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EPA fines BASF Corporation for importing an improperly labeled pesticide

Release Date: 12/22/2005
Contact Information: Contact: Chad Schulze, EPA Region 10, Seattle, WA (206) 553-0505 Jeff Philip, EPA Region 10, Seattle, WA (206) 553-1203

December 22, 2005


Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that BASF Corporation (BASF) has agreed to pay $5,200 for importing nearly 20,000 lbs of an improperly labeled wood preservative in violation of the Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). BASF is a large international chemical company.

"It is important that shipments have the required labels because they have information about the product's environmental and human toxicity, what to do in case of an accidental exposure and how to safely and effectively use and handle the pesticide," said Scott Downey, EPA's Pesticide and Toxics Unit Manager in Seattle.

FIFRA requires importers of pesticides to first submit a Notice of Arrival (NOA) to EPA. EPA then reviews the NOA to ensure that the pesticide is properly registered and can be imported to the U.S.

In June 2005, BASF Canada Inc., (BASF's Canadian counterpart), submitted a Notice of Arrival (NOA), declaring that they planned to import nearly 20,000 lbs of Mycostat P into Portland, Oregon. Due to a discrepancy on the NOA, EPA requested that the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) conduct an import inspection of the shipment. The ODA inspection found that the products did not bear the required label for Mycostat P. Following the ODA inspection, EPA issued a Stop Sale Use or Removal Order (SSURO) to BASF which outlined specific conditions BASF had to follow to legally sell and distribute the product.

BASF is cooperating with EPA and has agreed to pay the penalty and has met the specific conditions of the SSURO.

EPA's Pesticide Program (epa.gov/pesticides/)