Release Date: 11/02/2011
Contact Information: Dale Kemery (News Media Only) kemery.dale@epa.gov 202-564-7839 202-564-4355

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (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. EPA has determined that safer rodent control products are now widely available, effective, and affordable. The products EPA plans 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 EPA identified risk reduction measures to protect children, pets and wildlife from harmful chemicals in rodent control products. EPA 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 available 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), EPA will convene its FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) to provide independent input on the scientific basis for the proposed cancellation of the 20 products. The public meeting will take place November 29 through December 1, 2011. EPA will also seek comment 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 Inc. makers of D-Con; Spectrum Group makers of Hot Shot and Rid-a-Rat; and Liphatech Inc. makers of Generation rodent control products.

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

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EPA distributes its Pesticide Program Updates to external stakeholders and citizens who have expressed an interest in pesticide activities and decisions. This update service is part of EPA’s continuing effort to improve public access to Federal pesticide information.

For general questions on pesticides and pesticide poisoning prevention, contact the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC), toll free, at: 1-800-858-7378, by E-mail atnpic@ace.orst.edu, or by visiting their website at:http://npic.orst.edu/

To report an environmental violation, visit EPA’s website athttp://www.epa.gov/compliance/complaints/index.html

For information about EPA’s pesticide program, visit our homepage at:http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/

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Mike Helms

Extension Support Specialist/Managing Editor – Cornell Guidelines

Pesticide Management Education Program (PMEP)

Cornell University

5140 Comstock Hall

Ithaca, NY 14853-2601

Phone: 607.254.6441 Fax: 607.255.3075

Cornell Guidelines Website: http://ipmguidelines.org

PMEP Website: http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu