Vibrant fined by EPA

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Closing the book here, I don’t recall seeing this posted (it may well have been) but here’s an article describing the Vibrant penalty and the stopping of production:

EPA Reaches Settlement with Underwater Creations Inc. in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, for Alleged Pesticide Violations | US EPA

EPA News Release: EPA Reaches Settlement with Underwater Creations Inc. in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, for Alleged Pesticide Violations

www.epa.gov

CHICAGO (Sept. 27, 2024) — Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a settlement with Underwater Creations Inc. of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, to stop the sale of unregistered pesticide products. The settlement requires the company to stop production and pay a $226,652 penalty.

EPA cited the company for allegedly distributing or selling five unregistered pesticides – Vibrant Reef, Vibrant Saltwater, Vibrant Freshwater, Expel, and Purge – intended to destroy aquarium pests.

Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, products that claim to kill, destroy, prevent, or repel pests, including the sort found in an aquarium, are considered pesticides and must register with EPA to ensure they perform as intended and are appropriately labeled before distribution or sale.

 

[FishLvR]

Algae fix fresh is cheaper anyway. AND IS EXACTLY THE SAME ALGAECIDE.

 

[ingchr1]

There was, here is the thread.

UWC Reaches Settlement with EPA

https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-reaches-settlement-underwater-creations-inc-st-louis-park-minnesota-alleged TLDR: have to stop production and pay $226k fine. Understand that criminal personal charges are still pending at both a state and federal level. EDIT: for those of you who read the...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Thanks. I didn’t recall seeing the actual fine. It came up in another thread so I posted here as well. :)

 

[UncommonSense]

What does this verdict mean for the numerous other companies selling various dips/etc for aquarium use?

Presumably a lot of paperwork to register with the EPA pending further sales?

 

[rishma]

I wandered into the general forum and I see a heated debate and defense of UWC? I’ll just stick to playing with my chemistry set.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

What does this verdict mean for the numerous other companies selling various dips/etc for aquarium use?

Presumably a lot of paperwork to register with the EPA pending further sales?

Means they should not break the law. In many cases, only the manufacturer knows what is in it and whether it requires registration.

In the case of vibrant, they were using a synthetic pesticide that was already registered with the epa and should have known what was required.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I wandered into the general forum and I see a heated debate and defense of UWC? I’ll just stick to playing with my chemistry set.

lol

Did you have a chemistry set as a kid? I did. :)

 

[rishma]

I wandered into the general forum and I see a heated debate and defense of UWC? I’ll just stick to playing with my chemistry set.

lol

Did you have a chemistry set as a kid? I did. :)

I absolutely did!