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PET STORE CHARGED WITH SELLING PESTICIDES LACKING PROPER WARNINGS

Release Date: 9/27/1999
Contact Information: Randy Wittorp, (415) 744-1589

     LOS ANGELES -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced settlement of an enforcement action against Pet People Pet Food and Supplies, Inc. of Solana Beach, Calif. for selling unregistered pesticides in violation of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).  The company will pay a $15,400 fine.

     Pet People sold unregistered versions of the popular flea-control products "Advantage for Dogs" and "Advantage for Cats" that had been packaged for sale in other countries.  The packages did not include information required to use the products safely.

     In registering the product for use in the United States, the EPA restricted use of "Advantage for Dogs" to puppies older than 7 weeks of age, and this requirement was not listed on the label. Also missing from the label was the EPA's recommendation that pets be treated no more than once per month.  Finally, dosages were listed in metric measurements, which could result in overdosing or under-dosing of pets by consumers unfamiliar with the metric system.

     The EPA will not register a pesticide until it has been tested to show that it will not pose an unreasonable risk when used according to the directions.  The agency also makes sure that pesticide labels provide consumers with the information they need to use the products safely.  Pesticides that have been approved by the agency will also have an EPA registration number on the label.

     "Selling pesticides that are not properly registered is illegal and EPA will take action against violators,"said Pamela Cooper, chief of the Pesticide Program in EPA's regional office. "Pesticides can be used safely, if consumers are given the information they need and follow the label directions."
     
      The EPA's action was based on inspections conducted by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation.  The EPA has also recently halted the sale of Spanish-labeled Advantage products imported from Mexico that did not include information required by the EPA.

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