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Norwood, Mass. Manufacturer Agrees to Pay $8,250 for Pesticide Violations

Release Date: 12/15/2005
Contact Information: Contact: David Deegan, 617-918-1017

(Boston) - A Norwood, Mass. manufacturer has agreed to pay an $8,250 penalty to settle EPA claims that it sold improperly labeled pesticides in violation of federal law.

In the recent settlement, Analab, Inc. of Norwood, which produces and sells disinfectants primarily for hospital use, did not admit wrong-doing. In a complaint filed in September, EPA’s New England office alleged that Analab offered for sale and distribution two products - Penta Pine Disinfectant and Citron Lemon-Scented Detergent Disinfectant - with container labels that misrepresented their effectiveness

In particular, EPA claimed that each disinfectant was sold at least once with EPA-approved labels indicating they were effective against bacteria known as pseudomonas aeruginosa. This microorganism is often found in hospitals and can cause infections acquired in medical settings.

The penalty stems from an inspection done in April 2003 by EPA inspectors who collected three samples of Penta Pine Disinfectant and one sample of Citron Lemon-Scented Detergent Disinfectant from a wholesaler/distributor of Analab disinfectants. EPA's inspection was part of an ongoing agency effort to ensure the efficacy of antibacterial and antimicrobial products. One sample of Penta Pine and the one sample of Citron Lemon were found by EPA to be ineffective against the bacteria at the concentrations on the product label.

These products are regulated as pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) because they claim to prevent or destroy pests, which include bacteria, viruses, and other infectious pathogens.

Under EPA's regulatory oversight of pesticides, products are carefully evaluated to ensure that when they are used according to labeled directions, people's health and the environment will not be harmed. EPA's work also seeks to ensure that antibacterial products work effectively.

Analab recalled the products as soon as they were notified by EPA that they were ineffective when used as directed.

For more information on EPA's oversight of antimicrobial pesticides, see: https://www.epa.gov/oppad001/ad_info.htm .

Related Information:
Pesticide Program
Pesticides Enforcement
Chemical Accidents