EPA fines Marukai $220,000 for Sale of Unregistered Products

By Wendy Osher

EPA image.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fined the Marukai Corporation in Honolulu $222,030 for selling and distributing unregistered products.

The EPA found that Marukai sold 37 different household products at the company’s retail outlets including kitchen and bathroom cleaners, detergents, and other home care products that claim to kill insects, germs or bacteria, and were not registered. In addition, two roach trap products were mislabeled and did not have directions for use.

The violations were discovered during an inspection conducted by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture’s Pesticides Branch in 2008.

“This action is part of EPA’s effort to protect our families from pesticide products that are not approved by the federal government,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “To use them safely in homes, these products must have proper instructions that let buyers know what precautions to take,” said Blumenfeld.

The company will also be required to have its managers, supervisors and purchasing agents at all stores complete a basic training course covering all of EPA’s pesticide rules and regulations. After the initial training, they will then be required to receive yearly refresher training.

“Retailers need to ensure the products they sell have the required labeling to limit risks to public health and the environment,” said Dean Higuchi, Hawaii Press Officer for the EPA’s regional office.