[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1563 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1563

 To require engine coolant and antifreeze to contain a bittering agent 
                    so as to render it unpalatable.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 2, 2003

 Mr. Ackerman (for himself, Mr. Rohrabacher, Ms. Lee, Mr. Kildee, Ms. 
Lofgren, Mr. Schiff, Mr. McNulty, Mr. Lewis of California, Mr. Wu, Mr. 
   Israel, Ms. Berkley, and Mr. Bartlett of Maryland) introduced the 
   following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                                Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To require engine coolant and antifreeze to contain a bittering agent 
                    so as to render it unpalatable.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. ADDITION OF BITTERING AGENT REQUIRED.

    (a) In General.--Any engine coolant or antifreeze sold after 
January 1, 2004, that is manufactured after July 1, 2003, and that 
contains more than 10 percent ethylene glycol, shall include denatonium 
benzoate at a minimum of 30 parts per million as a bittering agent 
within the product so as to render it unpalatable. An aversive agent 
other than denatonium benzoate may be used if it meets or exceeds the 
degree of aversion in test subjects obtained by utilizing the 
formulation of 30 parts per million of denatonium benzoate in 
antifreeze.
    (b) Record Keeping.--A manufacturer or packager of a product 
subject to this section shall maintain a record of the trade name, 
scientific name, and active ingredients of any bittering agent used 
pursuant to this section. Such information shall be available to the 
public upon request.
    (c) Liability.--
            (1) Limitation.--A manufacturer, distributor, recycler, or 
        seller of an automotive product that is required to contain an 
        aversive agent under this section is not liable to any person 
        for any personal injury, death, or property damage that results 
        from the inclusion of denatonium benzoate in ethylene glycol 
        antifreeze, provided that the inclusion of denatonium benzoate 
        is in concentrations mandated by subsection (a).
            (2) Exception for willful misconduct.--The limitation on 
        liability provided by this subsection shall not apply if the 
        personal injury, death, or property damage results from willful 
        or wanton misconduct by the manufacturer, distributor, 
        recycler, or seller of the ethylene glycol antifreeze.
    (d) Exemption.--The requirements of this section shall not be 
construed to apply to--
            (1) the sale of a motor vehicle that contains engine 
        coolant or antifreeze; or
            (2) wholesale containers of engine coolant or antifreeze 
        containing 55 gallons or more of engine coolant or antifreeze.
                                 <all>