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EPA FINES PETMED EXPRESS, INC., INTERNET PET SUPPLY COMPANY, $100,000 FOR SELLING ALLEGEDLY MISBRANDED PET PRODUCTS

Release Date: 01/23/2002
Contact Information: Wesley Lambert, EPA Media Relations, 404-562-8316

The U.S. environmental protection agency (epa) today announced the settlement of an administrative enforcement action against petmed express, inc., pompano beach, florida for allegedly selling misbranded foreign-labeled versions of the popular flea-control products, Advantage and Frontline. EPA contended that such activities constituted violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). While not admitting the alleged violations, petmed express, inc., formerly known as petmedexpress.com, agreed to pay a penalty of $100,000 and to properly dispose of mislabeled products placed under a stop sale order by the EPA. Both of the flea control products that were the subject of EPA's allegations were missing labeling information required by FIFRA for safe use. The company had been selling the products labeled for sale in other countries including Australia without the required U.S. labeling. The products failed to contain directions for use adequate to protect health and the environment. On the package labels, pet weight was listed in kilograms, which could lead to overdose of the product if users are not familiar with the metric system. There has been a recent increase in the number of companies bringing unregistered pet products into the United States. Foreign labels on these products differ from those required pursuant to FIFRA in the U.S. and can potentially cause harm to people and pets.