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EPA Settles with Springs Industries, Inc., for Violations of Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act

Release Date: 10/16/2006
Contact Information: Dawn Harris-Young, (404) 562-8421, [email protected]

(Atlanta. GA – Oct. 16, 2006) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced the settlement of an administrative enforcement action against Springs Industries, Inc., (Springs) in Fort Mill, South Carolina, for alleged violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). The settlement requires Springs to comply with FIFRA and pay a $104,422.50 penalty.

The violations were discovered during an inspection conducted by the Clemson University Department of Pesticide Regulation in November 2004. EPA contends that, at the time of the inspection, the labels for two products, “Amicor Pure Pillows” and “Amicor Pure Mattress Pads,” contained claims of pesticidal activity related to the control of dust mites. These products should have been registered with the EPA before being legally sold or distributed in the United States. Registered pesticides are required to conform to FIFRA’s labeling regulations, and establishments that produce pesticides must be registered with EPA.

The two products found to be in violation are no longer produced by Springs. The labels for current products have been revised to conform to the treated articles exemption, which removes them from the purview of FIFRA. The treated articles exemption allows a product that has been treated with a registered pesticide to make certain claims limited to the protection of the product itself.