COHEN TO INTRODUCE BILL TO CREATE WARNING NOTICES FOR POISONOUS FLOWERS, PLANTS

Legislation Would Help Protect Children, Pets from Potentially Deadly Floral Gifts

(ROSELLE) - Assemblyman Neil M. Cohen is proposing an interesting gift for Mother's Day:  safety.

Cohen (D-Union) plans to introduce legislation Monday that would create a list of poisonous plants and flowers available for sale in the state and require physicians, veterinarians, and retailers to provide information on how these plants should be handled and displayed.

"Mother's Day is one of the busiest days of the year for florists nationwide," said Cohen (D-Union).  "However, many of the floral arrangements we give as gifts can pose serious health risks to young children or pets if they are mishandled or ingested.  No one wants to see their gift of love and appreciation sicken or seriously injure a child or household pet."

Cohen's legislation would require the state Department of Agriculture, in conjunction with the state Department of Health and Senior Services and licensed physicians and veterinarians, to compile a list of flowers and plants commonly sold by retailers and florists that are poisonous or potentially harmful to small children and household pets if handled or ingested.

The bill also would require the creation of informational brochures, detailing how best to handle the listed flowers and plants to minimize the risk of harm.  These brochures would be made available to all florists, retail stores that sell flowers or plants, general practice physicians, pediatricians, and veterinarians in the state.  Furthermore, the bill would require written notices containing this information to be appended to all deliveries of flowers and plants contained on the list.

"Millions of mothers in New Jersey will receive a floral arrangement this Sunday," said Cohen.  "Ensuring that consumers know the potential hazards specific flowers and plants can pose will help keep an unforgettable gift from becoming an unforgettable nightmare."

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