We are all searching for a NATURAL solution to reduce mosquito bites. But not all natural repellent products are created equal! All insect control products, including mosquito candles, are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Whether the product is natural or not, mosquito repellents are pesticides and manufacturers who are making claims that their products repel mosquitoes must include on their label either a federal registration number or language that indicates that the product is exempt from federal registration. Without these labels, pesticide products cannot be legally in the states.
Bite-Lite® Natural Mosquito Repellent Candles fall under EPA’s special category of insect control products that are exempt from federal registration because they are categorized as minimum risk pesticides, also known as 25(b) products. In order to qualify as a 25(b) product, all the active and inert ingredients must be approved for use in minimum risk pesticide products. See links below. In addition, EPA requires special labeling on these 25(b) products. When comparing mosquito repellents, whether natural or synthetic, check the product label to make sure they either have an EPA registration number or have the following language that exempts a minimum risk pesticide from registration: “This product has not been registered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. We [company name] represent that this product qualifies for exemption from registration under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.”
At Bite-Lite®, we are proud of the fact that we have always complied with federal and state regulations. The federal government periodically reviews its standards for regulating all pesticides in order to ensure that a pesticide’s registration is based on current scientific and other knowledge, including its effects on human health and the environment. The latest federal regulations went into effect on February 26, 2019. Our mosquito repellent candles contain both active and inert ingredients of natural materials which meet the EPA’s criteria exempting them from federal registration. As required by law, Bite-Lite® also registers its natural mosquito candles in the individual states where our candles are sold and where registrations are required for “EPA exempt” products. (Note: 39 states and the District of Columbia require manufacturers to apply for state registrations when they are making product claims that their candles repel mosquitoes. These registrations must be renewed annually for each product in order for that repellent product to be sold legally in that state. In addition, each state requires strict guidelines on what ingredients and percentages must be on the labels. Bite Lite® has taken the necessary extra steps of registering its natural mosquito repellent candles correctly, and can be legally sold in the U.S. as a 25(b) product.
To ensure that the natural mosquito repellents you purchase do not violate either Federal or State laws, check the label for either a federal EPA registration number or 25b exemption language and then inquire whether these repellent products are registered in the state of purchase. Also, determine if the repellent product is legal by reviewing whether the active and inert ingredients are listed properly on the label.
For the most up to date links on EPA’s criteria for active and inert natural ingredients for repellents as well as general information on 25 b minimum risk pesticides, see:
http://www2.epa.gov/minimum-risk-pesticides
