What's happening
This bill requires liquid detergent packets sold in New York to be packaged in child-resistant, opaque wrappers with clear safety warnings.
Why it matters
Reduces risk of accidental poisoning. By mandating child-resistant and non-attractive packaging for detergent packets, the bill aims to prevent young children from accessing and ingesting these potentially dangerous products, which have been linked to serious injuries and fatalities.
Standardizes clear safety communication. The required warnings—both on individual packets and outer packages—ensure that consumers receive unambiguous information about the risks, encouraging safer storage and handling.
Promotes industry accountability. By prohibiting the sale of non-compliant detergent packets, the bill places responsibility on manufacturers and retailers to prioritize child safety in product design and marketing.
Addresses an evolving household hazard. With the rising popularity of single-use detergent pods, this legislation proactively responds to public health concerns and consumer advocacy around accidental exposures in the home.
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Who cares
Laundry detergent manufacturers
Packets sold in New York would need opaque, uniformly colored, bite-resistant designs and separate non-permeable, child-resistant wrappers with specified warnings.
Retailers and distributors
The bill would prohibit distributing, selling or offering liquid detergent packets for retail sale unless they meet the packaging and warning requirements.
Parents and caregivers of children
The bill would require packaging designed to prevent accidental exposure and prominent warnings to keep packets out of children’s reach and sight.
Headline styles
Child-Proof Detergent Packets Required
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
9 Co-sponsors
2 Multi-sponsors
History
- Print number 4646a
- Amend and recommit to consumer affairs and protection
- Referred to consumer affairs and protection
- Referred to consumer affairs and protection
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Childproof Detergent Packet Packaging
In Senate Committee · Consumer Protection · Sponsor Brad Hoylman-Sigal
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4646--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 3, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. SIMOTAS, SIMON, MAGNARELLI, McDONOUGH, MOSLEY, GOTTFRIED -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. LUPARDO, TITONE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection -- recommitted to the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection in accordance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to child proofing liquid detergent packets
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The general business law is amended by adding a new section 399-ggg to read as follows:
§ 399-ggg. Packaging of liquid detergent packets. 1. For purposes of this section:
(a) "liquid detergent packets" shall mean a consumer product that consists of a liquid or gel detergent enclosed in a water soluble outer layer and is designed to be placed in a washing machine;
(b) "child-resistant wrapper" shall mean an opaque covering of the liquid detergent packet that is not easily permeated by a child's bite, which has a uniform color that is not attractive to children; and
(c) "package" shall mean overall child-resistant stock keeping item that contains liquid detergent packages.
2. No person, firm, partnership, association or corporation shall distribute, sell at retail or offer for retail sale in this state any liquid detergent packets, unless the liquid detergent packets are contained in a child-resistant wrapper which is designed to prevent accidental exposure of children to liquid detergent.
3. No person, firm, partnership, association or corporation shall distribute, sell at retail or offer for retail sale in this state any liquid detergent packets unless such liquid detergent packets are
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04548-03-8
A. 4646--A 2
designed in an opaque, uniform color that is not attractive to children and is not easily permeated by a child's bite.
4. Each liquid detergent packet shall be enclosed in a separate, individual, non-permeable, child-resistant wrapper containing a warning stating "WARNING: HARMFUL IF PUT IN MOUTH OR SWALLOWED. EYE IRRITANT. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN".
5. Every package of liquid detergent packets distributed, sold at retail, or offered for retail sale in this state shall contain a warning concerning the dangers of the exposure of liquid detergent packets to children. Such warning shall be readable and conspicuously placed on the package and shall state: "LIQUID DETERGENT PACKETS ARE NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED OR EXPOSED TO THE EYES OR SKIN. KEEP OUT OF REACH AND SIGHT OF CHILDREN. IN CASE OF EXPOSURE CONTACT A PHYSI- CIAN OR POISON CONTROL CENTER IMMEDIATELY".
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.