Provides that the regulation of pesticides in New York state shall conform to the standards set by the environmental protection agency; repealer

2 Co-sponsors

• Rich Funke
• Patty Ritchie

Title of bill

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to the regulation of pesticides; and to repeal certain provisions of such law relating thereto

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to regulate the registration, commercial use, purchase and custom application of pesticides.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 of this bill repeals titles 5, 7, 9, 9-A, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 15 of article 33 of the environmental conservation law. Added to the law is the definition of pesticide as "any substance or mixture or substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest; and any substance or mixture of substances intended for use as a plant regulator, defoliant or desiccant."

Justification

Currently, pesticide product registration in New York is the slowest in the nation which puts New York family farms at a great disadvantage. In addition to gaining EPA approval, all new pesticide products must also gain state approval before they may be used in the State. This prevents farmers from using new, safer, and more environmentally-friendly pesticide products that are available and are now being used by competitors in other states.

Legislative history

2013-14: S.155/A.5318 Referred to Environmental Conservation 2011-12: S.6757/A.7739 Referred to Environmental Conservation

Fiscal implications

Savings to the State through reduced paperwork and labor.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the 120th day after it shall have become a law.