All News Releases By Date

 

Rhode Island Pool Supply Company Fined for Violating Pesticide Laws

Release Date: 01/09/2008
Contact Information: Paula Ballentine, (617) 918-1027

(Boston, Mass. – Jan. 9, 2008) - A Rhode Island swimming pool company paid a $10,400 penalty for violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).

Modern Swimming Pool Supply Company, Inc. of North Providence produces, distributes, and sells pool supply products, including the pool disinfectant and pesticide sodium hypochlorite.

Two routine EPA inspections of the Modern Pool facility revealed that the company repackaged and sold a sodium hypochlorite solution on multiple occasions without first obtaining a distribution agreement with the product’s manufacturer. The distribution of a pesticide without a supplemental distribution agreement amounts to the sale of an unregistered pesticide, which is a violation of FIFRA. Modern Pool’s violations occurred between April 2006 and August 2006.

The state of Rhode Island has reported that numerous industries in the state disregard the required practice of obtaining supplemental distribution agreements. As a result, EPA has made it a priority to target industry violators. Modern Pool came into compliance with FIFRA soon after becoming aware of its violations.

FIFRA regulates products that are intended (or claimed) to prevent or destroy pests, including algae, viruses and bacteria. Under FIFRA, regulated pesticides must undergo a rigorous scientific evaluation and be “registered” by EPA before they are sold or distributed, and claims made on the product labels must be consistent with the required claims made during the registration process.

More information on pesticides and the FIFRA program (epa.gov/region1/topics/pesticides/index.html)