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States continue to consider adding a bittering agent (most commonly, denatonium benzoate) to antifreeze in order to protect pets and small children from ingesting the substance. California has required the addition of a bittering agent to antifreeze since 2002 and Oregon since 1991. New Mexico and Maine also now require the addition of a bittering agent to antifreeze. Over the course of 2005-2006, the Alabama, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Virginia legislatures introduced bills requiring a bittering additive. In Massachusetts this type of legislation has been defeated two times and in Nebraska, it has been defeated once.
In the 2007 legislative session, Arizona (SB 1323) adopted legislation to require a bittering additive in antifreeze. Illinois (HB 186), Maine (HB 579), New York (HB 3638/SB 4205) and Ohio (HB 38) also introduced bills to consider the issue. The bills in Illinois, New York and Ohio are still pending.
At the federal level, the Antifreeze Bittering Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate (S. 1110), but did not advance after its placement on the Senate Legislative calendar (3/14/06). In the U.S. House, H.R. 2567 passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee, but did not progress (7/12/06). In 2006, Pennsylvania adopted a resolution in support of the passage of the federal antifreeze bittering additive legislation. The AVMA supported the passage of both bills and encourages the use of clear warning labels emphasizing the potential danger of Ethylene Glycol to animals.
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= AVMA/SAVMA Members Only
