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Gardena firm pays $52,000 for distributing unregistered Japanese pesticides

Release Date: 05/23/2006
Contact Information: Francisco Arcaute, (213) 244-1815

LOS ANGELES - Under the terms of a recent settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Marukai Corporation of Gardena, Calif. will pay $52,000 for allegedly selling and distributing unregistered, imported Japanese pesticides at their Gardena location, a violation of federal law.

Based on an inspection conducted by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation in 2004, EPA investigators determined that the Marukai Corporation had sold and distributed 11 unregistered products from Japan, including “Cabitori Haitah, Cabi-Killer, BasuCabi, Cabitori Look, Gokichiru-Z” and “Mrs. Lloyd Insecticide.” The products claimed to be ant and roach killers, moth repellents and mold removers.

“This is the second case we’ve had against the Marukai Corporation within the last 5 years, the last violations occurred in Hawaii,” said Enrique Manzanilla, the EPA’s Communities and Ecosystems Division director for the EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. “If a store is going to sell imported products, they must be sure that they are registered to ensure that their products meet all federal and state regulations.”

Since these Japanese products were not registered as pesticides with the EPA, their alleged sale and distribution is a violation of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act which regulates the sale, distribution, and use of pesticides within the United States.

The EPA will not register a pesticide until it has been tested to show that it will not pose an unreasonable risk when used according to the directions. The agency also makes sure that pesticide labels provide consumers with the information they need to use the products safely. Pesticides that have been registered with the agency will have an EPA registration number on the label.

For more information on pesticides, please visit the EPA’s Web site at:
https://www.epa.gov/pesticides/index.htm

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