10/05/2026
Ramdon, an established producer of industrial gases, welcomes Malta’s restriction on the recreational use of N2O
Malta ban on recreational use of N2O “not only proportionate, but necessary” says Ramdon managing director
Ramdon Ltd., one of Europe’s leading suppliers of food-grade and technical gases, formally welcomes the entry into force of Legal Notice 111 of 2026 – the Restriction on the Recreational Use of Dinitrogen Oxide Regulations – enacted under the Public Health Act.
The new regulations prohibit the importation, possession, use, distribution, storage and sale of dinitrogen oxide for recreational purposes, while explicitly protecting the rights of traders and professionals operating within legitimate use categories – including industrial, medicinal, pharmaceutical and catering applications.
Ramdon, which is headquartered in Malta, said that it considered this legislation not only proportionate, but necessary.
“It draws precisely the distinction that responsible operators in this sector have long advocated: between the recreational misuse of nitrous oxide, which carries documented and serious health risks, and the legitimate professional, B2B supply chains that serve the food service industry, healthcare, and technical applications, such as Ramdon,” Ramdon Managing Director Ryan Buttigieg said.
“This regulation reflects the kind of targeted, evidence-based approach that we have consistently supported,” Buttigieg said. “It restricts a behaviour, as well as those abusively importing counterfeit N2O products or acquiring products from rogue traders online, while preserving the legitimate commercial and professional uses this industry serves.”
Ramdon sells exclusively to VAT-registered businesses in the distribution of food service products, requiring documented proof of commercial activity at onboarding, and applies commercial-grade KYC monitoring to all accounts. All wholesalers sign statements to abide by conditions prohibiting the retail sale of such products. It does not sell and has never sold directly to consumers, nor does it hold stock in Malta or export to the island.
“We also note that the Maltese regulations place the burden of proof on those in possession of dinitrogen oxide to demonstrate legitimate intent. This is a meaningful enforcement mechanism, and Ramdon supports it. It is the correct way to address the enforcement gap that has allowed recreational misuse to persist in multiple European markets despite nominally existing prohibitions,” Buttigieg said.
Ramdon Ltd. supplies food-grade and technical gases, operating across more than 40 countries. Its flagship soda-maker brand flav& and creamer machines are part of its industrial and technical gas production chain, manufactured to HACCP-certified and EU food-grade standards, and distributed exclusively through verified B2B channels serving the professional food service industry. Ramdon is also a producer of technical gases like helium and argon.
