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EPA and Scotts Agree to the recall of Pesticides (May 9, 2008)
Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. and a number of Scotts affiliates are currently conducting a recall of four pesticides that U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 alleges were unregistered, falsely and misleadingly labeled, or both. EPA has reviewed and commented on Scotts' recall plan but is not approving or endorsing the recall, which remains Scotts' sole responsibility.
On May 6, 2008, EPA issued eight amended "stop sale, use or removal orders" to Scotts. In April EPA had issued 17 stop sale, use or removal orders to Scotts and a number of its affiliates as well as big box retailers Ace, True Value, Do-It-Best, Lowe's, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, K-Mart, Meijer and Home Depot, related to their distribution and sale of the allegedly illegal pesticides.
These pesticides used EPA registration numbers:
- 538-299 “Turf Builder Pre/Post 2” or “Scotts Turf Builder Max Plus 2 Weed & Feed And Crabgrass Preventer”
- 538-301 “SouthernMax” or “Scotts Bonus S Max Southern Weed & Feed and Fire Ant Killer”
- 62355-4 “Garden Weed Preventer + Plant Food” or “Miracle Gro Shake 'n Feed All Purpose Plant Food Plus Weed Preventer” and
- 538-304 “SLS Fertilizer With .28 Halts,” “0-0-7 Plus .28% Halts Pro,” “22-0-8 Plus .28% Halts Pro” or “14-2-5 Plus .28% Halts Pro”
These products may have been sold under other names as well. Be sure to check product labels for the above invalid EPA registration numbers.
The stop sale, use or removal orders alleged the 538-304 and 62355-4 products were unregistered and falsely or misleadingly labeled, and the 538-299 and 538-301 products were falsely or misleadingly labeled.
Scotts is conducting a retail-level, consumer recall of pesticide products bearing registration numbers 538-301, 62355-4, and 538-299. The 538-304 pesticide product, according to Scotts, was only used by the company's lawn care affiliate Scotts LawnService and will be recalled from those businesses.
To notify the public of the consumer recalls, Scotts is
- locating placards in stores where the recalled products were sold,
- advertising the recall on the Internet and in newspapers nationwide, and
- providing video and audio news releases to the media.
Consumers may contact Scotts for more information at 888-295-0671, or visit Scotts' Web site at www.scottsmiraclegro.com 
or www.scotts.com
What should you do?
If you purchased a product that was subject to a stop sale, but not subject to a recall, you may continue to use it according to label directions. EPA is allowing products already in the hands of retailers to be sold because the potential for harm from use according to the label directions and precautionary statements is minor.
For the two Scotts products sold with incomplete label directions, please note: Consumers wanting to use the "Ortho Roach, Ant and Spider Killer" (EPA Reg # 239-2679) in food storage areas should be aware that additional instructions appear on the approved label as follows: "Remove all food and shelving paper before spraying. Discard infested food packages. Spray shelves and in cupboards where infested food containers were stored. Replace food packages after spray has dried. Replace shelving paper. Do not spray up into air."
Consumers applying "Ortho Home Defense MAX Perimeter and Indoor Insect Killer" (EPA Reg # 239-2663) to outdoor surfaces should be aware that additional instructions appear on the approved label as follows: "Hold sprayer 12 inches from surfaces being sprayed."
If you think you may have purchased other unregistered or improperly labeled products that were recalled, please look at the EPA registration number provided on the label, as product names may vary. Each registered pesticide must have an EPA registration number on its label that is specific to that product. That number may appear anywhere on the label, but is typically found near the bottom of the label on the front or back of the product. It is often designated as EPA Registration No. XXX-XXX or EPA Reg No. XXX-XXX.
If you see the following EPA registration numbers, you have an unregistered or improperly labeled pesticide subject to recall.
- 62355-4 (garden weed preventor & plant food products)
- 538-301 (weed & feed and fire ant killer product)
- 538-299 (turf builder plus weed and feed product)
- 538-304 (lawn service fertilizer with .28% Halts Pro products)
If you have purchased any of these four products, you should stop using them and follow Scotts recall instructions. If you can't return these products immediately, store them in a safe, cool and dry place and out of reach of children, pets and wildlife. Do NOT dispose of the product in the garbage, down the drain or at a community disposal site.
For more information about the product recall and instructions on returning the products, call Scotts Miracle-Gro Recall Hotline at 1-888-295-0671 or go to www.scottsmiraclegro.com or www.scotts.com
For more information
Contact the National Pesticide Information Center at 800-858-7378 (available 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Pacific Time, including weekends).
EPA contacts:
Rafael P. Gonzalez , 312-886-0269, Region 5 Land and Chemicals Division
Karen Thompson (thompson.karen@epa.gov), 312-353-8547, Region 5 Office of Public Affairs
Region 5 toll-free: 800-621-8431, 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Central Time, weekdays.