Chapter 335
2017 -- S 0733 SUBSTITUTE A
Enacted 09/27/2017

A N   A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- PESTICIDE CONTROL

Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, and P Fogarty
Date Introduced: April 12, 2017

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 that 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 that 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 the EPA.
     (b) The applicant for registration shall file a statement with the director which that 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 "statewide minor use" product. Such products
will be those which, due to limited distribution within the state, do not, in the opinion of the
director, warrant payment of the registration fee and surcharge required to register a product
within Rhode Island. Upon designating a product as a "statewide 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 there 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 the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, 7U.S.C. § 136a, et seq.
     (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 that
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 "statewide minor use" product pursuant to §23-25-6(3) subsection (b)(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 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 that
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 "statewide minor use" product pursuant to §23-25-6(3) 23-25-6(b)(3). The
registration surcharge fee shall be deposited as general revenues.
     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC002459/SUB A
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