2017 -- H 6158

========

LC002573

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- PESTICIDE CONTROL

     Introduced By: Representatives Handy, Tanzi, and Fogarty

     Date Introduced: April 27, 2017

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 23-25-6 and 23-25-6.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-25

entitled "Pesticide Control" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     23-25-6. Registration.

     (a) Every pesticide which is distributed in the state shall be registered with the director

subject to the provisions of this chapter and shall be categorized for registration purposes. These

categories shall be: "consumer protection and health benefits products" which means all

disinfectants, sanitizers, germicides, biocides and other pesticides labeled for use directly on

humans or pets or in or around household premises and "agricultural and other pesticides," which

means restricted-use pesticides and other pesticides that are not consumer protection and health

benefits products. That registration shall be renewed annually prior to January 31; provided, that

registration is not required if a pesticide is shipped from one plant or warehouse to another plant

or warehouse operated by the same person and used solely at the plant or warehouse as a

constituent part to make a pesticide which is registered under the provisions of this chapter or if

the pesticide is distributed under the provisions of an experimental use permit issued under § 23-

25-7 or an experimental use permit issued by EPA.

     (b) The applicant for registration shall file a statement with the director which shall

include:

     (1) The name and address of the applicant and the name and address of the person whose

name will appear on the label, other than the applicant's;

     (2) The name of the pesticide;

     (3) Other necessary information required for completion of the department of

environmental management's application for registration form; . The director may, upon receipt

of an application, designate a pesticide product as a "minor use" product. Such products will be

those which due to limited distribution within the state, do not, in the opinion of the registrant,

warrant payment of the registration fee and surcharge required to register a product within Rhode

Island. Upon designating a product as a "minor use" the director shall register the product for sale

or distribution while waiving both the registration fee and surcharge. The applicant wishing to

have a product so designated shall submit a completed application containing the following

information:

     (i) The product name;

     (ii) EPA registration number, if applicable;

     (iii) Description of pest to be controlled, and applicable sites;

     (iv) Documentation that the product is not registered due to limited market; and

     (v) Explanation as to why they are not effective, reasonable alternative products currently

registered.

     (4) A complete copy of the labeling accompanying the pesticide and a statement of all

claims to be made for it, including the directions for use and the use classification as provided for

in FIFRA.

     (c) The director, when he or she deems it necessary in the administration of this chapter,

may require the submission of the complete formula of any pesticide, including the active and

inert ingredients.

     (d) The director may require a full description of the tests made and the results of the

tests upon which the claims are based on any pesticide not registered pursuant to § 3 of FIFRA, 7

U.S.C. § 136a, or on any pesticide on which restrictions are being considered. In the case of

renewal of registration, a statement shall be required only with respect to information which is

different from that furnished when the pesticide was registered or last reregistered.

     (e) The director may prescribe other necessary information by regulation.

     (f) The applicant desiring to register a pesticide shall, unless the director has determined

the subject product is a "minor use" product pursuant to §23-25-6(3), pay an annual registration

fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) to the general treasurer for each pesticide registered for the applicant

which shall be credited by the general treasurer to the pesticide relief fund. Annually on

November 1 the general treasurer shall notify the director of the amount of funds contained in the

pesticide relief fund. If the pesticide relief fund shall exceed one million dollars ($1,000,000) on

LC002573 - Page 2 of 5

that date, the annual registration fee for the next following year commencing December 1 shall be

twenty-five dollars ($25.00) which shall become part of the general fund. All registrations shall

expire on November 30, of any one year, unless sooner cancelled; provided, that a registration for

a special local need pursuant to this section which is disapproved by the administrator, EPA, shall

expire on the effective date of the administrator's disapproval.

     (g) Any registration approved by the director and in effect on the 31st day of January, for

which a renewal application has been made and the proper fee paid, shall continue in full force

and effect until any time that the director notifies the applicant that the registration has been

renewed, or denied, in accord with the provisions of § 23-25-8. Forms for re-registration shall be

mailed to registrants at least thirty (30) days prior to the due date.

     (h) (1) Provided the state of Rhode Island is certified by the administrator of EPA to

register pesticides pursuant to § 24(c) of FIFRA, 7 U.S.C. § 136v(c), the director shall require the

information set forth under subsections (b), (c), (d), and (e) and shall, subject to the terms and

conditions of the EPA certification, register the pesticide if he or she determines that:

     (i) Its composition is such as to warrant the proposed claims for it;

     (ii) Its labeling and other material required to be submitted comply with the requirements

of this chapter;

     (iii) It will perform its intended function without unreasonable adverse effects on the

environment;

     (iv) When used in accordance with widespread and commonly recognized practice, it will

not generally cause unreasonable adverse effects on the environment; and

     (v) A special local need for the pesticide exists.

     (2) Prior to registering a pesticide for a special local need, the director shall classify the

use of the pesticide for general or restricted use in conformity with § 3(d), 7 U.S.C. § 136a(d), of

FIFRA; provided, that the director shall not make any lack of essentiality a criterion for denying

registration of any pesticide. Where two (2) pesticides meet the requirements of this subdivision,

one should not be registered in preference to the other.

     (3) The director may develop and promulgate any other requirements by regulation that

are necessary for the state plan to receive certification from EPA.

     23-25-6.1. Registration fee -- Surcharge.

     In addition to the annual registration fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) as required by § 23-25-

6, an additional one hundred fifty dollar ($150) registration surcharge fee shall be imposed upon

each pesticide to be sold or used within the state, unless the director has determined the subject

product is a "minor use" product pursuant to §23-25-6(3). The registration surcharge fee shall be

LC002573 - Page 3 of 5

deposited as general revenues.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC002573

========

LC002573 - Page 4 of 5

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- PESTICIDE CONTROL

***

     This act would create an exception to the registration requirements and registration fees

for minor use pesticides.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC002573

========

LC002573 - Page 5 of 5