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U.S. EPA orders 'Stop Sale' of illegal pet flea control products

Release Date: 3/4/2004
Contact Information: Lisa Fasano, (415) 947-4307 in CA, Dean Higuchi, (808) 541-2711 in HI

SAN FRANCISCO - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has ordered distributors and retailers in California and Hawai'i to stop selling counterfeit Advantage and Frontline products for control of fleas and ticks on dogs and cats allegedly sold by Pang & Son, a company in Honolulu, and is warning retailers and consumers against purchasing any counterfeit pesticide products.

The EPA is continuing its investigation of other potential counterfeit and illegal products on the market being sold through other distributors and retailers. The EPA has alerted Bayer Corp. and Merial Ltd., makers of Frontline and Advantage, regarding the flood of counterfeit products currently on the market.

"Without proper pesticide registration, we just don't know what is being sold," said Pam Cooper, the EPA's pesticide section chief for the Pacific Southwest region. "Consumers want to be assured that the product they purchase will be effective and meets U.S. product guidelines."

The counterfeit pesticides appear to have been unlawfully imported and packaged in retail cartons designed to look similar to legitimately registered pesticides sold in the United States. The EPA's investigation indicates that the counterfeit products have been sold to distributors and retailers throughout the country.

The counterfeit products have outer retail cartons that are made to resemble U.S. EPA registered pesticides. Inside the cartons are applicators labeled and packaged for overseas markets. In some cases, the pesticide applicators may not have the proper child-resistant packaging, or the accompanying instructional leaflet required by the agency is missing. In addition, the consumer cannot be assured that the pesticide dosage is correct for the animal described on the retail carton. Pet owners who are concerned about their animals should contact their veterinarian.

The counterfeit products may be different from legitimate Advantage and Frontline products in several ways. EPA has posted detailed information, including photos of legitimate products, at: https://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/petproduct.htm .

The EPA regulates all pesticides used in the United States. Before a pesticide can be marketed in this country the agency performs a rigorous scientific review to ensure that use of the product is not likely to cause harmful effects on people, pets or the environment. Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, the EPA requires pesticide products to contain instructions for proper use, safety precautions to follow and directions for proper disposal of unused products and their containers.

Legitimate Advantage and Frontline products that have undergone the EPA's comprehensive review process are registered for use in the United States, and are not affected by this action. Because the counterfeit pesticides do not conform with established safeguards, the Agency has issued "Stop Sale" orders on the counterfeit products in question. Extensive additional information is available at: https://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/petproduct.htm.

The stop sale orders were issued to the following pet supply retailers in California:

Belmont Pets Long Beach
Blacksmith's Corner Bellflower
C&C Feed North Hills
Centinela Feed & Pet Torrance
Chico Pet Works & Pet Salon Chico
Consolidated Pet Food Santa Monica
Discount Pet One Lodi and two Stockton locations
Dog Show Specialties Sacramento
East Valley Feed & Tack Sun Valley
Fiesta Pet Shop National City
GDSC Paso Robles
Highlander Pet Center Arcardia
Incredible Pets Auburn
Lucky Dog Pet Shop Berkeley
Newbury Park Feed Newbury Park
Newport Pet San Diego
One Stop Pet Shop La Crescenta
Penasquitos Pet San Diego
Pet Adventure Canyon City
Pet Extreme Livermore and Turlock locations
Pet Market San Diego
Pet Stop San Diego
Pets Are Us Burlingame
Pets of Bel Air Los Angeles
Pets Plus Downey Downey
Red Barn Tarzana
The Petcare Company Hermosa Beach
The Ponderosa Idyllwild
You Dirty Dog Cambria
SJS & Associates Palos Verdes Estates

The stop sale orders were issued to the following pet supply retailers in Hawai'i:

City Feed
Crazy Canine
Enchanted Lake Pet Center
Feed Trough
Marina Pets
Mililani Pets
Pets Discount
Pets Plus
Pets Unlimited
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