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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 22, 2015 02:51 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Eddie Day Pashinski |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Requiring Liquid Nicotine bottles to be Child Resistant |
| MEMORANDUM To: All House Members From: Representative Eddie Day Pashinski Date: January 22, 2015 Subject: Requiring Liquid Nicotine bottles to be Child Resistant In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation that would require liquid nicotine manufactured or sold in Pennsylvania to be contained in child-resistant packaging. As you may be aware, the use of alternative nicotine products has been gaining popularity in the last few years. More and more people looking to quit smoking are turning to electronic cigarettes and nicotine vaporizers to help them in their endeavors. While kicking a tobacco habit should most certainly be commended, this new “vaping” trend does not come without its hazards. E-liquid, when absorbed into the body in higher than recommended doses, is known to be toxic and even deadly—especially to children, who may be attracted to the fruit or candy flavors of the product. This past December, a 1-year-old child died in upstate New York after swallowing e-liquid. Although this atrocious accident is believed to be the first reported e-liquid death among children, poisonings occurring from liquid nicotine is, unfortunately, not uncommon. In fact, the CDC reported in April 2014 that it had been receiving an average of 215 calls per month regarding liquid nicotine poisonings; more than half of which involved children. In response, New York, Minnesota, and Vermont have enacted laws to require liquid nicotine to be packaged in child resistant containers. Development of new ways to help people quit smoking should be encouraged. Yet, when new technologies pose a threat to the lives of children, we must do all we can to protect them. By requiring liquid nicotine bottles in Pennsylvania to be manufactured and sold in child resistant containers, we are one step closer to avoiding future tragedies like that in New York. Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation. |
Introduced as HB586