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EPA asks nine major national chains to pull illegal Miracle-Gro pesticides from shelves

Release Date: 04/25/2008
Contact Information: Mick Hans, 312-353-5050, hans.mick@epa.gov Kären Thompson, 312-353-8547, thompson.karen@epa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 08-OPA076

(Chicago, Ill. - April 24, 2008) U. S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 today reinforced its concern for the safety of consumers by issuing "stop sale, use or removal" orders to retailers Home Depot, Lowe's, Wal-Mart, Ace, Do-It-Best, True Value, Sam's Club, Meijer and K-Mart. EPA is asking the retailers to remove certain illegal, unregistered and misbranded pesticides distributed by Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. from the shelves of stores across the United States.

EPA ordered the Scotts companies early this week, and now its major distributors and retailers, to immediately stop selling and distributing Miracle-Gro Shake 'n Feed All Purpose Plant Food Plus Weed Preventer and related pesticide products which can be identified by the invalid "EPA registration number" 62355-4 listed on the package. (Read the earlier news release.)

"We're taking these steps to ensure that the product does not end up in consumer's homes," said Region 5 Administrator Mary A. Gade. "Our advice to people who have purchased these products is to not use them and store them in a safe, cool and dry place such as a garage or utility shed."

EPA and its state partner Ohio Department of Agriculture are conducting laboratory analysis of the unregistered pesticides. Updated information about Scott's recall effort will be posted online as it becomes available at https://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). (this information updated May 5, 2008)

If you have questions, please contact 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 https://www.epa.gov/reg5rcra/ptb/pest.