*Subject:* News Release: EPA, Sergeant's Pet Care and Wellmark
International Reach Agreement to Cancel Potentially Harmful Insecticide
Products

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
March 14, 2014

*EPA, Sergeant's Pet Care and Wellmark International Reach Agreement to
Cancel Potentially Harmful Insecticide Products*

* WASHINGTON -* The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached
agreement with Sergeant's Pet Care Products, Inc. and Wellmark
Internationalto cancel flea and tick pet collars containing propoxur
marketed under the
trade names including Bansect, Sentry, Zodiac and Biospot.

"This action is another example of EPA's efforts to protect children from
pesticide risks," said Jim Jones, assistant administrator of the EPA's
Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. This voluntary move
will get to an expedient result that protects people's health."

This decision was reached between EPA and Sergeant's and Wellmark as a
result of EPA's risk assessment showing risks to children from exposure to
pet collars containing propoxur. Propoxur is an insecticide registered for
use to control ticks, fleas and a variety of insects and is used in
industrial, commercial and residential facilities. The agreement represents
the solution to most quickly remove the pet collars from the market.

EPA completed the propoxur pet collar risk assessment in fall 2013 in
response to a Natural Resources Defense Council petition to cancel the
uses. EPA's risk assessment found, in some but not all use scenarios,
unacceptable risks to children from exposure to propoxur pet collars on the
first day following application. Because the manufacturers could not find a
way to eliminate unacceptable risk under all scenarios, EPA encouraged them
to cancel these products and they subsequently agreed.

EPA announced the voluntary cancellation on January 22, 2014. Under the
cancellation agreement, manufacturers are allowed to produce the pet
collars until April 1, 2015, and will not be allowed to distribute the
products after April 1, 2016. EPA will continue to watch for incidents from
the use of these collars and is prepared to take further action if
necessary.

Flea and tick collars work by leaving a pesticide residue on dogs' and
cats' fur, which can be transferred to people by hugging, petting or coming
into contact with the pets. The major source of exposure to these chemicals
is from absorption through the skin after directly touching the treated
pet. Small children may ingest pesticide residues when they touch a treated
cat or dog and subsequently put their hands in their mouth.

If you purchase a propoxur pet collar, read the label carefully and follow
all directions on the label to protect your family from exposure. Do not
allow children to play with the collar, and wash your hands thoroughly with
soap and water after handling.