Federal Pesticide Laws Flashcards

A commercial applicator applies a federally Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP). According to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), for how long must records of this application be maintained?

Answer: 2 years

Federal law, specifically the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 which amended FIFRA, requires certified applicators to maintain records of all federally restricted use pesticide (RUP) applications for a period of 2 years after the application.

Under the federal Worker Protection Standard (WPS), which of the following must be displayed at a central location on an agricultural establishment whenever a pesticide covered by the standard has been applied within the last 30 days?

Answer: Pesticide application information, a WPS safety poster, and Safety Data Sheets (SDS).

The WPS requires employers on agricultural establishments to display specific information at a central location. This includes a WPS-approved safety poster, Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for the pesticides being used, and specific information about recent pesticide applications (product name, EPA reg. number, active ingredient(s), location, date/time, and REI).

A state's lead pesticide agency issues a Special Local Need (SLN) registration under FIFRA Section 24(c). This allows for a specific use of a federally registered pesticide that is not on the federal label. Where is this SLN registration legally valid?

Answer: Only within the specific state that issued it.

FIFRA Section 24(c) authorizes states to register additional uses of federally registered pesticides to meet special local needs. A key provision of this rule is that the SLN registration permits distribution and use only within the boundaries of the issuing state.

What was a primary mandate of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) of 1996?

Answer: To establish a single, health-based safety standard for pesticide residues in food, with special consideration for infants and children.

A major change brought by the FQPA was the establishment of a single, consistent, health-based safety standard of "a reasonable certainty of no harm" for all pesticide residues in both raw and processed foods. It specifically required the EPA to consider the heightened susceptibility of infants and children when setting these tolerance levels.

An applicator's pesticide label includes a statement in the 'Directions for Use' that refers to the Endangered Species Act and directs the user to obtain a county-specific "Endangered Species Protection Bulletin." What is the applicator's legal responsibility?

Answer: The applicator must obtain the specified bulletin and follow all use limitations it contains for the application area.

When a pesticide label, which is a legal document, directs an applicator to an Endangered Species Protection Bulletin, the instructions and limitations within that bulletin become a legally enforceable part of the label's Directions for Use under FIFRA. The applicator must acquire and adhere to these additional restrictions to protect listed species.

Under FIFRA, what is the primary reason the EPA classifies a pesticide as a Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP)?

Answer: The pesticide poses a potential for unreasonable adverse effects to human health or the environment, even when used as directed.

The EPA classifies a pesticide for Restricted Use if it determines that, even when used according to label directions, it may cause unreasonable adverse effects on the environment or injury to the applicator or others. To mitigate this risk, its use is restricted to certified applicators or those under their direct supervision.