2004 Adopted Resolutions
72nd Annual Meeting
Boston

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ANTIFREEZE SAFETY MEASURE

     WHEREAS, most antifreeze contains ethylene glycol, an extremely toxic yet sweet tasting substance that causes injury to thousands of children and kills thousands of animals every year in the United States; and

     WHEREAS, the National Safety Council, the American Medical Association and the American Association of Poison Control Centers have noted that the addition of nontoxic bittering agents can make antifreeze so unpalatable that children and animals will reject the products upon tasting them, thus preventing injury or death; and

     WHEREAS, organizations such as the Consumer’s Union, the Children’s Defense Fund, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Humane Society of the United States, the American Humane Association, the Doris Day Animal League, the Society for Animal Protective Legislation, the World Wildlife Fund, the American Kennel Club and the Pet Food Institute support the health and safety of children and animals and favor the passage of legislation that requires a bittering agent to be added to antifreeze; and

     WHEREAS, the cost to add the most common bittering agent, denatonium benzoate, to antifreeze is approximately 2 to 3 cents per gallon, and by law, antifreeze manufacturers in Oregon and California already must include this bittering agent; and

     WHEREAS, The United States Conference of Mayors supports the health and safety of children and animals; and

     WHEREAS, Congress has introduced legislation in the House to require the inclusion of denatonium benzoate at a minimum of 30 parts per million as a bittering agent to any engine coolant or antifreeze that contains more than 10 percent ethylene glycol,

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors hereby urges Congress to help cities protect children and animals by enacting legislation to require denatonium benzoate as an additive to antifreeze that contains ethylene glycol; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors hereby urges the Administration to advance this legislation this year to help avoid further harm to children and animals.