The stop sale order includes DDVP, a potentially lethal insecticide
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently ordered eBay to stop selling around 170 unregistered and/or misbranded pesticide products.
The sale was in violation of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).
The is further to the original Stop Sale Use of Removal Order which was issued to eBay on June 10, 2020. The new order expands on the original order to include additional products.
The sale of unregistered and/or misbranded products came to the attention of EPA following tips and complaints from consumers as well as members of the regulated community.
These 170 products were either not registered with the EPA or labeled with false or misleading statements (or both).
“Unregistered pesticides can pose a serious hazard to human health and the environment. EPA remains committed to holding online retailers such as eBay accountable for the sale of these dangerous products through their websites,” said Larry Starfield, EPA acting assistant administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance.
Lethal poison
One of the pesticide products which is subject to the order is brodifacoum.
Brodifacoum is described by the EPA as a highly lethal anticoagulant poison. It has been linked to human intoxication and dichlorvos (DDVP).
DDVP is an organophosphate insecticide which is subject to various restrictions and prohibitions in the US as it presents various dangers to human health, including as a potential human carcinogen.
Certain professionals such as building managers and superintendents, flight staff and customs and border protection agents are potentially more vulnerable to the dangers posed by DDVP – both due its use and/or transportation.
Another product included in the stop sale order is a purported spatial disinfection card called Virus Shut Out which alleges to protect the wearer from COVID.
The pandemic has led to a number of fraudsters and scammers attempting to capitalize on peoples’ safety concerns. Since the start of the pandemic last year, PPE giant 3M has been in an ongoing battle with fraudsters and scammers attempting to sell counterfeit N95 respirators.
“Whenever there's high demand, you are going to encounter people who want to take advantage of the system,” said Michael Spylo, Regional Division Leader, Personal Safety Division, 3M Canada to COS.
3M Canada was recognized as one of this year's Reader's Choice awardee for the Best Safety Suppliers. Learn more about the winners here.
