7 U.S.C. § 136v: Authority of States

Summary

States may make rules about selling or using pesticides or devices that are federally registered inside the State, but they cannot allow anything the federal rules forbid. States may not require different or extra labeling or packaging beyond what federal law requires. A State can register extra local uses for a federally registered pesticide that will only be sold and used inside that State, if the federal Administrator has not already denied or canceled that use. A state-only registration can be undone if the Administrator disapproves within 90 days. Before disapproving or suspending a state registration, the Administrator must tell the State and give time to answer, except when the use lacks a required tolerance or exemption under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act or when the use creates an immediate danger. If the Administrator finds a State can’t control registrations properly, the Administrator can suspend the State’s registration authority until the problem is fixed.

Title 7, §136v

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(a)In general

A State may regulate the sale or use of any federally registered pesticide or device in the State, but only if and to the extent the regulation does not permit any sale or use prohibited by this subchapter.

(b)Uniformity

Such State shall not impose or continue in effect any requirements for labeling or packaging in addition to or different from those required under this subchapter.

(c)Additional uses

(1)A State may provide registration for additional uses of federally registered pesticides formulated for distribution and use within that State to meet special local needs in accord with the purposes of this subchapter and if registration for such use has not previously been denied, disapproved, or canceled by the Administrator. Such registration shall be deemed registration under section 136a of this title for all purposes of this subchapter, but shall authorize distribution and use only within such State.

(2)A registration issued by a State under this subsection shall not be effective for more than ninety days if disapproved by the Administrator within that period. Prior to disapproval, the Administrator shall, except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, advise the State of the Administrator’s intention to disapprove and the reasons therefor, and provide the State time to respond. The Administrator shall not prohibit or disapprove a registration issued by a State under this subsection (A) on the basis of lack of essentiality of a pesticide or (B) except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, if its composition and use patterns are similar to those of a federally registered pesticide.

(3)In no instance may a State issue a registration for a food or feed use unless there exists a tolerance or exemption under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act [21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.] that permits the residues of the pesticides on the food or feed. If the Administrator determines that a registration issued by a State is inconsistent with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, or the use of, a pesticide under a registration issued by a State constitutes an imminent hazard, the Administrator may immediately disapprove the registration.

(4)If the Administrator finds, in accordance with standards set forth in regulations issued under section 136w of this title, that a State is not capable of exercising adequate controls to assure that State registration under this section will be in accord with the purposes of this subchapter or has failed to exercise adequate controls, the Administrator may suspend the authority of the State to register pesticides until such time as the Administrator is satisfied that the State can and will exercise adequate controls. Prior to any such suspension, the Administrator shall advise the State of the Administrator’s intention to suspend and the reasons therefor and provide the State time to respond.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(3), is act June 25, 1938, ch. 675, 52 Stat. 1040, which is classified generally to chapter 9 (§ 301 et seq.) of Title 21, Food and Drugs. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 301 of Title 21 and Tables.

Amendments

1988—Pub. L. 100–532, § 801(m), inserted headings for subsecs. (a) to (c) and realigned margins of pars. (1) to (4) of subsec. (c). 1978—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–396 inserted “federally registered” before “pesticide or device”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95–396 substituted “labeling or packaging” and “required under” for “labeling and packaging” and “required pursuant to”, respectively. Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 95–396 incorporated existing text in provisions designated par. (1) and substituted “registration for additional uses of federally registered pesticides” for “registration for pesticides”. Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 95–396 incorporated existing text in provisions designated par. (2), conditioned disapproval of registration on communication of intention to disapprove and reasons for disapproval and provision for time to respond, and restricted authority of Administrator to prohibit or disapprove a State registration. Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 95–396 added par. (3). Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 95–396 incorporated existing text in provisions designated par. (4) and authorized suspension of registration authority of the State based on findings of inability or failure to exercise adequate controls following an indication of intention to suspend and reasons for the suspension and provision for time to respond.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

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.

§136v Authority of States

Summary

Title 7, §136v

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Amendments

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Effective Date

Effective Date

Citations & Metadata