7 U.S.C. § 136w (AGRICULTURE)
§ 136w. Authority of Administrator
(a) In general
(1) Regulations
The Administrator is authorized, in accordance with the procedure described in paragraph (2), to prescribe regulations to carry out the provisions of this subchapter. Such regulations shall take into account the difference in concept and usage between various classes of pesticides, including public health pesticides, and differences in environmental risk and the appropriate data for evaluating such risk between agricultural, nonagricultural, and public health pesticides.
(2) Procedure
(A) Proposed regulations
At least 60 days prior to signing any proposed regulation for publication in the Federal Register, the Administrator shall provide the Secretary of Agriculture with a copy of such regulation. If the Secretary comments in writing to the Administrator regarding any such regulation within 30 days after receiving it, the Administrator shall publish in the Federal Register (with the proposed regulation) the comments of the Secretary and the response of the Administrator with regard to the Secretary’s comments. If the Secretary does not comment in writing to the Administrator regarding the regulation within 30 days after receiving it, the Administrator may sign such regulation for publication in the Federal Register any time after such 30-day period notwithstanding the foregoing 60-day time requirement.
(B) Final regulations
At least 30 days prior to signing any regulation in final form for publication in the Federal Register, the Administrator shall provide the Secretary of Agriculture with a copy of such regulation. If the Secretary comments in writing to the Administrator regarding any such final regulation within 15 days after receiving it, the Administrator shall publish in the Federal Register (with the final regulation) the comments of the Secretary, if requested by the Secretary, and the response of the Administrator concerning the Secretary’s comments. If the Secretary does not comment in writing to the Administrator regarding the regulation within 15 days after receiving it, the Administrator may sign such regulation for publication in the Federal Register at any time after such 15-day period notwithstanding the foregoing 30-day time requirement. In taking any final action under this subsection, the Administrator shall include among those factors to be taken into account the effect of the regulation on production and prices of agricultural commodities, retail food prices, and otherwise on the agricultural economy, and the Administrator shall publish in the Federal Register an analysis of such effect.
(C) Time requirements
The time requirements imposed by subparagraphs (A) and (B) may be waived or modified to the extent agreed upon by the Administrator and the Secretary.
(D) Publication in the Federal Register
The Administrator shall, simultaneously with any notification to the Secretary of Agriculture under this paragraph prior to the issuance of any proposed or final regulation, publish such notification in the Federal Register.
(3) Congressional committees
At such time as the Administrator is required under paragraph (2) of this subsection to provide the Secretary of Agriculture with a copy of proposed regulations and a copy of the final form of regulations, the Administrator shall also furnish a copy of such regulations to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate.
(4) Congressional review of regulations
Simultaneously with the promulgation of any rule or regulation under this subchapter, the Administrator shall transmit a copy thereof to the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives. The rule or regulation shall not become effective until the passage of 60 calendar days after the rule or regulation is so transmitted.
(b) Exemption of pesticides
The Administrator may exempt from the requirements of this subchapter by regulation any pesticide which the Administrator determines either (1) to be adequately regulated by another Federal agency, or (2) to be of a character which is unnecessary to be subject to this subchapter in order to carry out the purposes of this subchapter.
(c) Other authority
The Administrator, after notice and opportunity for hearing, is authorized—
(1) to declare a pest any form of plant or animal life (other than man and other than bacteria, virus, and other micro-organisms on or in living man or other living animals) which is injurious to health or the environment;
(2) to determine any pesticide which contains any substance or substances in quantities highly toxic to man;
(3) to establish standards (which shall be consistent with those established under the authority of the Poison Prevention Packaging Act (Public Law 91–601) [15 U.S.C. 1471 et seq.]) with respect to the package, container, or wrapping in which a pesticide or device is enclosed for use or consumption, in order to protect children and adults from serious injury or illness resulting from accidental ingestion or contact with pesticides or devices regulated by this subchapter as well as to accomplish the other purposes of this subchapter;
(4) to specify those classes of devices which shall be subject to any provision of section 136(q)(1) or section 136e of this title upon the Administrator’s determination that application of such provision is necessary to effectuate the purposes of this subchapter;
(5) to prescribe regulations requiring any pesticide to be colored or discolored if the Administrator determines that such requirement is feasible and is necessary for the protection of health and the environment; and
(6) to determine and establish suitable names to be used in the ingredient statement.
