HOUSE BILL NO. 523 Offered January 11, 2006 Prefiled January 9, 2006 A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 59.1-155.1, relating to engine coolant and antifreeze bittering agent. ---------- Patron-- Oder ---------- Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 59.1-155.1 as follows:

§ 59.1-155.1. Engine coolant and antifreeze bittering agent.

Any engine coolant or antifreeze that is manufactured or sold within the Commonwealth that contains more than 10% ethylene glycol, shall include not less than 30 parts per million, and not more than 50 parts per million, denatonium benzoate as a bittering agent in order to render the coolant or antifreeze unpalatable.

If an alternative bittering agent can be shown to (i) render engine coolant or antifreeze unpalatably bitter; (ii) be compatible with the functional use of engine coolant or antifreeze; and (iii) there is no evidence that the use of the bittering agent has an unreasonable adverse effect on the environment, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services may adopt regulations permitting its use as an alternative to denatonium benzoate.   

Engine coolant or antifreeze that is not in compliance with this section shall be deemed to be a banned hazardous substance. However, this section does not apply to (i) the sale of a motor vehicle that contains engine coolant or antifreeze or (ii) a wholesale container of engine coolant or antifreeze that contains 55 gallons or more of engine coolant or antifreeze.