How to Identify Counterfeit Pet Pesticides
Bayer Advantage products
Merial Frontline products
How to determine if you have legitimate Bayer Advantage products:
- If there is a sticker on the outside of the retail carton with information such as the EPA registration number and/or the animal body weight for the product, then it is not EPA-registered Advantage product. Legitimate products do not have these stickers.
- Since the directions on the retail carton and the supplemental leaflet are identical between the legitimate product and the counterfeit product, check the language that is printed on the product tubes. The legitimate Advantage products all contain product tubes that are printed in English. The most obvious sign of a counterfeit product is that the product tubes are printed in a foreign language (most likely French or German).
- Legitimate product tubes will include the EPA Registration Number, the signal word WARNING, and the child hazard warning (Keep Out of Reach of Children). Counterfeit product tubes may lack this information.
- Legitimate product tubes will also include a reference statement that refers users to the main labeling for directions for use and will include the manufacturing company’s name (Bayer). Counterfeit product tubes may lack this information.
- Legitimate product tubes will contain an active ingredient statement that agrees with the active ingredient statement on the retail carton (9.1% imidacloprid). A counterfeit product may have an active ingredient statement that differs (such as 10%).
EPA-registered Advantage product will look like the sample on the bottom. All text should be in English ONLY.
How to determine if you have legitimate Frontline products:
- If there is a sticker on the outside of the retail carton with information such as the EPA registration number and/or the animal body weight for the product, then it is not EPA-registered Frontline product. Legitimate products do not have these stickers.
- The lot number on the retail carton should match the lot number on the applicator package insert and/or the individual applicator.
- The instruction leaflet should be included. It provides the following information: first aid statements, including emergency telephone numbers; precautionary statements for humans and pets; directions for use; frequency of use; and storage and disposal statements.
- The product should be packaged in child-resistant packaging. The directions for opening the child-resistant package contain illustrations that actually look like the applicator package insert. The directions include “To Remove Applicator: Use scissors or lift and remove plastic tab to expose foil, then pull down.”
- The individual applicator should have a label that includes the:
- Registrant’s name (Merial), and the product name;
- EPA registration number the net contents in fluid ounces (fl. oz., not metric measure, i.e., ml);
- Percentage (%) of active ingredients. (Fipronil for Frontline Top Spot products, and Fipronil and (S)-methoprene for Frontline Plus products);
- Animal on which the product is to be used;
- Statements: “CAUTION,” “Keep out of reach of children,” and “See full label for additional directions.” All text is in English.
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The applicator package insert should look like the top sample. Note the notch between the individual applicator packages, which are missing on counterfeit products.
All text should be in English ONLY. | The individual applicator should look like the top sample. |
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