The Senate passed a bill that would require childproof packaging for liquid nicotine products.
The Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act of 2015 (S. 142), also would codify Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate the packaging of liquid nicotine that is used to refill various electronic nicotine delivery systems.
S. 142 passed by unanimous consent in the Senate on Dec. 10. The House of Representatives has not taken action on the bill.
“Just a small amount of this stuff can injure or even kill a small child,” Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), the bill’s sponsor, said in a statement. “Making these bottles childproof is just common sense.”
In 2014, poison control centers received more than 3,000 calls related to e-cigarette nicotine exposure, including one toddler death, according to a statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
“With e-cigarettes becoming more and more common in households across the country, we cannot afford to wait another day to protect children from poisonous liquid nicotine,” AAP President Dr. Sandra Hassink said.