant to the EU.

Project Stage: The project stage is research/study. The tender is for conducting an independent technical study, implying that the project is in the research or investigation phase. The results of the study are intended to inform a legislative proposal, indicating that it is early-stage work.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the contract is 150,000 EUR.

Application Type: The application type is an open call for tenders. The description states "Open For Submission" and "Open procedure," indicating that it is an open call.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a service contract payment upon successful completion of the study and deliverables as defined in the contract.

Application Stages: The opportunity details do not explicitly state the number of application stages. However, based on the standard EU tendering process, it is likely to involve at least two stages: submission of the tender and evaluation of the tender.

Success Rates: The opportunity details do not provide information on success rates.

Co-funding Requirement: The opportunity details do not explicitly state whether co-funding is required. Typically, EU procurements do not require co-funding, but this should be confirmed in the tender specifications.

Summary:

This is a call for tenders by the European Commission, DG GROW, for a study on the safety of plastic aerosol dispensers made with a high proportion of recycled material. The objective of the study is to conduct an independent technical assessment to ensure the safety of these containers, as existing studies have primarily focused on virgin plastic materials. The results of this study are intended to inform a future legislative proposal. The procedure is an open call, meaning any eligible organization can submit a tender. The estimated total value of the contract is 150,000 EUR, and the maximum contract duration is 12 months. The submission method is electronic, and the deadline for receipt of tenders is October 13, 2025. The lead contracting authority is the European Commission, DG GROW - Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs. The contract will be awarded based on the best price-quality ratio. The tender documents include an invitation letter, declaration of honor, draft contract annexes (VAT, IPR, security requirements), tender specifications, a financial offer form, and a draft direct service contract. The study falls under the category of engineering studies, as indicated by the CPV code. To participate, tenderers need a Personal Identification Code (PIC). The eSubmission system supports various file types and has specific requirements for naming attachments. The system also supports all 24 official EU languages and uses encryption to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of the information.