News Releases from Region 02

EPA issued 29 Advisory Letters to companies selling misbranded and unregistered pesticide products and prevented 52 imports of illegal pesticide products in New York, New Jersey and Puerto Rico

10/15/2020

NEW YORK – To date, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 2 has issued 29 Advisory Letter and 8 Notices of Warning to entities operating in New York and New Jersey to address pesticide products and devices that were found to be marketed with unsubstantiated claims of efficacy against the novel coronavirus (the cause of COVID-19) and other pathogens. These advisory letters were sent to a variety of businesses, including individual online sellers and large national companies. Products that are designed specifically to sanitize, disinfect, or sterilize surfaces are considered pesticides, and they are regulated by EPA under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)^[1].

The EPA regional office has also prevented 52 imports of illegal pesticide products into New York, New Jersey and Puerto Rico by issuing Notices of Refusal of Admission to stop illegal disinfectants and pesticide devices from entering the country.

“Unregistered disinfectants put consumers at risk. Whether these products are being sold to make a quick buck or are being sold out of ignorance, EPA will not allow the public to be endangered by companies taking advantage of the COVID-19 situation and selling ineffective products,” said EPA Regional Administrator Pete Lopez. “Disinfectants and other pesticide products that are not properly tested and registered can pose a serious risk to public health. EPA is working with public and private partners to ensure that pesticide products imported into, and sold in, the U.S. are safe and effective.”

There has been an increase in the production of unregistered, misbranded, and unproven pesticides and pesticide devices claiming to reduce or eliminate SARS-CoV-2 being offered for sale online. A pesticidal device is an instrument or other machine, including those using UV or UVC light, that is used to destroy, repel, trap or mitigate any pests, including bacteria and viruses. All products making pesticidal claims must be registered with EPA. The agency has a frequently updated list that now contains about 500 products shown to be effective against SAR-Cov-2, including some products specifically tested against the COVID -19 virus.