EPA Updates Stop Sale Order on Illegal Pesticides

Posted on 6/23/2021 by Roseanne Bottone

On June 16, EPA added more products to a stop sale order issued to an online retailer that allegedly offers unregistered and/or misbranded pesticide products for sale through its website.

One of the websites subject to the original stop sale order failed to stop selling a product called Virus Shut Out, an imported product advertised as a disinfection card and labeled with the claim that it protects the wearer from the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), EPA says.

Dichlorvos (DDVP), an organophosphate insecticide subject to restrictions and prohibited uses in the US due to the dangers it presents to human health, particularly that it is classified as a probable human carcinogen, is also part of the stop sale order. Exposure to DDVP can cause heavy sweating, nausea, vomiting, and other harmful effects. Exposure to high concentrations of DDVP can result in convulsions and coma.

EPA Fact Sheet on DDVP.

Why Are Disinfectants Subject to FIFRA?

US EPA regulates pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
FIFRA defines a pesticide as any substance or mixture of substances intended for “preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest…” (40 CFR 152.3).

Because disinfectants are designed to kill or repel bacteria and germs these products can be regulated under FIFRA. The law also prohibits health claims in advertising and labeling until they have been properly tested and registered with the US government.

The updated stop sale order is the latest FIFRA enforcement action related to products that make unverified claims about COVID-19.

EPA’s List of Approved Disinfectants for SARS-CoV-2

EPA has released an expanded list of EPA-registered disinfecting products that have qualified for use against the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The list contains nearly 300 additional products—including products that went through the expedited review process for emerging viral pathogens.

Expert EPA Compliance Training

Log on to the Complete Environmental Regulations online course to learn the latest regulations for registering and using pesticides under FIFRA. This online course covers critical elements of EPA's major environmental programs, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, EPCRA, and more.

Get up to speed with new rules and build strategies to ensure ongoing compliance with the bevy of EPA rules that affect your operations.

(Image credit: EPA.gov)

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