Enticing flavors and colors with potentially poisonous consequences will be stymied, thanks to President Obama’s recent endorsement of the House Energy and Commerce Committee-backed Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act (S. 142) in Washington, D.C.
Introduced as companion legislation to H.R. 3242, co-authored by Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN) and Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-CT), was approved by the House in January to protect children from accidental poisoning by requiring child-resistant packaging for e-liquid or “vape” nicotine products.
“Child safety packaging is a natural solution to the growing number of people … experiencing medical emergencies and even death from swallowing or touching liquid nicotine products,” Brooks said. “I want to especially thank Hoosier pediatricians and the Indiana Poison Center for their important advocacy on this proposal and am pleased that our kids are now better protected from liquid nicotine poisoning under this new law.”
Even small amounts of concentrated liquid nicotine can be fatal if ingested by small children. S. 142 mandates special packaging for liquid nicotine containers.
“With the stroke of the president’s pen, our kids are now safer from liquid nicotine poisoning,” Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) said. “I applaud the leadership of Rep. Susan Brooks – she identified a problem and came up with a thoughtful solution to protect our kids that’s now law. I am proud that the Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act is part of our bipartisan record of success.”
