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EPA Orders ‘Stop Stale’ of Bio-Stop for Unregistered Mold-Control Claims

Release Date: 07/31/2003
Contact Information:

John Millett 202-564-7842 / millett.john@epa.gov

(07/31/03) On July 23, the EPA ordered Bug Source Inc. of Wauwatosa, Wis., to stop selling the unregistered pesticide “Bio-Stop” through its Web site. Bio-Stop is manufactured by BioChem Environmental Technologies, which claims on Bug Source’s Web site that the product Bio-Stop eliminates “toxic molds” such as “Stachybotrys” and “Aspergillus” and sanitizes bacteria and viruses. EPA will be monitoring compliance with this stop sale order and will continue to monitor the Internet for illegal pesticide sales. Bio-Stop is a mixture of bacterial enzymes used in building remediation. Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, products claiming to prevent, destroy, or repel pests, which includes molds and other microorganisms, are considered pesticides and must be registered. During EPA’s comprehensive pre-market registration process, a company must first prove that the product is safe and effective for consumer use before a legal claim can be made that a product protects people from disease-causing microorganisms. The label of all EPA registered products must bear the EPA registration number along with directions for use and any safety precautions.