Say NO to Celebrity & Cause-Related Marketing of Pesticides!
Imagine celebrity endorsements or logos for charity organizations on these pesticide labels. Sound confusing and dangerous to you, too? |
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to allow pesticide manufacturers to display “third-party endorsements” and charitable tie-ins on their labels.
Imagine browsing the pest control aisle at the home improvement store, and along the aisle you notice bottles of herbicide with the UNICEF logo on them, bottles of bleach with the Red Cross logo, or bags of lawn pesticides with a photo of a famous soccer player and a note saying that "10% of this purchase goes to the US Youth Soccer Association!"
Sound ridiculous? Confusing? Potentially dangerous? We think so too!
Take action today! Submit a public comment to EPA and tell them you don't think celebrity endorsements or charity tie-ins are appropriate for the labels on hazardous pesticides.
Here is the link to full information about the proposal.
Here are instructions for submitting a public comment, and sample language you can use.
Thank you, and have a wonderful weekend!
Take
Action!
Instructions for submitting a public comment to EPA on
cause-related marketing
First, click here to open a new window with the docket information.
Next, where it says "Add Comments" on
the 5th or 6th line, click on the yellow bubble that
looks like this:
"
".
Copy and paste this docket number into the "General Comments" section: Re: EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-1008
Then, add your remarks following that docket number. Feel free to use our sample comments, below. It is better to include your full name, profession, and city and state at the bottom of your comments, though it is not required.
Then, click "next step" at the bottom of the page to submit your comment.
Please contact Toxic Free NC at (919) 833-1123 to let
us know you're taking action. Thank you!
Sample text
You can use this text for your public
comment to EPA saying NO to celebrity and cause-related
marketing of pesticide products. Be sure to remove
or replace the text IN CAPS with your personal information.
--
Dear Stephen Johnson,
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on docket # EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-1008, "Label Statements Regarding Third-Party Endorsements and Cause Marketing Claims." I believe the proposed rule changes are inappropriate and potentially dangerous for the public and the environment. [FILL IN ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION YOU'D LIKE HERE]
Specifically, I disagree with this proposal because:
-
Placement of the Red Cross and other safety or environmental symbols on commercial poisons is inherently misleading and violates federal and state laws and EPA guidelines. The symbols themselves may imply health and environmental benefits that conflict with the product's actual properties and regulatory status.
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Extraneous claims and symbols may distract consumers from safe usage label instructions. It is critical that consumers be able to understand and carefully follow label instructions in order to prevent serious harm from pesticide misuse.
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The proposal inappropriately involves a regulatory agency - the EPA - in corporate marketing schemes. Cause-related symbols may imply an endorsement of the product by either the EPA or the charity.
Thank you for your attention to this very important matter. Please don't let this proposed rule take effect!
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME HERE]
[YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION]