Pesticide Laws PDF Print E-mail
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Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976

 

Administering Agency:

EPA

 

Pesticide Related Notes:

  • Hazardous Waste Disposal Rules Established
  • Some farmers are exempt from this law depending on their disposal of pesticide wastes, and containers.
Superfund Amendment & Reauthorization Act (SARA - Title III)

Contact Agency:

National Response Center1-800-424-8802

 

Pesticide Related Notes:

  • Requires farmers to contact the National Response Center if they accidentally release a pesticide into the environment.
  • Requires community emergency response plans for accidents
  • Requires farmers to inform communities about hazardous chemicals
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)

Governing Agency

Environmental Protection Agency
 
Year Enacted
1947; amended in 1972 with the Federal Environmental Pesticide Control Act (FEPCA)
 
Main Purpose
Controls the use of pesticides
 
Penalties for Violations
  • Private Applicators: up to $1,000 and 30 days in prison
  • Commercial Applicators: up to $25,000 and 1 year in prison
iStock_000009190650XSmallImportant Information
  • All Pesticides in the US must be registered and approved by the EPA before they can be marketed
  • (Exceptions: pesticides registered prior to 1972 do not require the same review, testing, and approval process)
  • EPA is given the authority to make regulations pertaining to pesticides; including Worker Protection Standard (WPS) that requires Pesticide Safety Training for Farmworkers
  • EPA must approve lables on all pesticides
  • All pesticides must be classified as General Use or Restricted Use
  • All Restricuted Use Pesticides must be applicated by a certified applicator under the supervision of a private or commercial applicator
  • Set limits for residue on raw agriculture products
  • Makes it illegal to not follow regulations on storage and disposal of pesticides and their containers
Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990
 
Common Name:
Farm Bill of 1990
 
Pesticide Related Notes:
  • Requires applicators to keep usage records of restricted-use pesticides.
  • Requires applicators to give copies of their records to doctors treating farmworkers who have been exposed.

 

Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938
 
Administering Agency:
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
 
Purpose:
Authorizes Environmental Protection Agency to set limits on: pesticide residue on food products
Endangered Species Act of 1973

 

Governing Agency:
Fish and Wildlife Service
 

Pesticide Related Notes:

  • EPA is required to refer potentially dangerous pesticides to FWS for review if they may affect endangered species

  • FWS can restrict the use of certain pesticides in endangered species' habitats