Scotts Miracle-Gro to pay $12.5M over pesticides

[September 08, 2012]  COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Federal authorities say Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. will pay $12.5 million for violating federal pesticide laws.

The lawn and garden company, based in Marysville, Ohio, was sentenced Friday in federal court to pay $4 million for criminal violations. It also will pay over $6 million in civil penalties and spend $2 million on environmental projects in a settlement with the Environmental Protection Agency.

Scotts pleaded guilty to applying toxic insecticide to its wild bird food products, falsifying pesticide registrations, distributing pesticides with misleading and unapproved labels and distributing unregistered pesticides.

The company says it has made changes to improve regulatory compliance.

Scotts shares rose 59 cents to close at $43.21.

[Associated Press]

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