Pesticide Control Statute Clarifications
The following clarifications of the Pesticide Control Statutes and Regulations are being provided to the regulated community in an effort to promote better understanding and improve compliance.
- Written Instructions
Written instructions are required when the supervisor is not present when the pesticide application is occurring. The written instructions must include: the supervisor’s name and certification number, the operator’s name and certification number, the pest to be controlled, the pesticide to be used, and the directions for use of the pesticide. The supervisor must also be available if and when needed.
Directions for use as referenced in the written instructions must include: the dilution rate of the pesticide to be used, if other than a ready-to-use product, method of application, place of application and site of application. Directions for use may need to include additional information depending on the product label precautions and site specific treatment limitations (place and site are defined below under "Recordkeeping").
Once the written instructions have been provided to an operator, the operator may not alter the instructions or apply pesticides contrary to the instructions. However, an operator may apply no pesticide at all or less total volume of the pesticide, provided that to do so is not prohibited by the label. The permanent record shall clearly reflect the amount of pesticide applied at the place.
Written instructions may be preprinted so long as there is a method of customizing them to deal with unique situations found at a particular place of application. Since it is the supervisor’s responsibility to determine when and how pesticides are to be employed, the preprinted instructions must be specific enough to give the operator direction on how to use the pesticide in a particular situation. Prior to assigning written instructions to the operator, the certified supervisor responsible for providing the written instructions must provide all pertinent information on the written instructions, including but not limited to, the customer name and address.
- Recordkeeping
A pesticide application business shall maintain records for not less than five years from the date such record is made or amended, whichever is later. The record shall indicate, for each application of a pesticide made on behalf of the business: the name and certification number of the commercial supervisor and the commercial operation, the kind and amount of pesticide used and the amount of acreage treated if applicable, the date and place of application, the pest treated for, and the crop or site treated.
"Place" means the street address. "Site" means the specific part of the structure or property treated. For example, records must identify the specific room treated or the area of a yard. In the case of rodenticide bait stations, the record must identify the location, such as which room or which specific area of the exterior. For example: 3 bait stations along the south foundation wall, 2 in the basement, etc. The record must clearly inidcate which pesticide was used at each site, the amount of each pesticide used at each place and which pest(s) were treated at each place.
It is strongly suggested that the written instructions be retained as part of the permanent record.
- Special notes for termite treatments
The inspection graph for termite control applications, if used as the written instructions or part of the written instructions, initial or retreatment, must be prepared by a supervisor, or if not prepared by a supervisor, reviewed by a supervisor prior to application. The name and certification number of the supervisor preparing and/or reviewing the graph shall be indicated on the written instructions, the graph (if any), and the permanent record.
For a termite retreatment, a new graph and/or new written instructions are required in order to indicate which portion of the structure needs to be retreated. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) suggests that the reinspection information be kept with the permanent pesticide application records.
- Business registrations
The law requires each pesticide application business to update DEEP with any changes in information included on the business registration form. These changes to the registration must be submitted within 30 days of the actual change. An update form is available by calling the DEEP Pesticide Program at (860) 424-3369. If there are multiple offices, each office must update its own registration.
- Inspections
DEEP may inspect at reasonable times, such as normal work hours, all areas where pesticides are stored and/or pesticide application records are maintained pursuant to the Connecticut Pesticide Control Act and related regulations.
Content Last Updated November 29, 2011