DuPont fined $15,000 by EPA for repackaging herbicide

Chemical maker DuPont will pay a $15,600 penalty for violating federal rules about authorization for repackaging herbicide in Missouri.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s regional office in Kansas City, Kan., said Monday that the Wilmington, Del.,-based chemical maker didn’t have proper documentation allowing Central Elevator Inc. to repackage and sell DuPont’s herbicide Steadfast.

The EPA said DuPont had a contract with Central Elevator for repackaging in 2005 and 2006. But an inspection in 2009 at Central’s facilities in Silex and Olney found that Central had been repackaging Steadfast for sale without the required authorization agreement from DuPont.

The EPA said that without an authorization agreement, repackaged products are considered unregistered and potentially dangerous.

Central Elevator obtained a repackaging agreement with DuPont shortly after the violation was discovered.