(d) Scientific advisory panel
(1) In general
The Administrator shall submit to an advisory panel for comment as to the impact on health and the environment of the action proposed in notices of intent issued under section 136d(b) of this title and of the proposed and final form of regulations issued under subsection (a) within the same time periods as provided for the comments of the Secretary of Agriculture under such section 136d(b) and subsection (a) of this section. The time requirements for notices of intent and proposed and final forms of regulation may not be modified or waived unless in addition to meeting the requirements of section 136d(b) of this title or subsection (a) of this section, as applicable, the advisory panel has failed to comment on the proposed action within the prescribed time period or has agreed to the modification or waiver. The Administrator shall also solicit from the advisory panel comments, evaluations, and recommendations for operating guidelines to improve the effectiveness and quality of scientific analyses made by personnel of the Environmental Protection Agency that lead to decisions by the Administrator in carrying out the provisions of this subchapter. The comments, evaluations, and recommendations of the advisory panel submitted under this subsection and the response of the Administrator shall be published in the Federal Register in the same manner as provided for publication of the comments of the Secretary of Agriculture under such sections. The chairman of the advisory panel, after consultation with the Administrator, may create temporary subpanels on specific projects to assist the full advisory panel in expediting and preparing its evaluations, comments, and recommendations. The subpanels may be composed of scientists other than members of the advisory panel, as deemed necessary for the purpose of evaluating scientific studies relied upon by the Administrator with respect to proposed action. Such additional scientists shall be selected by the advisory panel. The panel referred to in this subsection shall consist of 7 members appointed by the Administrator from a list of 12 nominees, 6 nominated by the National Institutes of Health and 6 by the National Science Foundation, utilizing a system of staggered terms of appointment. Members of the panel shall be selected on the basis of their professional qualifications to assess the effects of the impact of pesticides on health and the environment. To the extent feasible to insure multidisciplinary representation, the panel membership shall include representation from the disciplines of toxicology, pathology, environmental biology, and related sciences. If a vacancy occurs on the panel due to expiration of a term, resignation, or any other reason, each replacement shall be selected by the Administrator from a group of 4 nominees, 2 submitted by each of the nominating entities named in this subsection. The Administrator may extend the term of a panel member until the new member is appointed to fill the vacancy. If a vacancy occurs due to resignation, or reason other than expiration of a term, the Administrator shall appoint a member to serve during the unexpired term utilizing the nomination process set forth in this subsection. Should the list of nominees provided under this subsection be unsatisfactory, the Administrator may request an additional set of nominees from the nominating entities. The Administrator may require such information from the nominees to the advisory panel as the Administrator deems necessary, and the Administrator shall publish in the Federal Register the name, address, and professional affiliations of each nominee. Each member of the panel shall receive per diem compensation at a rate not in excess of that fixed for GS–18 of the General Schedule as may be determined by the Administrator, except that any such member who holds another office or position under the Federal Government the compensation for which exceeds such rate may elect to receive compensation at the rate provided for such other office or position in lieu of the compensation provided by this subsection. In order to assure the objectivity of the advisory panel, the Administrator shall promulgate regulations regarding conflicts of interest with respect to the members of the panel. The advisory panel established under this section shall be permanent. In performing the functions assigned by this subchapter, the panel shall consult and coordinate its activities with the Science Advisory Board established under the Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act of 1978 [42 U.S.C. 4365]. Whenever the Administrator exercises authority under section 136d(c) of this title to immediately suspend the registration of any pesticide to prevent an imminent hazard, the Administrator shall promptly submit to the advisory panel for comment, as to the impact on health and the environment, the action taken to suspend the registration of such pesticide.
(2) Science Review Board
There is established a Science Review Board to consist of 60 scientists who shall be available to the Scientific Advisory Panel to assist in reviews conducted by the Panel. Members of the Board shall be selected in the same manner as members of temporary subpanels created under paragraph (1). Members of the Board shall be compensated in the same manner as members of the Panel.
(e) Peer review
The Administrator shall, by written procedures, provide for peer review with respect to the design, protocols, and conduct of major scientific studies conducted under this subchapter by the Environmental Protection Agency or by any other Federal agency, any State or political subdivision thereof, or any institution or individual under grant, contract, or cooperative agreement from or with the Environmental Protection Agency. In such procedures, the Administrator shall also provide for peer review, using the advisory panel established under subsection (d) of this section or appropriate experts appointed by the Administrator from a current list of nominees maintained by such panel, with respect to the results of any such scientific studies relied upon by the Administrator with respect to actions the Administrator may take relating to the change in classification, suspension, or cancellation of a pesticide. Whenever the Administrator determines that circumstances do not permit the peer review of the results of any such scientific study prior to the Administrator’s exercising authority under section 136d(c) of this title to immediately suspend the registration of any pesticide to prevent an imminent hazard, the Administrator shall promptly thereafter provide for the conduct of peer review as provided in this sentence. The evaluations and relevant documentation constituting the peer review that relate to the proposed scientific studies and the results of the completed scientific studies shall be included in the submission for comment forwarded by the Administrator to the advisory panel as provided in subsection (d). As used in this subsection, the term “peer review” shall mean an independent evaluation by scientific experts, either within or outside the Environmental Protection Agency, in the appropriate disciplines.
