VIROPRO, INC.
3163 Kennedy Blvd., Jersey City, NJ 07306
800.361.1199
VIA INTERNET POSTING AND E-MAIL
July 8, 1998
Re: Response to Recent Internet Posting
Dear Interested Parties:
The purpose of this letter is to supply the reader with pertinent information which will remove any doubts or concerns that one might have regarding access to information about Viropro and efficacy and safety claims made concerning the products manufactured and sold by its subsidiary Insecta Sales and Research, Inc.
All of the information regarding the merger of Insecta Sales and Research, Inc. and Food Concepts, Inc. has been filed with the SEC in the form of an 8-K on April 16, 1998. Additionally there was a press release issued via BusinessWire on May 6, 1998. There has also been a mailing to all shareholders of record of Food Concepts, Inc. advising of the merger, providing sales literature on the Insecta products and a re-print of the aforementioned press release.
With regard to the insecticide products manufactured and sold by the company, it is important to note that an insecticide product can only be sold once it is registered not only by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) nationally but also by each individual State in which the product is sold. All of the Insecta products presently being sold are registered both by the EPA as well as by all of the various States in the United States, with the exception of Alaska. This includes California where the registration requirements are very stringent.
In order to obtain EPA and State registration a registrant is required, at a minimum, to have a pre-determined series of toxicity and efficacy tests performed on the product to prove that the product is not dangerous when used as per the directions on its label and also that it controls the insects as per its label claims.
Regarding the toxicity tests, these minimum requirements include the following:
1. Acute Oral Toxicity (performed on rats)
2. Acute Dermal Toxicity (performed on rats)
VIROPRO, INC. Response to Internet Recent Posting
July 8, 1998 Page 2
EPA minimum requirements continued:
3. Primary Eye Irritation (performed on rabbits)
4. Primary Skin irritation (performed on rabbits)
5. Skin Sensitization (performed on guinea pigs)
6. Acute Inhalation Toxicity (performed on rats)
Insecta has had additional tests performed, including Airborne Monitoring, to insure that there is no insecticide lingering in the air inside of homes after the Insecta products have been applied. All of these tests were performed by outside independent laboratories following the EPA's approved protocols. The completed tests were then submitted to the EPA, where they were reviewed, accepted and filed as part of Insecta's confidential data bank. Based upon these independent tests, the EPA registered the Insecta products for indoor home use.
Regarding the claims concerning effectiveness for up to one year, Insecta retained independent outside laboratories to perform efficacy testing on crawling insects (roaches) and flying insects (flies) for periods well in excess of one year. These tests have been submitted to the EPA, reviewed, accepted and filed in Insecta's data bank at the EPA. Based upon the results of these tests, the EPA registered Insecta's products including the label claim of efficacy for up to one year.
We sincerely hope that this information clarifies any doubts that you may have had concerning the Insecta products and should anyone require additional information regarding Viropro and its products please contact Hugh Johnson at 1.800.361.1199.
Very truly yours,
Viropro, Inc.
Pat Quinlan
President
cc. Enforcement@sec.gov |
