EPA Fines 99 Cent Stores for Pesticide Violations
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking $969,930 in civil penalties from 99 Cents Only stores for allegedly selling unregistered and/or misbranded pesticides, a violation of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act.
The EPA filed a complaint against the store for selling two unregistered pesticides, Bref Limpieza y Desinfeccion Total, Farmer’s Secret Berry & Produce Cleaner and a misbranded pesticide, PIC Boric Acid Roach Killer II. According to the agency, products that make surface disinfection or sanitizer claims are considered pesticides and must be registered under federal law.
"No matter what price consumers pay for products like these, the products must be registered with the EPA and labeled correctly so consumers can use them properly," said Katherine Taylor, associate director of the Communities and Ecosystems Division in the EPA’s Pacific Southwest office. “All pesticides distributors -- discounters and high-end retailers alike -- must comply with the law. This company's apparent disregard for state and federal law in its business practices has led to this enforcement action.”
Bref Limpieza y Desinfeccion Total was imported from Mexico and made claims in Spanish that it disinfected or sanitized surfaces. Farmer’s Secret Berry & Produce Cleaner claimed that it “inhibits mold, fungus & bacteria including E coli.” The third product, PIC Boric Acid Roach Killer II, had labels on eleven containers that were either inside out or upside down, making them difficult to read.
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation and the Nevada Department of Agriculture discovered the violations during multiple inspections from 2004 to 2008.
FIFRA regulates the sale, distribution, and use of pesticides within the United States. Before selling or distributing a pesticide in the United States, companies must register the pesticide with the EPA. Each producer, seller and distributor is required by federal law to ensure that the registered pesticide is labeled according to agency requirements.
For more information on pesticide regulation and enforcement, please visit:
www.epa.gov/pesticides/