HOW TO RAISE THIS ISSUE WITH YOUR MP
1. Read the letter on the next page. Delete and fill in your address and other
details - then print the document and sign it
2. Go to http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/ and type in your postcode
3. Your MP will be displayed, with address, and a link to his/her website where
you can find an email address.
4. Either post your signed letter or email it.
5. Please do not just print off the letter or send it in its draft form.
[your name]
[1st line your address]
[2nd line your address]
[3rd line your address]
[postcode]
[Your MP’s name]
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA
[date]
Dear Sir/Madam [delete as appropriate or insert MP’s name],
RE: ANTI FREEZE POISONING OF ANIMALS
Every year, more than 10,000 animals die from antifreeze poisoning in the UK. The active ingredient,
ethylene glycol, tastes sweet and is appealing to animals and humans alike. It only takes a tiny amount to
kill an animal (just one teaspoon will kill a cat) and it will cause a slow and agonising death. In other
countries including America & Canada legislation has been brought about to ensure that a bittering agent is
added in the production of antifreeze to make this product safe. I strongly feel that here in the UK we
should introduce the same legislation, and I am writing to you as one of your constituents to ask you to
raise this issue on my behalf.
Antifreeze poisoning facts:
 All animals are susceptible to ethylene glycol (EG) toxicity, but it is most common in dogs and cats
 Just 30ml (two tablespoons) has been known to kill an adult human (at least 7 cases of human
poisonings have made the UK news in the last 10 years)
 Following ingestion the symptoms develop quickly and follow a three step progression starting with
intoxication and vomiting, before causing metabolic acidosis, cardiovascular dysfunction, seizures,
and finally acute kidney failure.
 Death can occur within a few hours to a few days, and despite extensive veterinary treatments
animals rarely survive. 88% will die within 25 hours.
 In 1972 Switzerland (“Swiss Poison Law”) banned the sale of Ethylene Glycol based coolants in
Supermarkets, Accessory Shops, and generally across the counter to the public.
 One of the main manufacturers of antifreeze has taken steps to try and prevent poisonings
occurring. Comma Oil, which supplies antifreeze to companies including Halfords, has added a
bittering agent to make it unpleasant to swallow the product. The addition of this bittering agent
does not cost the manufacturer much and does not in any way inhibit the product’s performance
 One such bittering agent Denatonium Benzoate (better known as Bitrex or Aversion) has been used
in Canada to prevent any future poisonings. Similar products have been used in human and animal
taste behaviour modification products, such as nail biting remedies, and to prevent poisonings from
toiletries, household cleaning products & pesticides.
 Many antifreeze preparations (screenwash etc) are sold without hazard labels, some do not even
list the ingredients. We ask that all antifreeze preparations are in containers with clear hazard
markings and a full list of ingredients.
Cases where clusters of animals are killed make the national news, and so far this year there have been at
least 8 such cases (according to the BBC news)– and some of these are suspected to be intentional. In
2007 the RSPCA took 41 calls about pets with antifreeze poisoning; in 2010 they took 248. In 2006,
strychnine-based poisons were banned in the UK because of their misuse and prevalence amongst
deliberate domestic pet and human poisoning cases. It is time we do something to prevent more deaths by
Ethylene Glycol.
Hydratech have manufactured a completely non-toxic Ethylene Glycol antifreeze which is backed by the
Welsh Assembly. It can be done.
The Wildlife Aid Foundation, an animal rescue & rehabilitation charity are backing this campaign after they
rescued several foxes and badgers which had ingested antifreeze laced food. The Celia Hammond Animal
Trust is also supporting this campaign. Blue Death Org UK have been fighting for these changes for two
years and created the petition, raising awareness and making contact with hundreds of victims to offer
them support as well as speaking with the national and local press and radio stations for interviews. The
RSPCA said this ‘the RSPCA supports the campaign goals of Blue Death’ – there are links to Blue Death
Org UK from their website.
I would like to thank you for taking the time to read this, and I would very much appreciate a response at
your earliest convenience.
[your signature]
[your name]
[your email address]
Antifreeze petition: https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/uk-eu-parliaments-law-defra-ban-all-antifreeze-
preparations-unless-they-contain-a-bitterant
Many of those who have signed have lost pets to antifreeze poisoning.
Blue Death Org UK: www.bluedeath.org.uk
Wildlife Aid Foundation: www.wildlifeaid.org.uk
Celia Hammond Animal Trust: www.celiahammond.org
Cat Chat: www.catchat.org
RSPCA: www.rspca.org.uk
All of these charities can be found on Twitter and Facebook and have a huge following across the globe.