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News Releases from Region 09

EPA settles with Nevada companies for selling unregistered, misbranded pesticide

06/28/2016
Contact Information: 
Margot Perez-Sullivan (perezsullivan.margot@epa.gov)
415-947-4149

SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that two companies based in Sparks, Nev., WellPlant, Inc. and its affiliate GST International, Inc., have agreed to pay a $12,000 penalty to resolve allegations that the companies distributed and sold to consumers an unregistered and misbranded pesticide, “Mold Manager,” throughout the United States.

“Labels that are misleading put people at risk,” said Alexis Strauss, EPA’s Acting Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “Consumers should look for EPA registration numbers and carefully follow application guidelines to ensure their safety.”

In December 2015, EPA issued a “Stop Sale” order to prevent the companies from continuing to distribute or sell Mold Manager, a liquid spray that claims to prevent the growth of mold, mildew, algae and moss.  Products purporting to prevent, destroy or repel mold, mildew, algae or moss are considered pesticides. To prevent potential dangers from such products, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act requires their registration with EPA.

The registration process provides EPA with information about the pesticide and facilitates EPA review of a pesticide label’s contents, directions for use, and appropriate warnings. In addition to being unregistered, “Mold Manager” was sold with labels that had misleading statements and did not list the percentages of active ingredients.

The companies have now provided documentation to EPA that their remaining inventory of Mold Manager was safely disposed.  A follow-up inspection conducted by the Nevada Department of Agriculture on June 2 confirmed this.

Consumers who purchased Mold Manager should contact their local refuse management companies for advice on proper disposal.  The product was offered for sale online and distributed to customers in California, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Minnesota, North Carolina, Nevada, Oregon, and Ohio.

Pesticide registration and labeling requirements protect public health and the environment by minimizing the risks associated with the production, handling and application of pesticides.  Pesticides can also be harmful if improperly stored or disposed. 

For more information on pesticides, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides

For more information on FIFRA and its enforcement, please visit:

/laws-regulations/summary-federal-insecticide-fungicide-and-rodenticide-act