Vermont may become the eighth state to require a bittering agent be added to antifreeze to prevent the sweet but deadly product from being lapped up by dogs and other animals.
The Vermont House gave preliminary approval Tuesday to the measure on an overwhelming voice vote. Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, New Mexico and Tennessee have similar laws. Maine has one that takes effect if three other northeastern states pass similar legislation.
An industry group, the Consumer Specialty Products Association, says it supports the legislation, so long as states’ requirements are uniform.
Backers of the legislation say three drops of denatonium benzoate, described as the bitterest substance in the world, is enough to treat a gallon of antifreeze containing poisonous ethylene glycol.