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Updated Action about Rodenticides

(Sacramento – CA) As you may know, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has recently adopted a regulation to restrict a type of rat poison known as Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARS). These products, often referred to in the media as ‘super-toxic’ rat poisons, will no longer be sold to California consumers after July 1, 2014.

Today, one of 17 manufacturers of these poisons, Reckitt Benckiser LLC, has agreed with the USEPA to phase out production of these products and to stop distributing them to retailers nationwide by March 31, 2015.

DPR is pleased with this development but emphasizes that the national agreement does not impact DPR’s action. Reckitt’s agreement with USEPA came shortly after DPR won a court challenge by Reckitt Benckiser LLC, seeking to delay our action from going into effect.

“The removal of these products from store shelves is an important step to protect California’s wildlife," said DPR Director Brian Leahy. "There are plenty of other products consumers can use to tackle rodents. DPR crafted a sensible practical solution to tackle this issue and we urge stores to continue the process of removing these products from store shelves.”

These products should be removed from the California store shelves and will no longer be available to consumers after July 1, 2014.

DPR passed the regulation to ban the sale of pesticide products to consumers as it wants to protect wildlife. These poisons have been found in a variety of animals including barn owls, coyotes, bobcats and the San Joaquin kit fox (an endangered species).

The department believes that these pesticide products, containing the chemicals brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difenacoum, or difethialone should not be used by consumers.

• DPR Regulation
• USEPA Agreement