Belgium

EU green light for aircraft insecticide

Aero-Sense, a Belgium-based manufacturer of aviation chemicals, has closely collaborated with Honeywell’s Industrial Aerosols department to develop a safe and environmentally friendly aircraft insecticide.

The Aero-Sense product is now the first aerosolised aircraft insecticide worldwide to receive an approval for sale and use in all 27 Members States of the European Union, including Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.

Aircraft insecticides are used on board to prevent the spread of vector-borne diseases (such as Malaria, Zika, Dengue, etc.) via air travel. The specific methods and products to be used for aircraft disinsection are found in World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations, as well as in IATA and ICAO guidelines.

EU green light for aircraft insecticide All Aero-Sense products are formulated according to these recommendations, but the Aero-Sense product “Aircraft Insecticide ASD” is the first to also acquire a Union Authorisation under the European Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) successfully. The BPR examines whether a biocide, such as an insecticide, is harmless to humans and the environment. For example, according to the BPR, no carcinogenic, endocrine disrupting or toxic substances may be present in the product.

“Only a product that is 100% tested conform safety requirements passes this strict evaluation process.”, says Jochen Rosseel, COO at Aero-Sense. “Our aircraft insecticide ASD does not only protect the health and safety of passengers and crew, but it also gains their trust.”

A striking and underlying conclusion is that there are currently many airlines who use a non-regulated insecticide in their European flights.

99.9% lower emission

Additionally, using Honeywell’s non-flammable Solstice propellant makes the product the greenest option on the market. Under the European Regulation on the use of fluorinated greenhouse gases, technical aerosols are required to have a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of less than 150. Previous generation aircraft insecticides usually have a GWP of more than 1300 as they contain harmful HFCs. The switch to the new propellant reduces the GWP of the Aero-Sense Insecticide to less than 1, far exceeding the EU requirements.

“Unfortunately, the environmental aspect is still often overlooked by airlines, especially in the economically tough times we are experiencing now”, Jochen Rosseel continues. “However, it would be very useful to think about this aspect as it allows airlines to reduce the ecological footprint of each flight and achieve their emission targets.”

Convenient and future-proof

“We strongly believe this is the way forward”, he explains, “It’s not only future proof in terms of emission requirements. Our Aircraft Insecticide ASD holds an approval for sale and use in the entire European Union, including Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. Making it a legal one-stop-shop solution for any airline flying in and out of the EU.”

National environmental standards are indeed getting stricter. In 2019, the EU and 108 other countries worldwide signed the Kigali amendment to the Montreal Protocol. This is an international and legally binding agreement to reduce the production and consumption of harmful HFC gases.