October 22, 2009
Samsung Pays $205K for False Environmental Claims About Keyboard
Samsung, having advertised that its keyboards were antimicrobial and could inhibit germs and bacteria, found itself in the cross-hairs of the Environmental Protection Agency.
The EPA fined Samsung $205,000 and ordered it to stop making the advertising claims, because Samsung had failed to register its products with EPA as a pesticide, according to a press release.
The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act was put in place to regulate the sale and use of pesticides. Before a product can be registered, EPA must determine that the product does not cause unreasonable adverse effects to human health or the environment.
In addition to the fine, Samsung must show that it is in compliance with the law by removing all pesticidal claims made in connection with the sale and distribution of the keyboards. The Samsung NC10 was among the computers with keyboards advertising the antimicrobial properties.
Since the judgement, Samsung has notified retailers and distributors to remove any related claims from product packaging, store shelves and Web sites.
Dell also sells a netbook that has a keyboard treated for antimicrobial properties. That computer has been registered with the EPA.
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Reader Comments
Couldn’t they just get contented with their company’s already impossibly great wealth without resulting to sleazy and crass marketing strategies like this?
Carz | October 26th, 2009
@ Carz
Why do you say that the claims were sleazy and crass? The article provides no evidence, and does not suggest, that Samsung’s claims were invalid, or that the surface used on its keyboard does not inhibit the multiplication of bacteria.
Note that the article provides a link to an article that says that Dell makes an antimicrobial notebook with the Agion process and has registered it with the EPA. But another article says that North Face, using the same Agion compound is potentially facing the same type of EPA litigation as Samsung, for not having the Agion process (registered for Dell) registered for use in shoe lining.
If you wish to criticise, please support with facts and reasoning.
NIGEL MORRIS | February 16th, 2011