EPA Settles with Pan Pacific, Times Supermarket, Don Quijote, and Marukai Hawaii over Sale of Unregistered Disinfectants and Other Products | US EPA

January 30, 2024

EPA Settles with Pan Pacific, Times Supermarket, Don Quijote, and Marukai Hawaii over Sale of Unregistered Disinfectants and Other Products

HONOLULU – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a settlement with Pan Pacific Retail Management (USA) Co. and its Hawaii-based subsidiaries Times Supermarket, Don Quijote (USA) Co. Ltd., and Marukai Hawaii Co. Ltd. regarding claims of distribution or sale of unregistered disinfectants and other products, including purported antimicrobials. Sale and distribution of such unregistered products violates the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Under the settlement, the companies will pay a $663,081 penalty.

During routine marketplace inspections, the EPA discovered various unregistered products at the relevant stores that made claims such as “effective against bacteria” and “antibacterial.” Products that make claims to kill or mitigate pests, including those of a microbial nature, must be registered before sale in the US.

“EPA protects the public by taking action against companies selling purported health products that are not effective, do not meet our safety standards, or make false claims,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “Companies that sell illegal disinfectants and other such items will face significant fines.”

Public health claims for pesticide products, including disinfectants, can only be made following proper testing and registration with the EPA. The agency will not register such an item until it has been determined the product will not pose an unreasonable risk to human health or the environment when used according to the label directions. Unregistered products can be harmful to human health, cause adverse effects, and may not be effective against the spread of germs.

FIFRA registration and labeling requirements protect human health and the environment by ensuring these sorts of products are tested in accordance with specific guidelines and can be safely used for their intended purposes. The process of registering such a product is a scientific, legal, and administrative procedure through which EPA examines the ingredients of the item; the amount, frequency, and timing of its use; and storage and disposal practices.

For the most up-to-date list of EPA-registered disinfectant products.

For more information on pesticide registration. 

For more information on reporting possible violations of environmental laws and regulations, visit EPA’s enforcement reporting website.

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