more on Scotts' recall

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

I got this release this a.m. (Friday)
jems

CONTACT:   Mick Hans, 312-353-5050, <h*@epa.gov>hans.mick@epa.gov
            Kären Thompson, 312-353-8547, 
<t*@epa.gov>thompson.karen@epa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                     
No. 08-OPA076

EPA asks nine major national chains to pull 
illegal Miracle-Gro pesticides from shelves

CHICAGO (April 24, 2008) - U. S. Environmental 
Protection Agency Region 5 today reinforced its 
concern for the safety of consumers by issuing 
"stop sale, use or removal" orders to retailers 
Home Depot, Lowe's, Wal-Mart, Ace, Do-It-Best, 
True Value, Sam's Club, Meijer and K-Mart.  EPA 
is asking the retailers to remove certain 
illegal, unregistered and misbranded pesticides 
distributed by Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. from the 
shelves of stores across the United States.

EPA ordered the Scotts companies early this week, 
and now its major distributors and retailers, to 
immediately stop selling and distributing 
Miracle-Gro Shake 'n Feed All Purpose Plant Food 
Plus Weed Preventer and related pesticide 
products which can be identified by the invalid 
"EPA registration number" 62355-4 listed on the 
package.

"We're taking these steps to ensure that the 
product does not end up in consumer's homes," 
said Region 5 Administrator Mary A. Gade.  "Our 
advice to people who have purchased these 
products is to not use them and store them in a 
safe, cool and dry place such as a garage or 
utility shed."

EPA and its state partner Ohio Department of 
Agriculture are conducting laboratory analysis of 
the unregistered pesticides.  Updated information 
about Scott's recall effort will be posted online 
as it becomes available at 
<http://www.epa.gov/reg5rcra/ptb/news/>http://www.epa.gov/reg5rcra/ptb/news/.

An EPA consumer hot-line to answer questions 
about the Scotts recall effort 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).

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 unwanted risks to 
human health and the environment.

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