DOVER, Del. (AP) -- Environmental regulators have ordered the DuPont Co. to halt sales of a new herbicide blamed in several lawsuits for damaging trees in many parts of the country.
The Environmental Protection Agency issued the order Thursday, one week after DuPont informed distributors that it was voluntarily suspending sales of Imprelis and working on a return and refund program.
The EPA has said it believes the weedkiller may have been misbranded because label directions and warnings are inadequate to protect non-target plant species.
Imprelis was registered by the EPA in October and marketed to professionals treating residential and commercial lawns, golf courses and sod farms.
But shortly after it hit the market, complaints about damage to trees, particularly evergreens such as Norway spruce and white pine, began surfacing, especially in midwestern states.