![[logo] US EPA](https://cybercemetery.unt.edu/archive/oilspill/20121017023904im_/http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
Registering Pesticides
Quick Resources
- Regulating Pesticides that Use Nanotechnology
- Fee Determination Decision Tree
- Public Involvement of Pesticide Registration
- Pesticide Registration Manual (Blue Book)
- Templates for Use in Developing Pesticide Study Documents
- Registration Service Fees
- Conditional Registration
- Emergency Exemptions
- Registration Kit & Forms
- Reduced-Risk Pesticides
- Inert Ingredients
- Multi-year Workplan for Registration of Conventional Pesticides
- Determining If Insect Repellent Skin Patch Products Must Be Registered Under FIFRA
Pesticide registration is the process through which EPA examines the ingredients of a pesticide; the site or crop on which it is to be used; the amount, frequency and timing of its use; and storage and disposal practices. EPA evaluates the pesticide to ensure that it will not have unreasonable adverse effects on humans, the environment and non-target species. Pesticides must be registered or exempted by EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs before they may be sold or distributed in the U.S. Once registered, a pesticide may not legally be used unless the use is consistent with the approved directions for use on the pesticide's label or labeling.
On this page:
- Conditional Registration
- Product Suspensions
- Resources for Registrants
- State Registration of Pesticides
EPA has separate review processes for three categories of pesticides:
The three processes share the same application materials, but there are differing data requirements and review policies that registrants must take into account in their submittal.
The process of registering a pesticide begins with submission to EPA of an application package. EPA's review of this application includes assessment of the hazards to human health and the environment that may be posed by the pesticide. Depending on the class of pesticide and the priority assigned to it, the review process can take several years. Biopesticides and reduced-risk conventional pesticides often can complete the process much faster, in as little as a year in some cases. Refer to the Pesticide Registration Manual (Blue Book) for more information about the pesticide registration process.
EPA publishes its annual workplan for conventional chemical pesticides. This workplan reflects the priority-setting (Pesticide Registration Notices 97-2 (PDF) and 98-7) process for these pesticides, which focuses on reduced-risk pesticides and pesticides that can replace methyl bromide or the organophosphate pesticides.
Conditional Registration
After EPA completes its review of an application for registration of a pesticide, EPA may register the pesticide. In some cases, the registration is "conditional," and issues must be resolved or monitoring must be implemented, for example, for the registration to continue.
An example of a conditional registration is acetochlor. In March 1994, EPA approved a registration application proposed by the Acetochlor Registration Partnership (ARP) for the use of the herbicide acetochlor on corn. Because of potential risks to human health and the environment, the Agency required that for registration of this chemical to continue, the total use of U.S. corn herbicides of concern, including alachlor, metolachlor, atrazine, and 2,4-D must be significantly reduced. EPA also imposed several restrictions and conditions on the use of acetochlor.
An example of a plant-incorporated protectant (PIP) - which is a type of biopesticide - is MON 863 producing the Cry 3Bb1 protein to control corn rootworm. This product was conditionally registered in February 2003. The Agency required some additional non-target effects data, research on insect resistance management, and field degradation studies. Because this product is estimated to reduce chemical insecticides by 7.5 million acre treatments in the first three years, the Agency determined the benefits outweighed the risks.
Product Suspensions
As part of its regulatory process, EPA may determine that additional data are required to support an existing registration of a pesticide. In such cases, the Agency notifies all registrants of the pesticide through issuance of a FIFRA Data Call-In Notice or DCI. The DCI requires each affected registrant to provide evidence within 90 days that the affected registrant is taking appropriate steps to respond to the DCI. Additionally, the Notice sets deadlines for data submission and may specify interim deadlines.
If a registrant fails to comply with a DCI requirement, EPA may issue a Notice of Intent to Suspend or NOIS the registration of the pesticide. If the registrant fails to submit timely or adequate data to satisfy the DCI or fails to take any additional step required by the DCI, EPA may suspend the pesticide. A Web page is available with information on products that are suspended.
Resources for Registrants
Registration service fees - Provides information on registration fees, guidance on fee waivers and reductions and the implementation of the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA) of 2003
The Pesticide Registration Kit is available online. This kit contains links to necessary registration forms, as well as to pertinent Pesticide Registration (PR) Notices, Federal Register Notices, contact lists and other information. In addition, individual forms for pesticide registration are available. These include the Application for Registration, the Confidential Statement of Formula, Formulator's Exemption Statement, and others. They are in PDF format and may be filled out on your screen, printed, and submitted to OPP.
Electronic Data Submission - EPA is implementing electronic data submission and review tools to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its regulatory processes.
EPA issues Pesticide Registration (PR) Notices to inform pesticide registrants and other interested persons about important policies, procedures and regulatory decisions. Often, a draft notice is made available for comment, followed by the official notice.
Templates for Use in Developing Pesticide Study Documents - EPA and the Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency have collaborated in developing templates for the agencies to use in reviewing pesticide studies. Based on these templates, the agencies have developed study profile templates that applicants can use in writing the reports on the studies they submit. By using these templates, applicants will be guided in providing the information necessary for agency review.
Experimental Use Permits - EPA grants permits to allow a pesticide producer to test a new pesticide, product, or use outside the laboratory. Experimental use permits (EUPs) are used for large-scale (more than 10 acres of land or 1 acre of water) testing of efficacy and gathering of environmental fate, ecological effects, and crop residue chemistry data. Regulations governing EUPs are found in 40 CFR 172. The EUP sets requirements for transportation, application, and disposal of unregistered test products. The application form (242 KB, PDF) includes instructions.
The Label Review Manual was developed as a training tool and guidance for reviews of pesticide product labels. The goals are to improve the quality of labels and increase the consistency of reviews. The manual describes what a pesticide is and what constitutes a label and labeling and also provides step-by-step instructions for reviewing a pesticide label and how unique issues have been handled in the past.
Data Sources provide guidelines and detailed information about registered pesticide products, tolerances, and labels.
State Registration of Pesticides
After a pesticide is registered by EPA, states can register pesticides
under specific state pesticide registration laws. A state 
may have more stringent requirements for registering
pesticides for use in that state. Pesticide registrants should consult
with the appropriate state pesticide program for questions about state
registration. Ultimately, states have primary responsibility (called primacy)
for pesticides used within state borders.
Special Local Needs - States may register an additional use of a federally registered pesticide product or a new end-use product to meet special local needs. EPA reviews these registrations and may disapprove them under certain circumstances.
The Guidance Document on Special Local Needs State Registrations provides guidance for the registration of an additional or new use of a pesticide product under the special local needs provision as stated in Section 24(c) of FIFRA.
Emergency Exemptions - Section 18 of FIFRA authorizes EPA to allow States to use a pesticide for an unregistered use for a limited time if EPA determines that emergency conditions exist.