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Feds Crackdown on Pesticide Pushers
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has ordered two companies to immediately
stop selling unregistered pesticides claiming to protect the public from anthrax
and requested the companies voluntarily to recall these illegal products from
the marketplace.
The EPA orders were issued to Homeland Security Plus of Gilbert, AZ, for the
illegal sale of Biohazard Decontamination Solution, and to Testing Kits Inc.
of Fort Lauderdale, FL, for the illegal sale of EnviroFoam Easy DECON, also
known as "EnviroFoam." Both unregistered products were marketed on the Internet.
The companies have since removed the promotion for these specific products from
their websites. EPA's orders for both companies are effective immediately upon
receipt. The Agency will be monitoring compliance with its orders and the companies'
voluntary recall.
Selling or distributing unregistered pesticides is generally prohibited under
the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), which authorize
EPA to issue orders stopping the sale of unregistered products. EPA has an extensive
pre-market registration process to ensure that products that claim to protect
public health are effective. It is vital that products that make public health
claims are effective when used according to specific label directions. EPA continues
to inspect advertisements on the Internet and other marketing avenues to ensure
that no unregistered pesticides are illegally sold to the public.
EPA has authorized the limited use of an anthrax decontamination foam( a formulation
of quaternary ammonium and hydrogen peroxide) for use in emergency cleanup operations
of the U.S. Congress, federal agencies and the U.S. Postal Service under a FIFRA
exemption. This emergency use was authorized for limited spot decontamination
only by federal, state or local emergency response personnel and not by the
general public. Additional data review required by registration will help determine
whether such products can be used more widely. The anthrax decontamination foam
for which the EPA exemption was granted was not manufactured by Testing Kits
Inc.
"Selling unregistered products not approved for public use and preying upon
consumers' heightened concern for their families' health are unconscionable,"
said EPA Administrator Christie Whitman.
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