Title 7 — AgricultureRelease 119-73
§136q Storage, disposal, transportation, and recall
Title 7 › Chapter CHAPTER 6— - INSECTICIDES AND ENVIRONMENTAL PESTICIDE CONTROL › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - ENVIRONMENTAL PESTICIDE CONTROL › § 136q
Summary
Requires pesticide makers to give the EPA head safety data, label directions, and proof of money and plans for recalls. The EPA can make rules about how to store, move, and get rid of pesticides, their containers, rinse water, and any spill materials. If a pesticide’s registration is suspended or canceled and the EPA finds a recall is needed, the EPA must order a recall. The EPA can ask the maker to send a voluntary recall plan within 60 days and approve it if it protects health and the environment. If no acceptable plan is given, the EPA will set a recall plan by rule that can apply to makers, distributors, sellers, and their successors. The rule can make a person provide storage sites, accept returned stocks, help with transport, and tell holders how to return the pesticide. A recall plan must say how far into the distribution chain the recall goes, set a schedule, and show how the recall’s success will be checked. The EPA can enforce these rules and seek court orders if someone fails to comply. Buyers and sellers may still agree among themselves about who pays storage, transport, or disposal costs. A registrant who wants cost reimbursement must quickly send the EPA a storage and disposal plan after suspension. The EPA will reimburse costs as follows: none for costs before the plan was sent; 100% for costs after the plan was sent or after cancellation (whichever is later) but before plan approval; 50% for costs during the 1-year starting on plan approval or cancellation (whichever is later); none for costs during the 3-year period that starts on the 366th day after plan approval or cancellation; and 25% for costs starting on the first day of the 5th year after plan approval or cancellation until a State disposal permit is issued or an approved alternative plan is in place. The EPA must make container design rules within 3 years and require compliance within 5 years. The EPA must also make rules within 3 years for removing pesticide residue from containers (including at least triple rinsing or equivalent) and those rules take effect in 5 years; household-only products may be exempt. The EPA must study and report to Congress within 2 years on returning, refilling, reusing containers, easier-to-rinse formulations, and bulk storage. These rules do not reduce Solid Waste Disposal Act authorities, and most rules about recycling or rinsing do not apply to antimicrobial or non-agricultural pesticide products unless the EPA decides they are needed to protect the environment.
Full Legal Text
Title 7, §136q
Agriculture — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(A)the registrant or applicant for registration of a pesticide submit or cite data or information regarding methods for the safe storage and disposal of excess quantities of the pesticide to support the registration or continued registration of a pesticide;
(B)the labeling of a pesticide contain requirements and procedures for the transportation, storage, and disposal of the pesticide, any container of the pesticide, any rinsate containing the pesticide, or any other material used to contain or collect excess or spilled quantities of the pesticide; and
(C)the registrant of a pesticide provide evidence of sufficient financial and other resources to carry out a recall plan under subsection (b), and provide for the disposition of the pesticide, in the event of suspension and cancellation of the pesticide.
(2)The Administrator may by regulation, or as part of an order issued under section 136d of this title or an amendment to such an order—
(A)issue requirements and procedures to be followed by any person who stores or transports a pesticide the registration of which has been suspended or canceled;
(B)issue requirements and procedures to be followed by any person who disposes of stocks of a pesticide the registration of which has been suspended; and
(C)issue requirements and procedures for the disposal of any pesticide the registration of which has been canceled.
(3)The Administrator may by regulation, or as part of an order issued under section 136d of this title or an amendment to such an order—
(A)issue requirements and procedures to be followed by any person who stores or transports any container of a pesticide the registration of which has been suspended or canceled, any rinsate containing the pesticide, or any other material used to contain or collect excess or spilled quantities of the pesticide;
(B)issue requirements and procedures to be followed by any person who disposes of stocks of any container of a pesticide the registration of which has been suspended, any rinsate containing the pesticide, or any other material used to contain or collect excess or spilled quantities of the pesticide; and
(C)issue requirements and procedures for the disposal of any container of a pesticide the registration of which has been canceled, any rinsate containing the pesticide, or any other material used to contain or collect excess or spilled quantities of the pesticide.
(4)The Secretary may promulgate a regulation for the return and recycling of disposable pesticide containers used for the distribution or sale of registered pesticide products in interstate commerce. Any such regulation requiring recycling of disposable pesticide containers shall not apply to antimicrobial pesticides (as defined in section 136 of this title) or other pesticide products intended for non-agricultural uses.
(b)(1)If the registration of a pesticide has been suspended and canceled under section 136d of this title, and if the Administrator finds that recall of the pesticide is necessary to protect health or the environment, the Administrator shall order a recall of the pesticide in accordance with this subsection.
