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EPA Cites National Liquidators and Odd Job for Selling Illegal Household Pesticides

Release Date: 07/29/2004
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(#04121) New York, N.Y. -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)) has cited National Wholesale Liquidators and Odd-Job Stores, Inc. for illegally selling misbranded household pesticide products from Canada in the United States. The Agency is seeking more than $500,000 in combined penalties for numerous violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). The complaints against these two large retail outlets are based on the findings of EPA and state investigations conducted in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. All products containing a pesticide must have an EPA registration number and conform to EPA labeling requirements. "Consumers should not buy products that claim to eliminate insects, rodents, microorganisms and bacteria but do not carry EPA-approved labels for use in this country," EPA Regional Administrator Jane M. Kenny warned. "While these products may be perfectly legal to sell in Canada, such products are not approved by EPA and may not carry proper precautions on their labels." EPA charged National Wholesale Liquidators, headquartered in West Hempstead, New York, with 83 violations of FIFRA at its stores in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. The Agency is seeking fines of $273,900 against the retailer for illegally distributing a wide variety of misbranded household pesticide products in 2002. EPA cited Odd-Job Stores, Inc, headquartered in South Plainfield, New Jersey, for 77 violations of FIFRA involving the illegal distribution and sale of misbranded disinfectant products since at least 2002. EPA proposed a fine of $254,100 against the retailer. In order for a pesticide product to be used legally in the U.S., it must have two sets of numbers on the front label of the container. The first number ( EPA registration number) indicates that the product is registered with EPA. The second number (EPA establishment registration number) is placed at the bottom of the label and shows which facility manufactured the product. To come into compliance with FIFRA regulations, National Wholesale Liquidators and Odd-Job Stores, Inc. must voluntarily recall the misbranded products from all their outlets and provide documentation that the products in question were sent back to their point of origin or disposed of at a licensed facility as hazardous waste. Both companies have the opportunity to plead their case before an administrative law judge or to contact EPA to negotiate an informal settlement of the matter.