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EPA Enforcement Settlement Addresses Pesticide Violations by Chemical Universe, Inc., of North Kansas City, Mo.

Release Date: 04/10/2014
Contact Information: Ben Washburn, 913-551-7364, washburn.ben@epa.gov

Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Lenexa, Kan., April 10, 2014) - An inspection by the Missouri Department of Agriculture of Chemical Universe, Inc., a pesticide producer in North Kansas City, Mo., has revealed alleged violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Through an enforcement action with EPA Region 7, the company has agreed to pay a $34,740 civil penalty to settle the allegations related to the improperly reported production and distribution of misbranded and unregistered pesticides.

Under FIFRA, distributors of pesticides must ensure that the products are properly registered with EPA. The registration process includes a product label review to ensure its contents contain the necessary information to ensure safe use. When a pesticide is unregistered or its label contains information that has not been accepted by EPA, it is considered to be misbranded under FIFRA. The law also requires pesticide producers to submit a complete and accurate accounting of pesticide production to EPA on an annual basis.

The inspection of Chemical Universe’s North Kansas City, Mo., facility in April 2013 revealed that on at least nine occasions in 2012 and 2013, the company sold quantities of an unregistered and misbranded pesticide. The investigation also revealed that pesticide reports submitted by the company for the years 2011, 2012, and 2013 contained false or incomplete information, in violation of FIFRA.

As a part of the settlement, Chemical Universe, Inc., has certified that it is now in compliance with FIFRA and its regulations.