(AGENPARL) – mer 11 ottobre 2023 Issued: Oct 11, 2023 (11:13am EDT)
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EPA Urges Consumers to Beware of Misbranded Antimicrobial Household Products
Rush to Market without Complying with Applicable Federal Law During the
COVID-19 Pandemic Results in $1.5 Million Penalty
NEW YORK (October 11, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
announced today a settlement with Tzumi Electronics LLC and Enchante
Accessories, Inc. for violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) committed during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Under the
settlement the companies will make a $1.5 million combined penalty payment.
“Consumers should exercise caution when purchasing  devices that claim to
kill germs or pests.  EPA requires these devices have an EPA establishment
number. In this case, the devices were rushed to market during the pandemic by
companies unfamiliar with EPA’s regulations and failed to meet even these
very basic requirements,” said Lisa F. Garcia, EPA Regional Administrator.
“This settlement demonstrates the consequences of acting in haste and
ignorance of federal environmental laws and regulations.”
Tzumi Electronics and Enchante Accessories engaged in the distribution and
sale of pesticide devices. Between May 5, 2020 and September 17, 2020, at the
height of the pandemic, Enchante, a large manufacturer and wholesaler of
consumer goods, was the importer of record for numerous shipments of 15
distinct Tzumi-branded ultraviolet (UV) devices imported into the United
States from China. The labels of the Tzumi-branded UV devices displayed
pesticidal claims that UV lights kill microbes — and did not include an EPA
establishment number for the producing establishment, as required by FIFRA.
Enchante further imported these shipments into the U.S. without filing proper
paperwork (Notices of Arrival) prior to arrival, in violation of the law. Upon
entry into the U.S., each of the shipments was then transferred to Tzumi
Electronics, which held and distributed the misbranded UV devices to domestic
retailers.
Among the goals of FIFRA is to minimize risks to the public and the
environment from the use of  pesticides and pesticide devices. Pesticide
devices are not subject to registration or any other form of premarket review
by EPA and are therefore not evaluated for safety and efficacy by EPA.
However, EPA may review device labels and labeling during compliance
monitoring of domestic, imported or exported device products, or as part of
voluntary, fee-based, regulatory determination submission. FIFRA requires all
pesticide devices imported into the U.S. to be produced in an EPA registered
establishment and include on the label an EPA establishment number, which the
agency assigns to each establishment that produces any pesticide, active
ingredient, or device. The EPA establishment number allows pesticide devices
to be traced to the facility of manufacture in the event of an issue with the
product’s use.
EPA does not routinely review the safety or efficacy of UV light devices and
as a result, EPA has not conducted a human health risk assessment to determine
the safety of these products. For the same reason, EPA cannot confirm whether,
or under what circumstances, UV light devices might be effective against any
pest, including viruses and bacteria. Device manufacturers, sellers, and/or
distributors are responsible for maintaining records and data to support their
claims and consumers can request these records from these entities directly.
EPA has advised the public about regulations related to UV Lights that claim
to kill or be effective against viruses and bacteria.
EPA has created a Guide for Consumers about pesticide devices.
For more information about the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide
Act, please
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Report violations of FIFRA and other regulations
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