Press Release from The Humane Society of the United States

House Committee Passes Bill to Help Prevent Antifreeze Poisoning of Children and Animals

WASHINGTON (July 12, 2006) - The House Energy and Commerce Committee today approved the Antifreeze Bittering Act (H.R. 2567), which seeks to prevent antifreeze poisoning in children and animals.

The Humane Society of the United States urges enactment of this legislation by Congress this year to protect thousands of children and animals who are sickened or die each year from ingesting antifreeze.

An estimated 1,400 children and 10,000 animals are poisoned each year after ingesting ethylene glycol, a highly toxic substance used in antifreeze and coolant in automobiles. Ethylene glycol's sweet smell and taste make it an attractive but deadly substance. The bill requires antifreeze and coolant manufacturers to add denatonium benzoate, an intensely bitter agent, to their products. The additive would cost manufacturers an additional 2-3 cents per gallon.

Reps. Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), and Heather Wilson (R-NM) have spearheaded the effort to enact the legislation. The Doris Day Animal League, a national animal advocacy organization, has led the fight for this bill, and The HSUS has backed its effort.

"Antifreeze poisoning is a horrible way to die, for animals or people," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. "Adding a bittering agent to antifreeze is the simplest, least expensive way to diminish the likelihood of inadvertent antifreeze poisoning."

"We have a simple solution to a serious problem that's good for kids and animals and safe for the environment," said Rep. Ackerman (D-NY). "The legislation will also help prevent so-called 'Death by Antifreeze' cases in which people and pets have been murdered when their food and drink were laced with antifreeze. We can avoid future tragedies by adding only a few drops of a bittering agent to antifreeze, to ensure that a toxic dose could never be accidentally ingested. Unless Congress acts, thousands more children and tens of thousands more household pets will unnecessarily suffer horribly, or even die. We can prevent all of this suffering for no more than 3 pennies per gallon."

"I am so pleased that we are one step closer to protecting our children and our loved pets," said Rep. Rohrabacher (R-CA).

Sen. George Allen (R-VA) and Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR) are championing this cause in the Senate with companion bill S. 1110. In November 2005, the Senate bill was approved by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Trade, and Transportation.