EPA orders Scotts to stop selling certain pesticides

**j* e* m* s* <h*@sbcglobal.net>**

FYI -- EPA released this today:

CONTACT: Mick Hans, 312-353-5050, <h*@epa.gov>hans.mick@epa.gov
          Karen Thompson, 312-353-8547, 
<t*@epa.gov>thompson.karen@epa.gov
          Rafael P. Gonzalez, 312-886-0269, 
<g*@epa.gov>gonzalez.rafaelp@epa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 08-OPA073

EPA orders Scotts to stop selling certain pesticides

(Chicago, Ill. - April 23, 2008) U. S. Environmental Protection 
Agency Region 5 today issued a "stop sale, use or removal" order 
against Scotts Miracle Gro Co. and three affiliates, all of 
Marysville, Ohio, for illegal, unregistered and misbranded 
pesticides.  EPA will also issue a stop sale order to Scotts Lawn 
Care Service.

Scotts has agreed to recall these products from all retail locations 
across the United States and to set up a process for consumers to 
safely return any unregistered products they may have purchased.

An EPA consumer hotline to answer questions about the action has been 
established at 888-838-1304 (9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m, Central Daylight 
Time).  Questions may also be answered by the National Pesticide 
Information Center at 800-858-7378 (6:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Pacific 
Daylight Time, including weekends).  A fact sheet and regularly 
updated information are posted online at 
<http://www.epa.gov/reg5rcra/ptb/news/>http://www.epa.gov/reg5rcra/ptb/news/.

At this time the risks, if any, posed by these unregistered products 
are unknown.  EPA and its state partner Ohio Department of 
Agriculture are conducting a laboratory analysis of these products. 
Updated information will be posted online when it becomes available. 
Until EPA has more information about the contents of these products, 
consumers are advised not to use these products and to store them in 
a safe, cool and dry place such as a garage or utility shed.  Do not 
dispose of them down the drain, in the garbage or at a community 
disposal site.

EPA ordered the companies, collectively an international producer and 
distributor of lawn care products, to immediately stop selling and 
distributing two products which can be identified by the invalid "EPA 
registration number" listed on the  package.  Invalid registration 
number 62355-4 is marketed under names including "Garden Weed 
Preventer + Plant Food" and "Miracle Gro Shake 'n' Feed All Purpose 
Plant Food Plus Weed Preventer."  Invalid registration number 
538-304 is used primarily by Scotts Lawn Service, a lawn care 
company.  It is marketed under names including "Scotts Lawn Service 
Fertilizer with .28% Halts," "Scotts Lawn Service Fertilizer 0-0-7 
Plus .28% Halts Pro," "Scotts Lawn Service Fertilizer 14-2-5 Plus 
.28% Halts Pro" and "Scotts Lawn Service Fertlizer 22-0-8 Plus .28% 
Halts Pro."

In an effort to make sure these products are immediately removed from 
the marketplace, EPA will also issue stop sale orders to major 
retailers that carry these products.

Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, all 
pesticides must be submitted to EPA for review, evaluation and 
registration to ensure that they do not pose an unreasonable risk to 
human health or the environment.  EPA's review and registration 
process is internationally recognized.  Pesticide products that have 
not undergone EPA review may pose risks to human health and the 
environment.

"A manufacturer such as Scotts cannot ignore the important legal 
requirement of registering its pesticides," said Region 5 
Administrator Mary A. Gade.  "This is a serious violation of EPA's 
system for protecting people and the environment from the potential 
harmful effects of pesticides.  EPA will fully investigate this 
violation and take appropriate actions.  We are committed to keeping 
the public informed about any health consequences and providing 
information to assure the safe recall of these products as soon as 
possible."

For more information on pesticides, go to 
<http://www.epa.gov/reg5rcra/ptb/pest>http://www.epa.gov/reg5rcra/ptb/pest.

# # #
-- 
Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
Garden writer, speaker, author, photographer
Region III Director Garden Writers Association
Phone: (317) 251.3261
Fax: (317) 251.8545
E-mail: hoosiergardener@sbcglobal.net
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