Regulatory and Guidance Information by Topic: Pesticides
EPA and the states (usually that state's agriculture office) register or license pesticides for use in the United States.
- Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) authorizes EPA to register pesticides.
- Under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), EPA establishes tolerances (maximum legally permissible levels) for pesticide residues in food.
- Endangered Species and Pesticides
- Establishments
- Food Quality
- Importing and Exporting
- Labels
- Pesticide Tolerances
- Registration
- Restricted and Canceled Uses
- Storage and Disposal
- Worker Protection
Endangered Species and Pesticides
See EPA’s Endangered Species Protection Program
Establishments
Establishments that produce pesticides, active ingredients or devices, including companies or establishments that import into the United States, must register and file production reports with EPA.
Laws and Regulations
Compliance
Food Quality
Importing and Exporting
Labels
A critical aspect of registering a pesticide product is the approval of the product label. Once registered, a pesticide may not legally be used unless the use is consistent with the approved directions for use on the pesticide's labeling.
Pesticide Tolerances
EPA establishes tolerances (maximum legally permissible levels) for pesticide residues in food. Other food quality issues may be regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration and the US Department of Agriculture.
Laws and Regulations
- About Pesticide Tolerances
- Pesticides and Food: What the Pesticide Limits are on Food
- The Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) Background
Registration
Pesticides must be registered or exempted by EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs before they may be sold or distributed in the United States.
Read more at Pesticide Registration Program.
Laws and Regulations
- Adverse Effects Reporting
- Good Laboratory Practices Standards
- Pesticides: Incident Reporting: federal law requires registrants of pesticides to inform EPA about harmful effects of their products.
- Pesticide Inert Ingredients
- Reevaluation: Review of Registered Pesticides
- Registering Pesticides
Policy and Guidance
- Pesticide Registration Manual (Blue Book): describes EPA's review and decision making process for registering a pesticide product and its use.
Restricted and Canceled Uses
EPA registers pesticides and their use on specific pests and under specific circumstances. In some circumstances, use of a registered pesticide may be restricted to pesticide applicators with special training. Over time, registered pesticides, or certain uses of a registered pesticide, have been canceled.
Storage and Disposal
Pesticides are regulated under FIFRA until they are disposed, after which they are regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) which ensures responsible management of hazardous and nonhazardous waste. Some pesticides are regulated as hazardous waste when disposed.
The Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration regulates the transport of hazardous materials. Some pesticides are regulated as DOT hazardous materials while in commerce.
Laws and Regulations
- Requirements for Pesticide Storage
- Requirements for Pesticide Disposal
- Pesticide Containers and Contaminant Rule
Worker Protection
The Worker Protection Standard (WPS) is a federal regulation designed to protect employees on farms, forests, nurseries and greenhouses from occupational exposures to agricultural pesticides.
Laws and Regulations
Compliance
- Worker Protection Standard Compliance Monitoring: information about inspections, evaluations and investigations
Major Environmental Laws
Tools & Databases
Pesticide Chemical Search: regulatory and scientific information on pesticide active ingredients.