United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Revised
November 1978
OPA 11,9
when it arrives at the U.S. port. The com-
pleted form is then returned to the importer
or his agent.
In the past, the U.S. Customs Service
reported pesticides imports to EPA at the
time they entered the country. Consequent-
ly, the products were often held up while
Er>A determined if they were in compliance
with the law. By permitting the initial
papers to be completed before a shipment
arrives, the new procedures can help speed
imports to their destination.
Upon arrival at the port, the pesticides
shipment may be released immediately if
the product and all papers are in order. If
the shipment is detained, the importer can
avoid storage charges at the port by
posting a delivery bond approximately equal
to the value of the shipment. If a pesticide
is sold or distributed without EPA release,
the delivery bond may be forfeited.
A shipment may be detained if:
The Notice of Arrival is incomplete.
The Notice refuses entry of the ship-
ment.
The Notice orders that the shipment be
examined or analyzed to determine if it is in
compliance with the Act. About one fourth
of incoming shipments are examined to
determine if they are properly labeled. A
limited number of samples are collected,
often products never previously sampled or
products of firms with histories of viola-
tions. Products previously in violation are
inspected and samples analyzed to deter-
mine if they are now complying with the
Act.
After completing the inspection, EPA
may:
Release the shipment if it is in compli-
ance.
Order changes to bring the shipment into
compliance.
Refuse entry of the shipment. The im-
porter must then return it to the country of
origin or destroy it.
If you have suggestions, questions,
or requests for further information, they
may be directed to your nearest
EPA Regional office.
EPA Region 1 JFK
Federal Bldg, Boston
MA 02203 Connec-
ticut. Maine. Massachu-
setts, New Hampshire.
Rhode Island, Vermont
617-223-7210
EPA Region 2 26
Federal Plaza New
York NY 10007 New
Jersey, New York, Puer-
to Rico. Virgin Islands
212-2642525
EPA Region 3 6th
and Walnut Streets
Philadelphia PA 19106
Delaware, Maryland,
Pennsylvania, Virginia,
West Virginia. District of
Columbia 215-597.9814
or
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Pesticides and Toxic Substances
Enforcement Division (EN-342)
Washington DC 20460 U.S.A.
EPA Region 4 346
Courtland Street NE
Atlanta GA 30308
Alabama, Georgia,
Florida, Mississippi,
North Carolina. South
Carolina, Tennessee.
Kentucky 404-881-4727
EPA Region 5 230 S.
Dearborn Chicago IL
60604 Illinois, Indiana.
Ohio. Michigan, Wiscon-
sin, Minnesota
312-353-2000
EPA Region 6 1201
Elm Street Dallas TX
75270 Arkansas, Loui-
siana, Oklahoma, Texas,
New Mexico
214-767-2600
EPA Region 7 1735
Baltimore Avenue
Kansas City MO 64108
Iowa, Kansas,
Missouri, Nebraska
816-374-5493
EPA Region 8 1860
Lincoln Street
Denver CO 80203 Col
orado, Utah, Wyoming.
Montana, North Dakota,
South Dakota
303-837-3895
EPA Region 9 215
Fremont Street San
Francisco CA 94105
Arizona, California.
Nevada, Hawaii, Guam.
American Samoa, Trust
Territories of the Pacific
415-556-2320
EPA Region 10 1200
Sixth Avenue Seattle
WA 98101 Alaska,
Idaho, Oregon Washir
ton 206-442 1220
Enforcement
&EPA Importing
Pesticides
into the
United States?
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Are you a producer or importer planning
to sell or distribute pesticides in the
United States? If so, you should know that
these products, and the establishments pro-
ducing them, must meet certain require-
ments under U.S. law.
The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) has provided a
legislative framework for pesticide regula-
tion in the United States since 1947. The
U.S. Department of Agriculture was re-
sponsible for pesticide regulation until 1970,
when the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) was created and assumed
this responsibility.
The regulatory authorities of RFRA were
extended by a set of amendments
known as the Federal Pesticide Act of
1978. The Federal requirements are in-
tended to protect man and the environment
from any harmful effects of pesticides while
ensuring that these products may be used
to the fullest extent necessary.
