EPA v. ASTEC BIO USA INC

Case summary

On August 10, 2023, EPA Region 1 filed a Consent Agreement and Final Order ( CAFO ) to simultaneously initiate and resolve an administrative penalty case against Astec Bio USA Inc. ( Astec Bio ), a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business located in Hingham, Massachusetts. The CAFO requires Astec Bio to pay a $74,594 monetary penalty to resolve numerous past violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act ( FIFRA ), as alleged the CAFO. The alleged violations include the import, sale and distribution of unregistered pesticides used as disinfectant products on in-vitro fertilization equipment. The alleged violations do not fall within a national compliance initiative. The settlement will encourage FIFRA regulatory compliance and help to ensure that unregistered pesticides are not imported, distributed or sold in a manner that poses unreasonable risk to human health or the environment. Astec Bio's principal place of business is not located in an area that is considered to be a potential environmental justice area of concern. The alleged violations did not have any impact on the community near the Astec Bio facility because the pesticides were merely imported to and distributed from this location. States do not have primacy and are not otherwise delegated authority regarding the FIFRA registration requirements at issue in this case. EPA has notified the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources of this enforcement action.

Defendants (1)

• Astec Bio USA Inc.Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• ASTEC BIO USA, INC.

  10 KEITH WAY, SUITE 3, HINGHAM, MA, 02043

  Registry ID: 110071362062

Statutes cited

• FIFRA 12A1A — Unregistered Pesticide

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• ASTEC BIO USA INCentered 2023-08-10

  Primary law: FIFRA

  Federal penalty: $74,594

Timeline (3 milestones)

• 2023-08-10Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2023-08-10Final Order Issued
• 2023-08-14Enforcement Action Data Entered