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 Center 1-800-424-8802
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

Important 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 labels on all pesticides
  • All pesticides must be classified as General Use or Restricted Use
  • All Restricted Use Pesticides must be applicated by a certified applicator under the supervision of a private or commercial applicator
  • Set limits for residue on raw agricultural 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