EPA conducts inspections of illegal toxic and polluting imports at Port Houston and sale and distribution of illegal pesticides by Houston area retailers

EPA conducts inspections of illegal toxic and polluting imports at Port Houston and sale and distribution of illegal pesticides by Houston area retailers

August 18, 2026

DALLAS, TEXAS (August 18, 2026)- Last week, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) joined the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to conduct inspections and train CBP agents at the Port of Houston, and in parallel EPA inspected Houston-area retailers-all in support of the Trump Administration's continued efforts to crackdown on illegal toxic pesticides and chemical smuggling operations. The Port of Houston inspection effort follows joint EPA and CBP focused seaport inspections at the Ports of Savannah, Newark, and Los Angeles/Long Beach.

EPA's emphasis on retail sites in the Houston area suspected of selling illegal toxic and polluting imports allows the agency to trace violative products through the supply chain and back to their foreign sources.

The Trump EPA is focused on disrupting the smuggling of banned pesticides, illegal chemicals, and polluting or toxic consumer products that threaten American families and communities, our food supply, and national security.

"With each enforcement push at the ports and now at retail facilities, we learn new ways for our sustained inspection efforts to be more efficient and effective at intercepting and stopping harmful imports," said EPA's Assistant Administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Jeffrey A. Hall. "We're grateful for the strong partnership with CBP and officials at the ports of Savannah, Newark, Los Angeles/Long Beach, and Houston, who have worked with us this year to improve our targeting, expedite enforcement, and train CBP officers examining imports every day. This continued investment in our enforcement tools and key relationships will multiply our effectiveness as we step up inspections at ports of entry across the country."

"The Port of Houston-the largest port in Texas and one of the largest in the country-drives a significant portion of our economy. By partnering with Customs and Border Protection, EPA ensures the flow of commerce can continue while keeping the American public safe from imports of illegal pesticides and other toxic products," said Region 6 Administrator Scott Mason. "And this week, EPA inspectors from across the country also conducted searches at stores across Houston suspected of selling these products. All along the supply chain, EPA is holding parties accountable for potentially exposing consumers and their families to harmful chemicals."

"The partnership between U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the EPA is vital to our mission of securing the nation's borders," said CBP Acting Port Director John Landry. "By integrating our inspection capabilities at the Port of Houston, we are better equipped to identify and intercept illegal, toxic, and hazardous imports that threaten our communities. This collaboration not only strengthens our enforcement posture against smuggling operations but also reinforces our broader commitment to national security and the integrity of our ports of entry, ensuring that we remain vigilant against all threats, including those related to the illicit movement of prohibited goods."

This coordinated push follows a similar push during the last week of April at the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport. In addition to coordinated inspections and CBP training, Assistant Administrator Hall, along with senior Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) officials Craig Pritzlaff and Alan Hanson, visited the seaport and met with Acting Port Director Elva Muneton to discuss further developing efficiencies in inspections and enforcement.

EPA's import inspections are conducted under the statutory authorities granted to EPA by the following:

• American Innovation and Manufacturing Act (Aim Act)
• Clean Air Act (CAA)
• Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
• Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
• Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)

EPA's enforcement and compliance assurance program and regional enforcement offices work alongside CBP officers and other federal partners to ensure that imported goods meet established environmental regulatory standards before they enter the United States or put into commerce for sale and distribution. Working collaboratively, CBP facilitates EPA inspectors' access to and identifies potentially harmful products, ensuring inspectors can make a final determination and enforce the law. EPA inspectors worked alongside CBP officers for the Port Houston inspection.

EPA's inspection work at ports, borders, and retail establishments is integral to preventing illegal and potentially harmful products from entering the country and harming our communities. These proactive strategies increase efficiency and accuracy in targeting bad actors, and advance EPA's mission to safeguard public health by preventing harmful products from reaching communities, upholding national security, and maintaining the rule of law.

Information on the inspection at the Port New York/Newport is available from the "EPA Officials Visit Port of New York/Newark During Inspection Activities to Prevent Illegal Imports from Entering U.S." press release.

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