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U.S. EPA settles with So. Calif. company for $50,000 for selling illegal pet products

Release Date: 9/30/2004
Contact Information: Laura Gentile (gentile.laura@epa.gov) - 415/947-4227 (desk) or 415/760-9161 (cell)

Part of three-state action totalling $748,000

SAN FRANCISCO -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently settled for $50,000 with Tidalwave Distribution, Inc., of Torrance, Calif. for allegedly selling and distributing unregistered and misbranded pet products, a violation of federal pesticide law. As part of settlement, Tidalwave Distribution neither admits nor denies any wrongdoing.

The EPA is also announcing similar enforcement cases in Hawaii and Arizona today. Combined, the three cases amount to $748,000 in fines against producers and sellers of counterfeit, mislabeled, and unregistered pet products in the three states.

The EPA settled with Tidalwave Distribution for illegally selling and distributing unregistered versions of “Frontline” and “Advantage” -- popular flea and tick control products used on dogs and cats. The counterfeit pesticides appear to have been unlawfully imported and packaged in retail cartons designed to look similar to legitimately registered pesticides sold in the United States. State inspectors discovered the illegal products distributed by Tidalwave Distribution at various retail stores in Hawaii, and California and traced the products back to the company.

“We are keeping a close watch throughout the Western U.S. and beyond to penalize companies that are producing and selling illegal pesticides,” said Enrique Manzanilla, director of the EPA’s cross media division for the Pacific Southwest region. “These products can endanger pets and their owners and undercut legitimate businesses that have registered their products and included the proper safety labelling. The EPA will continue to pursue those trafficking in illegal pesticides.”

The EPA’s pesticide regulations require registration and approved labels on all pesticide products before they are sold in the United States. Pesticides registered with the agency have an EPA registration number on the label.

The EPA will not register a pesticide without information that shows it will not pose an unreasonable risk when used according to the directions. The agency ensures that pesticide labels provide consumers with the information they need to use the products safely.

For more information, visit the EPA’s Web sites on illegal pesticides and illegal pet products, at: https://www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/illegalproducts/ or at https://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/petproduct.htm