Section 17 of the amended Act specifi-
cally regulates both imports and exports.
Pesticides intended solely for export from
the United States must be prepared and
packaged according to the specifications of
the foreign purchaser and must meet cer-
tain labeling requirements. The Act also re-
quires that a U.S. producer of pesticides for
export register his establishment(s); main-
tain books and records on production,
sales, and distribution; and allow EPA to
inspect his establishments.
Pesticide products imported into the
United States and establishments in which
they are produced, however, must meet
the same requirements as domestic pro-
ducers.
Product
Registration
Registration of
Establishments
EPA is charged by Congress to protect the Nation's land, air and water
systems. Under a mandate of national environmental laws focussed on air
and water quality, solid waste management and the control of toxic
substances, pesticides, noise and radiation, the Agency strives to formulate
and implement actions which lead to a compatible balance between human
activities and the ability of natural systems to support and nurture life.
Federal law requires that all pesticides in- Books
tended for sale in the United States and Records
including imported productsmust be
registered with EPA. To obtain a registra-
tion, a manufacturer must submit data to
EPA showing that the product, when used
as directed:
Will be effective against the pests listed
on the label.
Will not injure people, animals, and crops,
or damage the environment.
Will not result in illegal residues on food
or feed.
Registered products must meet all the
labeling requirements of the amended Act.
The label must include the EPA product
registration number, an ingredient state-
ment, the name and address of the pro-
ducer or the registrant, the necessary cau-
tionary statements, and directions for use.
Statements or graphic representations on
the label may not be false or misleading. If
the product is to be used on a food or feed
crop, a tolerance level for residues must be
established by EPA. Products failing to
comply with registration or labeling require-
ments will be denied entry into the United
States.
For further information on product
registration write:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Pesticide Programs
Registration Division (TS-767) U.S.
Washington DC 20460 U.S.A. Shipments
Section 7 of the amended Act requires that
pesticide producers register their establish-
ments. Foreign producers must:
Register those establishments in which
they produce pesticides to be shipped to
the United States for sale or distribution.
To register, a foreign producer must submit
a form entitled "Application for Registration
of Pesticide-Producing Establishments" to
EPA's Pesticides and Toxic Substances En-
forcement Division in Washington, D.C.
Forms are available from EPA Headquarters
or any EPA regional office. If the applica-
tion is satisfactory, the Pesticides and Toxic
Substances Enforcement Division
assigns an establishment number (EPA
tst.)
List the producing establishment number
on the label or container of each pesticide
product.
Submit annual reports on types and
amounts of pesticides shipped to the
United States.
Section 8 of the amended Act requires that
each establishment maintain detailed books
and records of its production and distribu-
tion. For materials he ships to the United
States, a foreign producer must keep
records on:
Brand names, registration numbers,
batch numbers, and amounts per batch of
pesticides.
Brand names and quantities of devices.
Brand names and quantities of receipts
and shipments of pesticides or devices, as
well as the name of the originating or
delivering carrier, the name and address of
the shipper, name and address of the con-
signee, and the dates of receipt or ship-
ment. Such records are required even for
transfers between plants of the same com-
pany.
Inventories covering the brand names
and quantities of pesticides and devices in
stock.
All tests conducted on human beings and
any adverse effects on the environment.
Records of production and shipment
must be retained for two years. Other
records must be retained for various periods
as specified by Federal regulations. All
records are subject to inspection and
reproduction by authorized EPA represen-
tatives.
All imported pesticides must meet the pro-
visions of the amended Act before they can
enter the United States. An exception is
made for chemicals imported in small
amounts to undergo testing for pesticidal
value. If the user has no intention of receiv-
ing any direct pest control benefits from
these chemicals, the only requirement
governing their importation is that they
carry instructions for proper handling dur-
ing transportation.
Most individuals planning to import
pesticides or devices into the United States
should obtain a copy of the form "Notice
of Arrival of Pesticides and Devices" from
the appropriate EPA regional office. After
the form is filled in, it is returned to the
regional office which completes it, in-
dicating how the shipment is to be handled
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