Pesticides and Pesticide Safety Pamela J. Bennett Horticulture Educator Ohio State University Extension

Federal Insecticide Fungicide Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) Key Federal law that regulates the distribution and use of pesticides – The U.S. EPA interprets FIFRA, makes the rules  Labeling and registration of all pesticides and their uses  Applicator certification requirements for restricted-use products  States also may regulate pesticide use

A Pesticide Is… Any substance that repels, controls, limits or eliminates a PEST HerbicideFungicide RodenticideMolluscicide InsecticideMiticide Also any substance that is used as an insect or plant growth regulator, defoliant, or desiccant

The Label is the Law “It is a violation of Federal law to use this product in a manner inconsistent with it’s labeling”  Use that’s “inconsistent with the label” may result in penalties under state or federal law

Use Inconsistent with the Label: You cannot: Use on a site not on the label Use higher rates Use at more frequent intervals Ignore directions Disregard personal protective equipment PPE What's the PPE for glyphosate?

Glyphosate (RoundUp, etc.) Eyewear: Safety goggles are recommended when mixing, loading or cleaning equipment. Clothing: Wear long-sleeved shirt and long pants and shoes plus socks. Gloves: Waterproof gloves are recommended when mixing, loading or cleaning equipment. NOTE: Remove clothing immediately if pesticide gets inside. Then wash thoroughly and put on clean clothing.

Need Pesticide license to purchase and use

In Ohio, a Private Applicator license is required to: Use or supervise the use of restricted use pesticides in the production of any agricultural commodity on his/her own property or his/her employer’s property.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture Enforces Federal and State Pesticide Law in Ohio Regulates state registration of pesticides National Pesticide Information Retrieval System Issues Pesticide Licenses

Private Categories Core (required for all– everyone takes this test) Cat 1- Grain & Cereal Crops Cat 2 - Forage Crops & Livestock Cat 3 - Fruit & Vegetable Crops Cat 4 - Nursery & Forest Crops Cat 5 - Greenhouse Crops Cat 6 - Fumigation Cat 7 – Specialty Uses – wood preservation, seed treatment, aquaculture, sod production, and others – only need if don’t hold another cat.

Private Applicator – required record keeping Required only for restricted use pesticides Private applicator name and license no. Total amount of pesticide used Total area treated Location or field ID Crop treated Date of application no specific format to records required commercial applicators must keep more info

How to become a private pesticide applicator Obtain study materials Go online to find an exam site – ODA offers the exam at many sites in Ohio Fill out application (available online) and mail in with $30 fee Take and pass exam in core and in at least one category

Recertification Requirement for private pesticide applicators 3 hours of recertification credit every 3 years 1 hour must be core ½ hour minimum for each category on license

In Ohio, a Commercial Applicator License Required if you: Apply pesticides to the property of another for hire (also will need pesticide business license) Work for any government agency — federal, state, county, township, city, village, park district, port authority, or sanitary district Or, apply pesticides to areas defined in law as “publicly accessible” Using any pesticide - restricted or general use …even homeowner or minimal risk products

Public Sites that need a Commercial Applicator License Must have a commercial applicator (or someone under direct supervision) to make applications to “publicly accessible sites” Rental property with more than 4 units at one location Restaurants, food service operations Schools, day care Hospitals, medical facilities Golf courses

Commercial Licensing Categories Categories on the license correspond to site where you are applying the pesticide, and sometime even the type of pest. Recertification requirement is 5 hours every 3 years 1 hour core / ½ hour each category for total of 5 Cannot recertify taking private pesticide recertification classes

Commercial Licensing Categories 1 Aerial Pests 2a Agronomic Pest 2b Horticultural Pest 2c Agricultural Weed 2d Seed Treatment 2e Tobacco Suckering 2f Soil Fumigation 3a General Aquatic Pest 3b Boat Antifoulant 3c Sewer Root 4a Forest Pest 4b Wood Preservation 5 Industrial Vegetation 6a Ornamental Pests 6b Interior Plantscape 6c Ornamental Weed 6d Greenhouse Pests 7 Vertebrate Pests 8 Turf Pests 9 Livestock/Animal Pests 10a General Pests 10b Termite 10c Fumigation 10d Mosquito, Housefly 11 Livestock Predator 12 Wood Destroying Insect Inpection

Ohio Commercial Pesticide Licensing Procedure Fill out license application and pay $35 fee to Ohio Department of Agriculture (Can do today) ODA then sends you study materials Select exam site and pre-register (Can take exams today after classes) Must pass “core” and at least one “category” exam to be licensed If do not pass all exams, only retake ones you did not pass One year to pass or start over -- no charge for exams

To apply ANY pesticide commercially in Ohio: You must be either a: Licensed applicator OR A trained serviceperson working under a licensed applicator

Adverse Effects Notification (Ohio Law) Notify Ohio Department of Agriculture By phone within 48 hours if their pesticide use results in or allegedly results in human illness requiring medical attention followed by a written report within 7 days By written report within 10 days of any property damage in excess of $500 from or allegedly from their pesticide use

PSEP Website is an information resource for pesticide applicators as well as educators – pested.osu.edu

Core Laws and regulations The Pesticide Label Definitions/terminology Formulations/calculations Human toxicity Environmental hazards, Pollinator issues Drift and Drift Reduction Pesticide safety, proper use, storage, etc. General equipment, application procedures

Pesticide Label is the Law (i) The name, brand, or trademark under which the pesticide is distributed; (ii) An ingredient statement on the part of the immediate container and on the outside container and wrapper of the retail package, if any, through which the ingredient statement on the immediate container cannot be clearly read, which is presented or displayed under customary conditions of purchase, provided that the ingredient statement may appear prominently on another part of the container as permitted by the amended federal act or by the director; (iii) A warning or caution statement that may be necessary and that, if complied with together with any requirement imposed under the federal act, would be adequate to protect the environment; (iv) The net weight or measure of the contents, subject to such reasonable variations as the administrator of the United States environmental protection agency or the director of agriculture may permit; (v) The name and address of the manufacturer, registrant, or person for whom manufactured ; (vi) The United States environmental protection agency registration number assigned to each establishment in which the pesticide was produced and the agency registration number assigned to it, as required by regulations under the federal act.

Pesticide Label is the Law (d) The pesticide contains any substance or substances in quantities highly toxic to human beings unless the label bears, in addition to other label requirements, all of the following: (i) The skull and crossbones; (ii) The word "poison" in red prominently displayed on a background of distinctly contrasting color; (iii) A statement of an antidote or a practical or emergency medical treatment, first aid or otherwise, in case of poisoning by the pesticide. (e) It is contained in a package or other container or wrapping that does not conform to the standard established by the administrator of the United States environmental protection agency.

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