(2)If, after determining under paragraph (1) that a recall is necessary, the Administrator finds that voluntary recall by the registrant and others in the chain of distribution may be as safe and effective as a mandatory recall, the Administrator shall request the registrant of the pesticide to submit, within 60 days of the request, a plan for the voluntary recall of the pesticide. If such a plan is requested and submitted, the Administrator shall approve the plan and order the registrant to conduct the recall in accordance with the plan unless the Administrator determines, after an informal hearing, that the plan is inadequate to protect health or the environment.
(3)If, after determining under paragraph (1) that a recall is necessary, the Administrator does not request the submission of a plan under paragraph (2) or finds such a plan to be inadequate, the Administrator shall issue a regulation that prescribes a plan for the recall of the pesticide. A regulation issued under this paragraph may apply to any person who is or was a registrant, distributor, or seller of the pesticide, or any successor in interest to such a person.
(4)A regulation issued under this subsection may require any person that is subject to the regulation to—
(A)arrange to make available one or more storage facilities to receive and store the pesticide to which the recall program applies, and inform the Administrator of the location of each such facility;
(B)accept and store at such a facility those existing stocks of such pesticide that are tendered by any other person who obtained the pesticide directly or indirectly from the person that is subject to such regulation;
(C)on the request of a person making such a tender, provide for proper transportation of the pesticide to a storage facility; and
(D)take such reasonable steps as the regulation may prescribe to inform persons who may be holders of the pesticide of the terms of the recall regulation and how those persons may tender the pesticide and arrange for transportation of the pesticide to a storage facility.
(5)A recall plan established under this subsection shall include—
(A)the level in the distribution chain to which the recall is to extend, and a schedule for recall; and
(B)the means to be used to verify the effectiveness of the recall.
(6)No requirement or procedure imposed in accordance with paragraph (2) of subsection (a) may require the recall of existing stocks of the pesticide except as provided by this subsection.
(c)(1)A registrant who wishes to become eligible for reimbursement of storage costs incurred as a result of a recall prescribed under subsection (b) for a pesticide whose registration has been suspended and canceled shall, as soon as practicable after the suspension of the registration of the pesticide, submit to the Administrator a plan for the storage and disposal of the pesticide that meets criteria established by the Administrator by regulation.
(2)Within a reasonable period of time after such storage costs are incurred and paid by the registrant, the Administrator shall reimburse the registrant, on request, for—
(A)none of the costs incurred by the registrant before the date of submission of the plan referred to in paragraph (1) to the Administrator;
(B)100 percent of the costs incurred by the registrant after the date of submission of the plan to the Administrator or the date of cancellation of the registration of the pesticide, whichever is later, but before the approval of the plan by the Administrator;
(C)50 percent of the costs incurred by the registrant during the 1-year period beginning on the date of the approval of the plan by the Administrator or the date of cancellation of the registration of the pesticide, whichever is later;
(D)none of the costs incurred by the registrant during the 3-year period beginning on the 366th day following approval of the plan by the Administrator or the date of cancellation of the registration of the pesticide, whichever is later; and
(E)25 percent of the costs incurred by the registrant during the period beginning on the first day of the 5th year following the date of the approval of the plan by the Administrator or the date of cancellation of the registration of the pesticide, whichever is later, and ending on the date that a disposal permit for the pesticide is issued by a State or an alternative plan for disposal of the pesticide in accordance with applicable law has been developed.
(d)(1)Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing or making unlawful any agreement between a seller and a buyer of any pesticide or other substance regarding the ultimate allocation of the costs of storage, transportation, or disposal of a pesticide.
(2)section 136w(a)(4) of this title shall not apply to any regulation issued under subsection (a)(2) or (b).
(3)No registrant shall be responsible under this section for a pesticide the registration of which is held by another person. No distributor or seller shall be responsible under this section for a pesticide that the distributor or seller did not hold or sell.
(4)If the Administrator finds that a person who is subject to a regulation or order under subsection (a)(2) or (b) has failed substantially to comply with that regulation or order, the Administrator may take action under section 136k or 136l of this title or obtain injunctive relief under section 136n(c) of this title against such person or any successor in interest of any such person.
(e)(1)(A)Not later than 3 years after the effective date of this subsection, the Administrator shall, in consultation with the heads of other interested Federal agencies, promulgate regulations for the design of pesticide containers that will promote the safe storage and disposal of pesticides.
