The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Honolulu Wood Treating, based in Kapolei, Oahu, agreed to a settlement following labelling violations discovered in 2014 and 2015, which will see the company pay a $33,750 penalty.
“Mislabeled pesticides put people at risk,” Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest, said. “Every company must ensure its products are properly labeled to protect the health and safety of those who use them.”
The EPA reported the Hawaii Department of Agriculture carried out inspections on the agency’s behalf in 2014 and 2015 and discovered that Honolulu Wood Treating’s labels for Clear-Bor F.T. did not contain up-to-date first aid information and featured an incorrect EPA Establishment number.
The product, which is applied to wood to prevent termite and wood decay fungus damage, bore first aid instructions that could have interfered with proper medical treatment, including a recommendation to touch the back of the throat to induce vomiting, which is no longer part of the current medical first aid instructions.
Additionally, the EPA Establishment number — which identifies where a substance was last produced, an umbrella term that include formulations, packaging, labelling and any product alterations — was incorrectly listed, which interferes with maintaining product integrity.
Honolulu Wood Treating has brought its labelling into compliance with federal regulations.
Alerts Sign-up