An Act To Protect Household Pets and Other Animals from Poisoning
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 0758
Committee: Natural Resources
Sponsors: CAIN, PERRY, CARTER, DILL, EATON, HINCK, KAENRATH, PEOPLES, PRAIT, SAMSON
Amends: 38 MRSA §1611

Legislative Document 
No. 758 
H.P.579 
House of Representatives, February 13,2007 
An Act To Protect Household Pets and Other Animals from 
Poisoning 
Reference to the Committee on Natural Resources suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative CAIN of Orono. 
Cosponsored by Senator PERRY of Penobscot and 
17/~/J7.~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: CARTER of Bethel, DILL of Cape Elizabeth, EATON of Sullivan, HINCK of 
Portland, KAENRATH of South Portland, PEOPLES of Westbrook, PRAIT of Eddington, 
SAMSON of Auburn. 
Primed nn re\:yclerJ puper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 38 MRSA §1611 is enacted to read: 
§1611. Sale of engine coolants and antifreeze 
1. Aversive agent required. After October 1, 2007, a person may not sell or offer to 
sell in this State any engine coolant or antifreeze that contains more than 10% ethylene 
glycol or propylene glycol unless it includes denatonium benzoate at a minimum of 30 
parts per million as a bittering agent within the product so as to render it unpalatable. 
2. Substitute aversive agent authorized. Notwithstanding subsection 1, an aversive 
agent other than denatonium benzoate may be used in engine coolant or antifreeze if it 
meets or exceeds the degree of aversion in test subjects obtained by using the formulation 
of 30 parts per million of denatonium benzoate in antifreeze. 
3. Records of manufacturer and packager. Any manufacturer or packager of 
engine coolant or antifreeze subject to this section shall maintain a record of the trade 
name, scientific name and active ingredients of the bittering agent used pursuant to this 
section. Information and documentation maintained pursuant to this subsection must be 
furnished to any member of the public upon request. 
4. 
Limitation of liability. A manufacturer, distributor, recycler or seller of any 
engine coolant or antifreeze that contains more than 10% ethylene glycol or propylene 
glycol and 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 if the denatonium benzoate is included in ethylene glycol or 
propylene glycol engine coolant or antifreeze in concentrations mandated by this section. 
5. Misconduct negates limitation of liability. The limitation of liability under 
subsection 4 does not apply if the personal injury, death or property damage described 
under subsection 4 results from willful or wanton misconduct by the manufacturer, 
distributor, recycler or seller of the ethylene glycol or propylene glycol engine coolant or 
antifreeze. 
6. Exceptions. This section does not apply to: 
A. The sale of a motor vehicle that contains engine coolant or antifreeze; or 
B. Wholesale containers of 55 gallons or more of antifreeze or engine coolant. 
SUMMARY 
To reduce the risk of poisoning of household pets and other animals, this bill requires 
that engine coolant or antifreeze that contains more than 10% ethylene glycol or 
propylene glycol must include an aversive agent ,that makes it taste bitter so that it is 
rendered unpalatable.