EAU CLAIRE – The Environmental Protection Agency recently ordered Eau Claire-based Menard Inc. to stop selling and distributing unregistered pesticide products.
These unregistered pesticides allegedly violate the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. The two products in question are an “Antimicrobial Filter” and an “Allergen Filter,” which are treated with unregistered pesticides and sold online.
The EPA stated in its press release that “public health and safety claims have appeared on the company’s website, including that these products could or should be used against COVID-19.”
The press release continued: “Federal law requires that pesticides be evaluated as part of EPA’s registration process to ensure that products have their intended effects before they are distributed or sold. The agency will not register a pesticide until it has determined that the product does not pose an unreasonable risk to human health or the environment when used according to label directions. Products that have been properly registered carry EPA-approved labels that provide users with important safety and application information. Unregistered products that have not been evaluated by EPA may not work as advertised or may mislead consumers.”
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Jeff Abbot, spokesman for Menard Inc., said the EPA did not share a copy of the order before the press release came out and reached news sources.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we have stopped selling the ‘Antimicrobial Filters’ and ‘Allergen Filters’ mentioned in the August 15 EPA press release,” he said. “These items are manufactured by Excell Air Filters, located at 1218 Township Rd. 1875, Ashland Ohio. Excell Air Filters has assured us that to the best of their knowledge and belief, they comply with all EPA standards and are not aware of any current issues with these items. Excell is reaching out to the EPA for answers and to clear up any misunderstandings.”
