EPA v. Qantas Airways Limited - CAFO (COVID-19)

Case summary

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reached a settlement with Qantas Airways for violations of federal pesticide law. The company, based in Australia with business operations in Honolulu and Los Angeles, illegally imported into the United States multiple shipments of an unregistered product intended to disinfect drinking water. The airline also failed to notify EPA of a shipment of a cleaning disinfectant. The company has agreed to pay a $100,000 civil penalty. As an important element of its mission of protecting public health, EPA works with U.S. Customs and Border Protection on a number of fronts to identify and block entry of illegal products. In this case, Qantas Airways imported a drinking water disinfectant in multiple shipments into the United States. The product Elsil Drinking Water Purifier, made by Elsan Ltd., was not registered as required by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), which prohibits the distribution or sale of unregistered pesticides. As the product was not EPA-registered, neither its public health claims or potential effects on human health and environment have been evaluated. The company also failed to file required documents stating that it was importing pesticides into the United States for all shipments of Elsil Drinking Water Purifier and one shipment of Calla 1452 Neutral Disinfectant Cleaner.

Defendants (1)

• Nick Brodribb, Head of Legal, Qantas Airways LtdNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED

  8000 WORLD WAY WEST LEVEL 2, LOS ANGELES, CA, 90045

  Registry ID: 110070429863

Statutes cited

• FIFRA 12A1A — Unregistered Pesticide
• FIFRA 12A2N — Failure to File Reports

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• Qantas Airways Limited - CAFO (COVID-19)entered 2020-11-19

  Primary law: FIFRA

  Federal penalty: $100,000

Timeline (5 milestones)

• 2020-11-19Final Order Issued
• 2020-11-19Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2020-12-04Enforcement Action Closed
• 2020-12-04Compliance Achieved
• 2020-12-30Enforcement Action Data Entered