more Scotts product recalls orders

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

Two more products added to Scotts' recall/stop sale order.
jems

CONTACT:   Kären Thompson, 312-353-8547, 
<t*@epa.gov>thompson.karen@epa.gov
            Anne Rowan, 312-353-9391, 
<r*@epa.gov>rowan.anne@epa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                     
No. 08-OPA078

EPA orders Scotts to stop sales of two more 
pesticides with false or misleading labels

CHICAGO (April 25, 2008) - U. S. Environmental 
Protection Agency Region 5 today issued "stop 
sale, use or removal" orders to Scotts 
Miracle-Gro Co. and two affiliates, barring the 
distribution and sale of two more misbranded 
pesticides.  Labels on both products make false 
or misleading claims and one product lacks safety 
instructions as required by EPA.

Products affected by these orders are "Scotts 
Bonus S Max Southern Weed & Feed And Fire Ant 
Killer," "Scotts Turf Builder Max Plus 2 Weed & 
Feed And Crabgrass Preventer" and related 
pesticide products which can be identified by EPA 
registration numbers 538-301 and 538-299 listed 
on their packages.  Both products are currently 
registered with EPA.  Earlier this week, EPA 
requested and Scotts agreed to carry out a recall 
of these additional products.

A pesticide is misbranded if its label makes 
false or misleading claims, or does not provide 
required warning or caution statements that 
protect public health and the environment.  For 
example, first aid instructions such as "Call a 
poison control center or doctor for treatment 
advice" may be necessary.

"Scotts' actions indicate a pattern of disregard 
for the country's pesticide laws," said Region 5 
Administrator Mary A. Gade.  "Proper 
registration, branding and labeling along with 
accurate product claims and mandatory safety 
instructions are crucial so that consumers can 
have confidence in the pesticide products they 
use at home.  EPA is taking every step necessary 
to make sure these products are also quickly 
removed from the marketplace so that further 
public exposure can be eliminated."    

Due to the false and misleading labels, consumers 
are advised not to use these two 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.

Earlier this week, EPA issued stop sale, use or 
removal orders against Scotts Miracle-Gro Co., 
Scotts Lawn Service, three more Scotts 
Miracle-Gro affiliates and the nine major 
retailers Home Depot, Lowe's, Wal-Mart, Ace, 
Do-It-Best, True Value, Sam's Club, Meijer and 
K-Mart, related to two other Scotts Miracle-Gro 
pesticides with invalid EPA registration numbers.

Those other two products have the invalid EPA 
registration numbers 62355-4 and 538-304. 
Invalid registration number 62355-4 is marketed 
under names including "Garden Weed Preventer Plus 
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 Fertilizer 
22-0-8 Plus .28% Halts Pro."

EPA and its state partner Ohio Department of 
Agriculture are conducting a laboratory analysis 
of the unregistered 62355-4 and 538-304 products. 
Updated information will be posted online when it 
becomes available.

Updated information about Scott's recall effort 
will be posted online as it becomes available at 
<http://www.epa.gov/reg5rcra/ptb/news/>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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