PER THE EPA, COUNTERFEIT FLEA TREATMENT PRODUCTS
appear to have been unlawfully imported and were packaged in cartons designed to look like legitimately registered pesticides available in the U.S. under the trade names "Advantage" and "Frontline." EPA prohibit retailers and other distributors from distributing or selling the counterfeit pesticide products and require their proper disposal. EPA is responsible for assuring that all flea treatment products with pesticides sold in the United States do not cause adverse effects under EPA-approved label use conditions. The counterfeiters have placed foreign labeled applicator package inserts in counterfeited Advantage and Frontline retail cartons printed to resemble the U.S. -registered products. Frontline products, among other things, may be missing instruction leaflets bearing directions for use required under U.S. law. Further, the Frontline applicators may not be in the required child-resistant packaging. In addition to the inadequate labeling and packaging, consumers cannot be assured that the counterfeiters inserted the appropriate size flea treatment applicator for the animal pictured or otherwise indicated on the retail carton of either the Advantage or Frontline flea treatment products. So, use of the counterfeit Advantage and Frontline flea treatment products may put the treated pet at risk. Consumers should be aware that the Frontline and Advantage brands of pesticides are registered by EPA. The manufacturers of Frontline and Advantage flea treatment products are not implicated in the enforcement actions EPA is announcing. However, product inventory that may be available at the retail level at this time could include both counterfeit and legitimately registered and marketed pesticides. Therefore, EPA is advising you about this problem and recommending that you determine whether the flea treatment product you are considering or have purchased appears to be a counterfeit of the EPA-registered pesticides. To determine if you have purchased legitimate Frontline and Advantage flea products read more at the EPA website: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/petproduct.htm
Quick ways to check if Frontline and Advantage flea treatment products are legitimate:
1) Frontline and Advantage flea products come in cartons
2) Instruction leaflet is included
3) Flea Treatment applicator package is child-resistant
4) Packaging is in English
5) Flea Treatment package applicator dosages are not in metric units - can cause Americans to accidentally overdose their dog or cat
6) The applicator label for the weight of the dog or cat is in pounds
7) Carton and each individual applicators EPA registration number are the same
8) Check that the dosage on the flea treatment applicators is the same dosage on the carton and that it is for the correct animal (dog or cat).
9) Do not give dog flea treatment dosage to a cat.
