E.P.A. Takes Next Step to Cancel 20 Mouse and Rat Control Products Used in Homes / Action will reduce accidental exposures to harmful chemicals

WASHINGTON - The E.P.A. (EPA) today took another step in the process to cancel 20 mouse and rat control products that do not adequately protect people, particularly young people, from exposure to toxic chemicals. E.P.A. has determined that safer rodent control products are now widely available, effective, and affordable. The products E.P.A. projects to remove from the consumer market are those that contain the most toxic and persistent active ingredients, products sold as loose bait and pellets and any remaining products without protective bait stations, which keep children, pets and other animals from accessing the enclosed rodenticide bait.

This action would further implement a 2008 decision in which E.P.A. identified risk reduction measures to protect children, pets and wildlife from harmful chemicals in rodent control products. E.P.A. asked manufacturers of consumer-use rodenticide products to adopt these new, more protective measures by June 2011. Many companies now sell new products that meet the updated safety requirements. When used as directed, these products help consumers control household rodents and reduce accidental exposure. A list of these products and tips to safely control rodents is accessible on EPA's website:
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/mice-and-rats/consumer-prod.html

As part of the administrative cancellation process in section 6(b) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), E.P.A. will convene its FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) to provide independent input on the scientific basis for the suggested cancellation of the 20 products. The public meeting will take place November 29 through December 1, 2011. E.P.A. will also seek review from the Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services prior to issuing a Notice of Intent to Cancel to the manufacturers of the non-conforming rodenticide products.

The companies that have not adopted the new more protective measures include: Reckitt Benckiser Incorporated makers of D-Con; Spectrum Group makers of Hot Shot and Rid-a-Rat; and Liphatech Incorporated makers of Generation rodent control products.

More information on EPA's review of rodenticides: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/mice-and-rats

There are currently no comments for this story. Be the first to add a comment!
Click here to add a comment about this story.