The PESTICIDE CONTROL PROGRAM (PCP) is primarily responsible for ensuring compliance with
federal and state laws and regulations regarding the use, sale,
transport, disposal, manufacture, and storage of pesticides
in the state of New Jersey. It also promotes pollution prevention
and pesticide use reduction through training and outreach activities
involving Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
The Program consists
of the Bureau
of Licensing & Pesticide Operations and the Bureau
of Pesticide Compliance.
The BUREAU OF LICENSING & PESTICIDE OPERATIONS is responsible for the certification and licensing of agricultural and commercial users of pesticides,
and pesticide dealers. It registers all pesticide products sold,
used or manufactured in the state; reviews and processes permits
for the use of pesticides in aquatic sites and for large scale
mosquito or fly control programs; and registers beekeepers for
notification purposes. Computer
applications that manage the applicator and dealer licensing
program, product registrations and permit programs are also
maintained by the bureau.
Certification and Registration Section
- Certification exam development and administration
for pesticide applicator and dealer licensing.
- Certification training manual development
and revision for pesticide applicator and dealer licensing.
- Evaluate and monitor continuing education
courses for pesticide applicator licensing, which includes
promotion of the concept of integrated pest management (IPM).
- Register pesticide products, and license
pesticide dealers, dealer businesses, certified applicators,
commercial operators, and applicator businesses.
- Review and issue special pesticide product
registrations for special local needs and emergency conditions
as per the provisions of Section 18 and 24(c) of the Federal
Pesticide Law FIFRA.
- Follow-up on unlicensed pesticide applicator
business operations and verify liability insurance coverage.
Permits Unit
- Review and issue mosquito/fly control permits
for large scale control programs, which includes field inspections
and monitoring.
- Review and issue aquatic pesticide permits
for all pesticide applications to aquatic sites, which includes
field inspections and monitoring.
- Analyse permit pesticide use data, develop
permit application guidelines, and participate in applicator
training, including promoting the use of IPM in permit applications.
The BUREAU OF PESTICIDE COMPLIANCE is responsible for enforcing the state code and the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Routine
inspections, compliance assistance, and complaint investigations
are conducted at commercial applicator businesses (such as pest
control operators and lawn care companies), and farms. Environmental
sampling is conducted to determine violations and to decide
if any pesticide contamination must be removed. The bureau is
also responsible for enforcing the recently adopted Worker Protection
Standard that involves the protection of 40,000 agricultural
workers on New Jersey farms and nurseries. Environmental monitoring is also one of the Bureau's functions to determine where problems may exist before damages occur.
Worker Protection Standard
(WPS) Unit
- Reduce the risk of pesticide exposure to agricultural
workers and pesticide handlers (persons who apply, mix or load
pesticides) who work in farm, nursery, greenhouse and forest
operations.
- Enforce federal rules
adopted into the state Pesticide Control Code and performing
educational outreach regarding the WPS requirements for pesticide
safety training, personal protective equipment, restricted entry
intervals for pesticide treated fields, and other safety measures.
Pesticide Evaluation & Monitoring Section
- Conduct
environmental monitoring and routine pesticide use surveys.
- Perform hazard
assessments on pesticide issues.
- Laboratory analysis of
pesticide samples taken for compliance activities, environmental
monitoring.
CEHA (County Environmental Health Act) Position
- Coordinate pesticide enforcement work delegated to county health departments by the DEP.
- Coordinate DEP review of local pesticide ordinances.