EPA News Release (Region 7): Syngenta Crop Protection to Pay $102,000 Penalty for Sale or Distribution of Misbranded Pesticides in Nebraska and Missouri

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7 901 N. Fifth St., Kansas City, KS 66101   Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Nine Tribal Nations   Syngenta Crop Protection to Pay $102,000 Penalty for Sale or Distribution of Misbranded Pesticides in Nebraska and Missouri   Contact Information: Chris Whitley, 913-551-7433, whitley.christopher@epa.gov Environmental News   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   (Kansas City, Kan., May 8, 2012) - Syngenta Crop Protection LLC, of Greensboro, N.C., has agreed to pay a $102,000 civil penalty to the United States to settle a series of environmental violations related to the sale or distribution of misbranded pesticides through its facility in Omaha, Neb., and through a farm supply retailer in Savannah, Mo.   According to an administrative consent agreement filed by EPA Region 7 in Kansas City, Kan., inspections of Syngenta’s Omaha facility and a business in Chesapeake, Va., in March and April 2011 found that between March 4 and April 5, 2011, Syngenta had received 16 imported shipments of Azoxystrobin Technical, a fungicide, whose bags were not labeled with an accepted EPA label.   During a separate inspection in August 2011 at Duncan Agri-Service, Inc., in Savannah, Mo., EPA found a bulk tank of Lumax Selective Herbicide, owned by Syngenta, whose label was missing a required warning statement about the required use of personal protective equipment by persons using the pesticide.   The labeling deficiencies related to the two pesticides were in violation of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), according to the settlement.   The sale or distribution of misbranded or mislabeled pesticides can pose serious risks to human health, plant and animal life, and the environment. Without proper labeling or safety instructions on packaging, users can unintentionally misapply pesticides and may not have adequate information to address needs for first aid in the event of emergency.   As a result of EPA’s enforcement action, Syngenta was required to relabel all of the shipments in question. The company has also instituted changes in its practices to prevent similar violations.   # # #   Learn more about EPA’s enforcement of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act   Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook: www.facebook.com/eparegion7     Note: If a link above doesn't work, please copy and paste the URL into a browser.     View all Region 7 News Releases     You can view or update your subscriptions or e-mail address at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. All you will need is your e-mail address. If you have any questions or problems e-mail support@govdelivery.com for assistance.  This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.    This email was sent to elmasry.webmaster@gmail.com using GovDelivery, on behalf of: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency · 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW · Washington DC 20460 · 202-564-4355