S.289 - Youth Poisoning Protection Act (119th Congress)
Summary
The Youth Poisoning Protection Act (S.289) aims to ban the sale of consumer products containing a high concentration (10% or more by weight) of sodium nitrite to individuals. It amends the Consumer Product Safety Act to classify such products as banned hazardous products. The bill includes exceptions for commercial/industrial uses, drugs, devices, cosmetics, and food products regulated under existing federal laws.
Expected Effects
The primary effect of this act would be to restrict access to concentrated sodium nitrite for individual consumers. This is intended to reduce the risk of intentional poisoning, particularly among young people. The Act specifically targets consumer products, while exempting industrial and regulated uses.
Potential Benefits
- Reduced risk of intentional poisoning, especially among youth.
- Enhanced consumer safety by removing a potentially dangerous substance from easy access.
- Clearer regulatory framework for products containing high concentrations of sodium nitrite.
- Focus on consumer products, minimizing impact on legitimate industrial and commercial uses.
- Addresses a specific public health concern related to sodium nitrite.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential impact on small businesses that sell products containing sodium nitrite, even if legitimate.
- Possible unintended consequences if alternative substances are used in place of sodium nitrite.
- Limited scope, as it only addresses sodium nitrite and not other potentially harmful substances.
- Enforcement challenges in identifying and removing affected products from the market.
- May not fully address the underlying causes of intentional poisoning or suicide attempts.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the Commerce Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) of the U.S. Constitution, which grants Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce. By banning the sale of hazardous consumer products, the act falls under the umbrella of regulating commerce to protect public safety. The bill does not appear to infringe upon any individual rights or liberties protected by the Constitution or its amendments.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).