News Releases from Region 03
EPA Settlement with FMC Corp. Enforces Federal Pesticide Safety Protections
(PHILADELPHIA December 19, 2017) FMC Corporation has agreed to pay a $1 million penalty to settle alleged violations of federal pesticide regulations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today.
Most of the violations involved advertisements for the FMC product “Stallion Insecticide” that omitted required “restricted use” statements for the proper purchase and safe application of this pesticide, which is used for several crops including alfalfa and sunflowers. Other violations included sales using the disapproved brand name “Stallion Insecticide.”
“This settlement will help ensure consumers receive and adhere to important label information for the safe use of this agricultural product,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Cosmo Servidio. “EPA strives to ensure that pesticides are properly registered, packaged, and labeled to protect health and safety.”
EPA cited the Philadelphia-based chemical company for violating the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). FIFRA is a federal law requiring EPA registration of pesticide products and pesticide production facilities, and the proper labeling and advertising of pesticides. FIFRA's requirements protect public health and the environment by ensuring the safe production, handling and application of pesticides; and by preventing false, misleading, or unverifiable product claims.
Due to the health and environmental risks of improper use of FMC’s Stallion Insecticide, EPA classified this product under FIFRA as a “restricted use pesticide” (RUP), meaning that it should only be used by (or under the supervision of) a certified pesticide applicator. The product label included the RUP designation, but FMC omitted this restricted use caution from several printed advertisements, online advertisements and more than 12,000 direct mailers sent to farmers and retailers.
In July 2017, an administrative law judge ruled that the EPA had proven the FIFRA advertising violations, and scheduled this case for a hearing on the other violations and an appropriate penalty. The decision is available at: https://go.usa.gov/xnnzH
For more information about EPA’s pesticide program, visit http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/ .