How can I determine if I have purchased the legitimate products?
The pesticide products are sold in a carton. It is difficult to distinguish counterfeit products from EPA-registered products because they look very much alike. To determine if the product you have purchased is legitimate, check to see if it meets the following criteria. If the product fails any one of these criteria, it most likely is an illegitimate product and should be disposed of properly.

Frontline products
The lot number on the retail carton matches the lot number on the applicator package and/or the individual applicators.
The instruction leaflet is included. It provides the following information: first-aid statements, including emergency U.S. telephone numbers; precautionary statements for humans and pets; directions for use; and storage and disposal statements.

The pesticide is contained in an applicator package, which is child-resistant. The directions for opening the child- resistant applicator package include an illustration that actually looks like the applicator package. The directions include “To remove applicator, use scissors or lift and remove plastic tab to expose foil, then pull down.”
The legitimate applicator package looks like this; note the notch between the individual applicator packages, which generally are absent on counterfeit products. Text on the package is in English only.
Frontline Applicator Package (Front)

Frontline Applicator Package (Back)

Once you open the applicator package, each individual applicator has a label that includes the registrant’s name “Merial;” the product name; the EPA registration number (see list above); the net contents in fluid ounces (fl. oz.) (not in metric measure, i.e., ml); percentage (%) of active ingredient(s) (fipronil for Frontline Top Spot products; and fipronil and (S)-methoprene for Frontline Plus products); and the statements “CAUTION,” “Keep out of reach of children,” and “See full label for additional directions.” Text is in English only.
The applicator label for the dog products includes the size of the dog in pounds on which the product is to be used.

Advantage products

The only way to determine a legitimate Advantage product from a counterfeit product is by examining the actual applicator tubes that are inside the carton. Since the directions for use on the retail carton (outer box) and instruction leaflet of the legitimate product and the counterfeit product are identical, check the language that is printed on the applicator tubes. The legitimate Advantage products all contain applicator tubes that are printed in English. The most obvious sign of a counterfeit product is that the applicator tubes are printed in a foreign language (most likely French or German).

The legitimate applicator tubes include the EPA Registration Number, the signal word WARNING, and the child hazard warning (Keep Out of Reach of Children). Counterfeit applicator tubes may lack this information.

Advantage applicator tube

Legitimate applicator tubes will also include a reference statement that refers users to the main labeling for directions for use and will include the manufacturing company’s name (Bayer). Counterfeit applicator tubes may lack this information.
Legitimate applicator tubes will contain an active ingredient statement that agrees with the active ingredient statement on the retail carton (9.1% imidacloprid). A counterfeit product may have an active ingredient statement that differs (such as 10%).