EPA Orders Scotts to Stop Sales of Two More Pesticides With False or Misleading Labels

EPA Orders Scotts to Stop Sales of Two More Pesticides With False or
Misleading Labels

CHICAGO, April 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency Region 5 today issued "stop sale, use or removal" orders to Scotts
Miracle-Gro Co. and two affiliates, barring the distribution and sale of two
more misbranded pesticides. Labels on both products make false or misleading
claims and one product lacks safety instructions as required by EPA.

Products affected by these orders are "Scotts Bonus S Max Southern Weed & Feed
And Fire Ant Killer," "Scotts Turf Builder Max Plus 2 Weed & Feed And
Crabgrass Preventer" and related pesticide products which can be identified by
EPA registration numbers 538-301 and 538-299 listed on their packages. Both
products are currently registered with EPA. Earlier this week, EPA requested
and Scotts agreed to carry out a recall of these additional products.

A pesticide is misbranded if its label makes false or misleading claims, or
does not provide required warning or caution statements that protect public
health and the environment. For example, first aid instructions such as "Call
a poison control center or doctor for treatment advice" may be necessary.

"Scotts' actions indicate a pattern of disregard for the country's pesticide
laws," said Region 5 Administrator Mary A. Gade. "Proper registration,
branding and labeling along with accurate product claims and mandatory safety
instructions are crucial so that consumers can have confidence in the
pesticide products they use at home. EPA is taking every step necessary to
make sure these products are also quickly removed from the marketplace so that
further public exposure can be eliminated."

Due to the false and misleading labels, consumers are advised not to use these
two products and to store them in a safe, cool and dry place such as a garage
or utility shed. Do not dispose of them down the drain, in the garbage or at
a community disposal site.

Earlier this week, EPA issued stop sale, use or removal orders against Scotts
Miracle-Gro Co., Scotts Lawn Service, three more Scotts Miracle-Gro affiliates
and the nine major retailers Home Depot, Lowe's, Wal-Mart, Ace, Do-It-Best,
True Value, Sam's Club, Meijer and K-Mart, related to two other Scotts
Miracle-Gro pesticides with invalid EPA registration numbers.

Those other two products have the invalid EPA registration numbers 62355-4 and
538-304. Invalid registration number 62355-4 is marketed under names
including "Garden Weed Preventer Plus Plant Food" and "Miracle-Gro Shake 'n
Feed All Purpose Plant Food Plus Weed Preventer." Invalid registration number
538-304 is used primarily by Scotts Lawn Service, a lawn care company. It is
marketed under names including "Scotts Lawn Service Fertilizer with .28%
Halts," "Scotts Lawn Service Fertilizer 0-0-7 Plus .28% Halts Pro," "Scotts
Lawn Service Fertilizer 14-2-5 Plus .28% Halts Pro" and "Scotts Lawn Service
Fertilizer 22-0-8 Plus .28% Halts Pro."

EPA and its state partner Ohio Department of Agriculture are conducting a
laboratory analysis of the unregistered 62355-4 and 538-304 products. Updated
information will be posted online when it becomes available.

Updated information about Scott's recall effort will be posted online as it
becomes available at www.epa.gov/reg5rcra/ptb/news/.

An EPA consumer hot-line to answer questions about the Scotts recall effort
has been established at 888-838-1304 (9 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Central Daylight
Time). Questions may also be answered by the National Pesticide Information
Center at 800-858-7378 (6:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Pacific Daylight Time,
including weekends).

Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, all pesticides
must be submitted to EPA for review, evaluation and registration to ensure
that they do not pose an unreasonable risk to human health or the environment.
EPA's review and registration process is internationally recognized.
Pesticide products that have not undergone EPA review may pose unwanted risks
to human health and the environment.

For more information on pesticides, go to www.epa.gov/reg5rcra/ptb/pest.

SOURCE U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Karen Thompson, +1-312-353-8547, thompson.karen@epa.gov, or Anne Rowan,
+1-312-353-9391, rowan.anne@epa.gov, both of the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency