Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for enforcing regulations regarding pesticide registration and pesticidal claims. Any company, who manufactures and/or sells any pesticide products in the U.S., must first register their products with EPA. In addition, registered pesticide products must also show EPA approved labeling in accordance to FIFRA.

To date, no bacteria products are currently registered to control algae in ponds and lakes. Therefore, companies manufacturing and/or selling non-registered bacteria products CANNOT LEGALLY make any direct or indirect pesticidal claims about their products. This includes any pesticidal claims within product labels, literature and websites. Below are a few examples of pesticidal claim violations for non-registered pond and lake bacteria products:

Prevention, removal, control or elimination of algae*

Eliminates green water*

Producing conditions that prevent algae*

Removes nutrients that promote the growth of algae*

Control or removal of pond scum or scum*

* Examples of pestcidal claim violations for non-registered bacterial products with EPA under FIFRA. Source: EPA Enforcement Alert. April 1999. EPA 300-N-99-006 Download Document

Our policy is straightforward. We choose to fully comply with all EPA regulations under FIFRA. Therefore, we will not intentionally make any pesticidal claims about any of our bacteria products for ponds and lakes.

Individuals, pond and lake management firms and retail businesses should be aware of the risks when purchasing any non-registered products from companies making pesticidal claims. These companies are at risk of being fined by EPA for violating federal regulations under FIFRA and their production can be shut down for an extended period of time.