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BECQ warns business owners of illegal pesticides imported, sold
The Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality wants to remind business owners that the importation and selling of foreign and/or misbranded pesticides and pesticide devices is illegal. Should misbranded pesticides and pesticides devices be found, they will be confiscated and penalties may be assessed.
Be advised that the BECQ Division of Environmental Quality’s Pesticide Management branch is charged with the responsibility to regulate the importation, sale, and distribution of pesticides, legal or illegal, to ensure public health and a clean and healthy environment. The BECQ DEQ staff regularly inspects business establishments to ensure misbranded products are not on shelves for resale to the community.
Products that may be imported or sold in the CNMI are legal products that are registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and must be properly labeled in the English language. The labels must indicate the name of the pesticide in bold letters, restricted use designation, description of which pests are controlled, chemical name of pesticide, active ingredients and percentages, inert ingredients, EPA registration number, patent numbers, directions for proper use and appropriate signal words such as caution, warning or danger poison. Misbranded pesticides also refer to products that bear any statement, design, or graphic representation, which is false or misleading.
A pesticide is any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest. Many household products are pesticides and can include kitchen, laundry and bath disinfectants and sanitizers. Products that kill mold and mildew are also considered pesticides.
The CNMI Pesticide Regulations are available to any interested party. Call or visit the BECQ Division of Environmental Quality Pesticide Management branch at 664-8522, located along Chalan Pale Arnold at the Gualo Rai Center or visit the DEQ website at www.deq.gov.mp. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30am to 4:30pm. (BECQ)
