EPA Issues Orders to Stop the Sale of Unregistered Pesticide Products in Illinois

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued an order to Banner Wholesale Grocers to prevent the illegal distribution and sale of unregistered pesticide products through the company’s website and retail location at 2639 S. Damen Ave., Chicago. EPA also issued “stop sale” orders to companies that supplied the unregistered products to Banner Wholesale Grocers: Monterrey Trade Corp. in Chicago, and Millennium Imports LLC in Plainfield, Illinois.

“This action highlights our commitment to safeguarding public health and the environment,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator Anne Vogel. “We strongly encourage all businesses to comply with these standards to ensure the integrity and safety of their products.”

The companies distributed or sold the following unregistered pesticides: Clorox 1.89L, Clorox 930mL, Clorox 500mL, Fabuloso 828mL, Fabuloso Ultra Frescura Fresca Lavanda 1L, Fabuloso Alternativa Al Cloro Fresca Primavera 1L, and Fabuloso Ultra Frescura Mar Fresco 1L.

The unregistered products appear to have been imported from Mexico. The product labels featured antiviral and antibacterial claims which means they are considered pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. All pesticides distributed or sold in the United States are required to be registered by EPA to ensure products perform as intended and will not harm people, non-target species, or the environment when used as directed.

For more information about EPA’s enforcement program, visit the Agency’s website.

For more information about pesticides, visit EPA’s pesticides website.