Relates to child proofing liquid detergent packets

Title of bill

An act to amend the general business law, in relation to child proofing liquid detergent packets

Purpose or general idea of bill

To prevent accidental poisonings and injuries by establishing child safety standards for liquid detergent packets.

Summary of specific provisions

This bill amends the general business law to add a new section 399-ggg.

Subdivision 1 defines "liquid detergent packets" to mean a consumer product that consists of a liquid or gel detergent enclosed in a water soluble outer layer, "non-see through" to mean that none of the contents of the package shall be visible unless the package is open, and "non-permeable" to mean a solid package that cannot be permeated by water or gases.

Subdivision 2 requires liquid detergent packets to be sold in solid, non-see through, non-permeable, and child-resistant packaging which is designed to prevent accidental exposure to liquid detergent.

Subdivision 3 provides that any liquid detergent packets sold or offered for sale must be designed in a uniform color.

Subdivision 4 requires that each liquid detergent packet be enclosed in a separate, individual, non-permeable wrapper containing a warning stating, "WARNING: HARMFUL IF PUT IN MOUTH OR SWALLOWED. EYE IRRITANT. Keep out of reach of children."

Subdivision 5 requires every container of liquid detergent packets to contain a readable and conspicuously placed warning label stating that the products are harmful if swallowed or exposed to the eyes or skin and directing consumers to keep the packets out of reach and sight of children and contact a physician or poison control center immediately in case of exposure.

Justification

Over the past few years, there has been a rapid increase in accidental poisonings from liquid detergent packets. The high concentration of chemicals makes these products especially hazardous to small children, who may be attracted to their bright colors or mistake them for candy. From 2013-2015, there were over 49,000 reported cases of young children ingesting or inhaling the contents of liquid detergent pods. These incidents have had severe consequences, including seizures, cardiac and respiratory arrest, vomiting blood, pulmonary edema, gastric burns, coma, and even death.

In addition to small children, liquid detergent pods pose a risk to the elderly and disabled and endanger household pets. There have been several fatal accidents involving patients with dementia accidentally ingesting the contents of detergent packets, and each year the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center receives numerous reports of severe injury and death resulting from animals eating the pods.

It is critical that we take precautions to reduce exposure to these toxic products and prevent life-threatening accidents. Current industry recommendations for laundry pods include warning labels and childproof containers, but these standards are not mandatory for manufacturers. This legislation will bring the regulation of detergent packets in line with other hazardous household products by requiring child-resistant packaging and clear warning labels informing consumers of the dangers of exposure. Additionally, the bill will require manufacturers to enclose each packet in an individual wrapper and change the design of laundry pods to make them less appealing to children. These common sense safety measures will ensure these potentially lethal products are not easily accessible to those most vulnerable.

Prior legislative history

None.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

One year after it shall have become law.