Agricultural Marketing Service

Restricted Use Pesticide

Recordkeeping Inspection

Why am I being 

inspected?

AMS has agreements with Federal, State, tribal, and U.S. territory agencies to monitor certified private pesticide applicators’ restricted use pesticide records through 

record inspections.

How did the 

requirements 

originate?

The 1990 Farm Bill mandated the Secretary of Agriculture to require certified private

pesticide applicators to maintain records regarding the use of federally restricted use 

pesticides. The Agricultural Marketing Service has been designated to administer the 

Federal Pesticide Recordkeeping Program. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has

two major goals for the Federal Pesticide Recordkeeping Program­ - to provide th

certified private pesticide applicator with educational tools to assist them in maintaining the necessary restricted use pesticide records, and to provide assistance during a

recordkeeping inspection to ensure the applicator's compliance with the regulation.

Keeping pesticide application records is a good business practice and has numerous

benefits! Here are just a few examples: 

Saves money. Accurate pesticide records will enable you to know and buy the correct 

amount of pesticides for each growing season. 

Tracks success. Good records will help you determine if a pesticide application 

achieved the best results or why a pesticide may have performed poorly. Good

records prevent future failures.

Documents correct use. Should a question arise concerning pesticide use, your

records may provide liability protection.

Improves management decisions. Since some pesticides have restrictions on what 

can be planted the following year in the same field, good records can help you plan 

your crop rotations.

How does

keeping

pesticide

records

benefit me?

What are the 

goals of the

program?

How does the 

inspection 

process work?

First, the inspector will present credentials at the beginning of an on-site record

inspection. Then, the inspector will provide you with information on the recordkeeping requirements, review your restricted use pesticide application records, and

provide compliance assistance. Lastly, the inspector will complete an inspection 

sheet on your records and provide you with a copy. A specified number of selected 

certified private pesticide applicators will be visited in your State to determine the 

level of compliance with the regulation. 

Reprinted Oct 2013 U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service
Agricultural Marketing Service

Certified private pesticide applicators are randomly selected to be inspected. Random selections are made from a State’s certified private pesticide applicator list or 

the restricted use pesticide sales list of pesticide dealers. Your name or certification 

number will not appear on the inspection sheet and the results of your specific inspection will remain confidential.

How was I 

selected to 

have my records 

inspected?

The designated State, Federal, or tribal agency personnel may have access to inspect

your records.

Certified/licensed health care professionals, or those acting under their direction, may 

have access to your record information when treating an individual who may have 

been exposed to restricted use pesticides. In the case of a medical emergency, record 

information must be made available immediately.

Who can 

review 

my records?

Restricted use pesticide application record inspections, like this one, are not related

to the voluntary pesticide use surveys conducted by USDA’s National Agricultural 

Statistics Service. NASS will obtain pesticide use data from agricultural producers 

through voluntary surveys. NASS reports the national data on restricted use pesticides to Congress annually.

How is 

restricted use 

pesticide data

collected?

Yes. Any certified private pesticide applicator who fails to comply with the regulations shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $750 in the case of the first 

offense, and shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $1,100 for each violation for subsequent offenses. However, a civil penalty may be less than $1,100 if the 

AMS Administrator determines that the certified private pesticide applicator made a 

good-faith effort to comply.

Are there any 

penalties for 

violations?

Contact the AMS Public Affairs Office at (202) 720-8998 and inform the person

that answers the telephone that you are a certified private pesticide applicator.

You may also obtain information on the Pesticide Recordkeeping Program's Web 

site at www.ams.usda.gov/pesticiderecords.

Whom

do I contact

if I have

questions?

 "The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, 

national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public 

assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means 

for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 

720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence 

Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer." 

U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service