The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sent a letter to major gasoline can manufacturers on Thursday (July 24), urging them to redesign the widely criticized portable fuel containers (PFC) to address their “difficult refueling” issue. This is part of the Trump administration’s “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) series of consumer policies.
EPA administrator Lee Zeldin said, “Part of the strong revival of America is to provide manufacturers with clear guidance and support to create products that truly meet the needs of the American people. Complaints about the user experience of gasoline cans have been ongoing for a long time, and we are determined to address this issue positively.”
EPA encourages manufacturers to add ventilation outlets to gasoline cans to ensure that Americans can refuel more easily and safely. Zeldin stated, “Looking ahead, Americans should have compliant gasoline cans, but most importantly, they should be efficient and convenient for consumer use.”
Current regulations have required gasoline cans to have airtight designs since 2009 to prevent volatile gas leakage and ozone pollution. However, most new cans lack vents or have complex designs, leading to refueling difficulties and an increase in incidents of splashing and leakage.
According to USA Today, Florida eBay seller Steven Watt said, “Everyone hates these gas cans, the problem is all in the spout.” He specializes in collecting “old-style gas cans” manufactured before 2009 and reselling them to nostalgic buyers, “Sometimes selling for three hundred dollars, although most of it is in shipping costs.”
In the explanatory letter, EPA pointed out that the volatile emission regulations established in 2007 originally allowed gas cans to have automatic self-closing vents, but due to a widespread misunderstanding in the industry, many manufacturers simply decided not to install them, resulting in flow difficulties. This reminder to manufacturers allows a return to a “vented but safe” design, balancing environmental protection and practicality.
However, EPA emphasized that this action does not involve relaxing safety regulations such as child protection and fire prevention. For example, the 2008 “Children’s Gasoline Burn Prevention Act” requires gas cans to prevent accidental opening by children, while the 2020 “Portable Fuel Container Safety Act” requires the installation of flame arresters inside the cans, both regulations enforced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
President Trump has also pushed for “deregulation” of household devices such as low-flow showerheads, toilets, and dishwashers, criticizing these environmental standards as “inefficient and anti-consumer,” advocating that product design should prioritize practicality and user experience.