The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reached a settlement with Maui Varieties Ltd., operating as HouseMart, over allegations related to the illegal import and distribution of unregistered pesticides and misbranded pesticide devices. These products, marketed as disinfectants or antimicrobial health solutions, were sold through Daiso locations across Hawai‘i.
The EPA enforces regulations under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), which prohibits the sale of unregistered or misbranded pesticide products. As part of the settlement, Maui Varieties will pay a penalty amounting to $314,747.
"EPA will not tolerate companies selling unregistered or misbranded disinfectants that are not effective, potentially unsafe, or make false claims," stated Martha Guzman, EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator. "We will use our enforcement authorities to protect adults, children and pets by removing these illegal products from the marketplace."
From mid-2020 through early 2021, investigations conducted by the EPA alongside the Hawai’i Department of Agriculture revealed that HouseMart was involved in selling unregistered pesticides and misbranded devices. Further investigation showed that HouseMart imported these products without filing Notices of Arrival with the EPA prior to their entry into the United States. This procedure is mandatory for ensuring compliance with federal law before such products can be distributed in American markets.
HouseMart operates Daiso retail stores exclusively in Hawai‘i at locations including Hilo, Pearl City, Piikoi (Oahu), and Downtown Honolulu. The company was found distributing 23 types of unregistered pesticides along with two misbranded devices. According to FIFRA regulations, any product claiming pesticidal properties must be registered by the EPA before being sold in the U.S., limiting its claims about pest mitigation.
Public health claims associated with registered pesticide products require approval through an EPA registration review process. This evaluation ensures that when used according to label instructions, such products do not pose risks to people or non-target species and are environmentally safe. Unregistered pesticides may harm human health and ecosystems while potentially failing to control germ spread effectively.
For further details on FIFRA's regulatory framework concerning pesticide registration and usage within the United States or information on reporting environmental law violations visit relevant sections on EPA’s official website.
