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Shooting/Outdoors Product Bill S.261 Should be Tabled The Vermont Federation is opposed to S.261, a bill that would ban the use of the chemical Diisononyl Phthalate (DINP) used in a large variety of consumer products. S.261 is a bill currently in the House Human Services Committee which has a potentially negative future impact on fishing equipment used by kids. Though S.261 is directed at products for young children, VPIRG via its parent organization USPIRG, have already advocated expanding the DINP ban beyond the age limit in S.261. VPIRG has sponsored lead bills, H.352 and S.152, also currently in the Vermont legislature, which would expand the definition of "children" to individuals under the age of 18. DINP is used to make plastics more flexible and durable. DINP is used in the manufacturer of fishing lures. The Federation, NRA-ILA and National Shooting Sports Foundation are researching the use of DINP in other outdoors sporting materials, such as the plastic sections of shotgun shells, synthetic gunstocks, compound bows and for the waterproofing finishes of wooden gunstocks. The chemical DINPis not banned by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission or the EPA. The chemical, Diisononyl Phthalate (DINP), has been reviewed by the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission and in the Executive Summary of its study concluded: "2. Based on the work the staff has conducted and other scientific studies currently available, the staff concludes that few, if any, children are at risk from liver or other organ toxicity from the release of DINP from these products. This is because the amount they might ingest does not reach a level that would be harmful." Click here: The Risk of Chronic Toxicity Associated with Exposure to Diisononyl Phthalate (DINP) in Children's Products The Federation, NRA-ILA and NSSF worked with the Vermont Attorney General and the legislature to craft language to achieve a satisfactory protection for the interests of shooting/hunting and other outdoors sporting issues in the lead bills S.152 and H.352. But, the DINP ban in S.261 presents a completely different situation. It is far easier to determine uses of lead in products used by the shooting/outdoors sporting community. The uses of DINP are so expansive, in so many products, it is first necessary to identify its applications in outdoors sporting and shooting products in order to have the knowledge to fully consider the consequences of such legislation. The Federation, NRA-ILA and NSSF were approached early in the legislative process of the two lead bills. In fact, participation started in the summer of 2006. This participation is in clear contrast to the harried legislative process of S.261. There is tremendous pressure by VPIRG and the Office of the Attorney General to push S.261 through this year. However, the bill could be tabled for this year so the applications of DINP can be more fully explored. A DINP bill can be enacted next year and still meet the same effective date that is in the current bill. Therefore, the Federation position is to advocate that S.261 be tabled for this year to allow adequate consideration of potential impact of the bill on sporting equipment.