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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2017 - 2018
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 29, 2016 12:32 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Eddie Day Pashinski |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Require liquid nicotine manufactured or sold in Pennsylvania to be contained in child-resistant packaging. |
| In the near future, I plan to re-introduce legislation (former HB 586 of 2015) 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 the fruit or candy flavors of the product. In December of 2014 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, the United States Congress passed the Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act of 2015. This act requires all liquid nicotine bottles be manufactured with child-resistant packaging. Fifteen other states have passed additional legislation requiring child-resistant packaging for liquid nicotine 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. While we made great progress in reforming the e-cigarette industry with the enactment of Act 84 of 2015, further regulation is still needed to ensure the safety of all minors. Please join me in co-sponsoring this very important legislation. |