The EPA has issued stop sale, use, or removal orders (SSURO) to online retailers for selling a wide range of COVID-19 pesticide products. The EPA claims these products are unregistered, misbranded, or restricted use products, and pesticide devices that make false or misleading claims.
“The proliferation of unregistered pesticides in the e-commerce marketplace, especially during this unprecedented time, poses a significant and immediate health risk to consumers, children, pets, and others exposed to these products”, says EPA Region 10 Administrator Chris Hladick.
Many of the pesticides are not registered with the EPA, which is a requirement for sale in the U.S. They have not undergone a rigorous scientific process to ensure effectiveness and safety.
The EPA has issued stop sale, use, or removal orders (SSURO) to online retailers for selling a wide range of COVID-19 pesticide products. The EPA claims these products are unregistered, misbranded, or restricted use products, and pesticide devices that make false or misleading claims.
“The proliferation of unregistered pesticides in the e-commerce marketplace, especially during this unprecedented time, poses a significant and immediate health risk to consumers, children, pets, and others exposed to these products”, says EPA Region 10 Administrator Chris Hladick.
Many of the pesticides are not registered with the EPA, which is a requirement for sale in the U.S. They have not undergone a rigorous scientific process to ensure effectiveness and safety.
Products that have been properly registered will have EPA-approved labeling on the container.
The EPA also notes that the labeling on some of the unregistered or misbranded pesticides and pesticide devices includes the following violative statements:
• “Kills COVID-19”
• “Complete sterilization including the current pandemic virus”
• “Coronavirus disinfectant”
• “2020 Coronavirus Protection Clearance Sale”
• “A Powerful, Green, Non-Toxic Solution Proven to Inactivate our current viral strain”
• “Epidemic Prevention”
• “Efficient disinfection to prevent the spread of disease”
• “Help keep your family and those you care for healthy”
• “Nontoxic causes no permanent injuries”
• “Ingredients are biodegradable and have no harmful impact on the environment”
• “There is no damage to the environment”
• “You can easily purify the living environment”
• “Safe for all people using”
• “Gentle to Child & Pets”
• “Chemical Free”
One of the most egregious examples is a product containing Chlorine Dioxide. Several versions of this product are available online, each with little to no English-language instruction. The sellers make unapproved claims and their products are being sold for use in hospitals, offices and homes.
Another product listed online are 55-gallon drums of Methylene Chloride. This is marketed for use as a Coronavirus disinfectant and paint stripper. This product is not approved for use against COVID-19. The EPA previously banned this product for retail sale to consumers for paint removal purposes, due to acute fatalities that resulted from exposure.
Please don’t make the mistake of buying unapproved products. Only use EPA registered products!
