The Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. will pay $12.5 million in criminal fines and civil penalties for violating the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act by treating birdseed with toxic pesticides, the largest criminal and civil penalties ever enforced under that statute, the Environmental Protection Agency announced Sept. 7 ( United States v. Scotts-Miracle Gro Co.).
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio accepted a plea agreement Sept. 7 that calls for Scotts to pay a $4 million fine and perform community service for 11 FIFRA violations related to the illegal application of insecticides to its bird food ...