EPA moves to ban d-CON pesticides

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is moving to ban the sale of 12 d-CON mouse and rat poison products produced by Reckitt Benckiser because these products fail to comply with current EPA safety standards.

The EPA said it has worked cooperatively with companies to ensure products are safe to use around children and effective for consumers. Reckitt Benckiser, maker of d-CON brand products, is the only rodenticide producer that has refused to adopt EPA’s safety standards for all of its consumer use products, the EPA said. 

"Moving forward to ban these products will prevent completely avoidable risks to children," said James Jones, acting assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. "With this action, EPA is ensuring that the products on the market are both safe and effective for consumers."

Approximately 10,000 children a year are accidentally exposed to mouse and rat baits, according to the EPA. 

Reckitt-Benckiser officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment. 

The EPA requires rodenticide products for consumer use to be contained in protective tamper-resistant bait stations and prohibits pellets and other bait forms that cannot be secured in bait stations. In addition, the EPA prohibits the sale to residential consumers of products containing brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difethialoneand difenacoum because of their toxicity to wildlife.

Among the 12 D-Con products on the list to ban are: d-CON Concentrate Kills Rats & Mice, d-CON Bait Packs III, d-CON Ready Mixed Generation II, and d-CON Bait Pellets III. The complete list can be found here. 

The products remain on shelves as the manufacturer has 30 days to request a hearing.