Four Companies Agree To Use Childproof Containers For Liquid Nicotine
ALBANY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Four companies have agreed to put their liquid nicotine in child-resistant packaging when sold in the New York, state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced Tuesday.
Liquid nicotine with additives is used in electronic cigarettes to create vapor that's inhaled.
The companies' products were being sold in violation of new state regulations requiring childproof containers, Schneiderman said.
New York Cracks Down On Packaging Of Liquid Nicotine Products
"We're sending a message to this rapidly growing industry. ... If you violate state law, we will come after you," Schneiderman said. "We won't tolerate companies putting children in danger simply to earn a profit by evading state law."
The concentrated nicotine can be lethal to children.
"It is a floral pervasive scent that sometimes children find attractive," Schneiderman said. "Ingestion or skin exposure to even small amounts of liquid nicotine can lead to elevated blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, seizures, coma and it can also be fatal, particularly with young children."
Schneiderman said the rise of vaping has come with a staggering jump in calls to poison-control centers.
"The number of liquid nicotine exposures reported to poison-control centers increased from just 271 in 2011 to more than 3,700 last year," Schneiderman said.
Settlements are with retailers Henley Vaporium and Beyond Vape, which have retail outlets in New York City.
The other two companies, which sell to New Yorkers online or through local retailers, are Rocket Sheep, a manufacturer, and ECig Distributors Inc., which sells bottles of liquid nicotine.
The companies will also be required to remove from distributors any liquid nicotine in improper packaging and provide proof of testing to ensure the new packaging is compliant with state law, according to Schneiderman's office.
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