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Primary Sponsor

Last Action

Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate2025-04-28

Vote Breakdown

Plain Language Summary

This bill prohibits North Carolina manufacturers, sellers, and distributors from intentionally using DEHP (a chemical plasticizer) in intravenous solution containers starting January 1, 2030, and in intravenous tubing starting January 1, 2035. The bill also sets a maximum limit of 0.1% for unintentionally present DEHP and allows delayed compliance until January 2032 for manufacturers awaiting FDA approval or needing equipment upgrades.

Arguments in Favor

• •Supporters argue that DEHP is a toxic endocrine-disrupting chemical that leaches from IV bags and tubing into patients' bodies, potentially causing reproductive harm, liver and kidney damage, and possibly increasing cancer risk.
• •They contend that the bill protects vulnerable hospital patients—including infants and critically ill individuals—from unnecessary chemical exposure by requiring the use of safer, DEHP-free alternatives that are already available or in development.

Arguments Against

• •Opponents may argue that the phased implementation timelines (2030 for IV bags, 2035 for tubing) could increase healthcare costs if manufacturers must rapidly retool production or source more expensive DEHP-free materials, potentially raising patient care expenses.
• •They might also question whether the scientific evidence linking DEHP exposure from medical devices specifically causes harm at typical exposure levels, or whether the delayed compliance provisions adequately address the time and resources manufacturers need to transition.