(B)The regulations shall ensure, to the fullest extent practicable, that the containers—
(i)accommodate procedures used for the removal of pesticides from the containers and the rinsing of the containers;
(ii)facilitate the safe use of the containers, including elimination of splash and leakage of pesticides from the containers;
(iii)facilitate the safe disposal of the containers; and
(iv)facilitate the safe refill and reuse of the containers.
(2)The Administrator shall require compliance with the regulations referred to in paragraph (1) not later than 5 years after the effective date of this subsection.
(f)(1)(A)Not later than 3 years after the effective date of this subsection, the Administrator shall, in consultation with the heads of other interested Federal agencies, promulgate regulations prescribing procedures and standards for the removal of pesticides from containers prior to disposal.
(B)The regulations may—
(i)specify, for each major type of pesticide container, procedures and standards providing for, at a minimum, triple rinsing or the equivalent degree of pesticide removal;
(ii)specify procedures that can be implemented promptly and easily in various circumstances and conditions;
(iii)provide for reuse, whenever practicable, or disposal of rinse water and residue; and
(iv)be coordinated with requirements for the rinsing of containers imposed under the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.).
(C)The Administrator may, at the discretion of the Administrator, exempt products intended solely for household use from the requirements of this subsection.
(2)Effective beginning 5 years after the effective date of this subsection, a State may not exercise primary enforcement responsibility under section 136w–1 of this title, or certify an applicator under section 136i of this title, unless the Administrator determines that the State is carrying out an adequate program to ensure compliance with this subsection.
(3)Nothing in this subsection shall affect the authorities or requirements concerning pesticide containers under the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6901).
(g)(1)(A)The Administrator shall conduct a study of options to encourage or require—
(i)the return, refill, and reuse of pesticide containers;
(ii)the development and use of pesticide formulations that facilitate the removal of pesticide residues from containers; and
(iii)the use of bulk storage facilities to reduce the number of pesticide containers requiring disposal.
(B)In conducting the study, the Administrator shall—
(i)consult with the heads of other interested Federal agencies, State agencies, industry groups, and environmental organizations; and
(ii)assess the feasibility, costs, and environmental benefits of encouraging or requiring various measures or actions.
(2)Not later than 2 years after the effective date of this subsection, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report describing the results of the study required under paragraph (1).
(h)(1)Nothing in this section shall diminish the authorities or requirements of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.).
(2)A household, industrial, or institutional antimicrobial product that is not subject to regulation under the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.) shall not be subject to the provisions of subsections (a), (e), and (f), unless the Administrator determines that such product must be subject to such provisions to prevent an unreasonable adverse effect on the environment.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The
Effective Date
of this subsection, referred to in subsecs. (e), (f)(1)(A), (2), and (g)(2), is 60 days after Oct. 25, 1988, the
Effective Date
of Pub. L. 100–532. See
Effective Date
of 1988 Amendment note below. The Solid Waste Disposal Act, referred to in subsecs. (f)(1)(B)(iv), (3) and (h), is title II of Pub. L. 89–272, Oct. 20, 1965, 79 Stat. 997, as amended generally by Pub. L. 94–580, § 2, Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2795, which is classified generally to chapter 82 (§ 6901 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 6901 of Title 42 and Tables. Codification Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 made identical
Amendments
to this section. The
Amendments
by Pub. L. 110–234 were repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.
Amendments
2008—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 110–246, § 14209(b), added par. (4). 1996—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 104–170 designated existing provisions as par. (1), inserted heading, and added par. (2). 1988—Pub. L. 100–532, § 401, amended section generally, in subsec. (a) substituting provisions which related to storage, disposal, and transportation, for provisions which directed Secretary to establish procedures for disposal or storage, in subsec. (b) substituting provisions which related to recalls, for provisions which directed Administrator to provide advice to Secretary of Transportation, in subsec. (c) substituting provisions which related to storage costs, for provisions which related to disposal of unused quantities, and adding subsec. (d). Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 100–532, § 402, added par. (3). Subsecs. (e), (f). Pub. L. 100–532, § 403, added subsecs. (e) and (f). Subsec. (f)(2). Pub. L. 100–532, § 801(q)(1)(D), substituted “136i” for “136b”. Subsecs. (g), (h). Pub. L. 100–532, § 403, added subsecs. (g) and (h). 1978—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 95–396 added subsec. (c).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2008 AmendmentAmendment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 8701 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1988 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 100–532 effective on expiration of 60 days after Oct. 25, 1988, see section 901 of Pub. L. 100–532, set out as a note under section 136 of this title.
Effective Date
For
Effective Date
of section, see section 4 of Pub. L. 92–516, set out as a note under section 136 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
7 U.S.C. § 136q
Title 7 — Agriculture
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73