Companion legislation to U.S. Reps. Susan Brooks (R-IN) and Elizabeth Esty’s (D-CT) Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act of 2015 to protect children from exposure to e-liquids containing nicotine was approved by the House on Monday.
“Ben Franklin famously said ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,’ and that’s what this bill is all about,” Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) said. “The bipartisan Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act seeks to prevent a parent’s worst nightmare and keep our kids out of the emergency room. I applaud Rep. Susan Brooks for her leadership and commitment to our kids. We should all be proud of this commonsense bill which builds upon our committee’s record of success.”
The bipartisan S. 142, companion legislation to H.R. 3242, would ensure that child-resistant packaging is used for e-liquid products containing nicotine. Such products are often available in an array of colors and flavors, making them attractive to children.
The legislation would apply to any form of chemical nicotine, including any salt or complex, regardless of whether the chemical is synthetically or naturally derived.
“Child safety packaging is a natural solution to the growing number of people, especially children, experiencing medical emergencies and even death from swallowing or touching liquid nicotine products,” Brooks said. “A teaspoon of concentrated liquid nicotine can be fatal for the average toddler. We have a responsibility to protect the most vulnerable among us, and this legislation will help safeguard young lives.”