EPA Settlement with Reckitt Benckiser Resolves Violations Related to Sales of Mislabeled Rodenticides

 U.S. EPA News Release:

EPA Settlement with Reckitt Benckiser Resolves Violations Related to Sales of Mislabeled Rodenticides

Contact Information: John Senn, senn.john@epa.gov, 212-637-3662

NEW YORK (Oct. 7, 2021) – In an enforcement action that illustrates vigilance to ensure compliance with the law, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced a settlement with Reckitt Benckiser, LLC, that resolves violations of federal pesticide laws by the company for selling and distributing two rodenticide products in the United States that had misleading advertising claims on their packaging. Reckitt Benckiser will pay a civil penalty of $458,000 under the settlement to resolve these violations.

“It’s imperative that pesticides and rodenticides be accurately labeled to protect consumers and ensure a level playing field for the industry,” said EPA acting Regional Administrator Walter Mugdan. “This case demonstrates EPA’s commitment to ensuring regulated entities like Reckitt Benckiser comply with important environmental laws that protect public health and the environment.”

During a 2019 investigation, which included inspections of a Home Depot in South Plainfield, N.J, and Reckitt Benckiser’s offices in Parsippany, N.J., EPA determined that Reckitt Benckiser was selling two rodenticide products designed to poison mice; the products were sold in packages or with labels making comparative claims as to the effectiveness of the product. The labels EPA approved for the two products did not contain the comparative claim language, and at the time of registration, data associated with the products’ claims were never provided. Because the comparative claims were not subject to verification, they were “false and misleading comparisons” prohibited under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). EPA’s investigation found that the company had sold one or both of these products with shipping containers bearing the improper advertising claim on 239 separate occasions.

FIFRA provides for federal regulation of pesticide distribution, sale, and use. All pesticides distributed or sold in the United States must be registered or licensed by EPA. Before EPA may register a pesticide under FIFRA, the applicant must show, among other things, that using the pesticide according to specifications will not generally cause unreasonable adverse effects on the environment. EPA evaluates the language that appears on each pesticide label to ensure the directions for use and safety measures are appropriate to any potential risk. Following label directions is required by law and is necessary to ensure safe use.

For more information on EPA’s work related to pesticides, go to https://www.epa.gov/pesticides.

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