(June 25, 1947, ch. 125, § 25, as added Pub. L. 92–516, § 2, Oct. 21, 1972, 86 Stat. 997; amended Pub. L. 94–140, §§ 2(a), 6, 7, Nov. 28, 1975, 89 Stat. 751, 753; Pub. L. 95–396, § 23, Sept. 30, 1978, 92 Stat. 836; Pub. L. 96–539, §§ 1, 2(a), 4, Dec. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 3194, 3195; Pub. L. 98–201, § 1, Dec. 2, 1983, 97 Stat. 1379; Pub. L. 98–620, title IV, § 402(4)(D), Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3357; Pub. L. 100–352, § 6(i), June 27, 1988, 102 Stat. 664; Pub. L. 100–532, title VI, §§ 602, 605, title VIII, § 801(n), Oct. 25, 1988, 102 Stat. 2678, 2679, 2683; Pub. L. 102–237, title X, § 1006(b)(1), (2), Dec. 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 1895; Pub. L. 104–170, title I, § 104, title II, § 235, Aug. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 1490, 1509.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: References in Text
text: The Poison Prevention Packaging Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(3), probably means the Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970, Pub. L. 91–601, Dec. 30, 1970, 84 Stat. 1670, which is classified principally to chapter 39A (§ 1471 et seq.) of Title 15, Commerce and Trade. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1471 of Title 15, and Tables.
References in subsec. (c)(4) to “section 136(q)(1)” was, in the original, a reference to “paragraph 2(q)(1)” and has been editorially translated as “section 136(q)(1)” as the probable intent of Congress.
The Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act of 1978, referred to in subsec. (d), is Pub. L. 95–155, Nov. 8, 1977, 91 Stat. 1257. Provisions of the Act establishing the Science Advisory Board are classified to section 4365 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.
heading: Amendments
text: 1996—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 104–170, § 235, inserted “, including public health pesticides,” after “various classes of pesticides” and substituted “, nonagricultural, and public health pesticides” for “and nonagricultural pesticides”.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 104–170, § 104, designated existing text as par. (1), inserted heading, and added par. (2).
1991—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 102–237, § 1006(b)(1), substituted “the Administrator” for “he” before “shall”.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–237, § 1006(b)(1), substituted “the Administrator” for “he” before “determines”.
Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 102–237, § 1006(b)(2), substituted “the Administrator’s” for “his”.
Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 102–237, § 1006(b)(1), substituted “the Administrator” for “he” before “determines”.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 102–237, § 1006(b)(1), substituted “the Administrator” for “he” before “deems necessary” and before “shall publish”.
1988—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–532, § 801(n)(1), amended heading and directed that pars. (1) to (3) be aligned at left margin with subsec. (c)(1), and that subpars. (A) to (D) of par. (2) be indented, and in par. (3) substituted “Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry” for “Committee on Agriculture and Forestry”.
Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 100–532, § 605, amended par. (4) generally, substituting single unlettered par. (4) for former subpars. (A) to (E).
Pub. L. 100–352, in subpar. (E), struck out “(i)” before “Any interested” and struck out cl. (ii) which provided that notwithstanding any other provision of law, any decision on a matter certified under cl. (i) of this subparagraph be reviewable by appeal directly to the Supreme Court of the United States, with such appeal to be brought not later than 20 days after the decision of the court of appeals.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 100–532, § 602, substituted “section shall be permanent” for “subsection shall terminate September 30, 1987”.
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 100–532, § 801(n)(2), substituted “pesticide. Whenever” for “pesticide: Provided, That whenever”.
1984—Subsec. (a)(4)(E)(iii). Pub. L. 98–620 struck out cl. (iii) requiring the court of appeals and the Supreme Court to advance on the docket and expedite the disposition of any matter certified under cl. (i) of this subparagraph.
1983—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 98–201 in fourth sentence, inserted “under this subsection” after “submitted”; in eighth sentence, provided for utilization of a system of staggered terms of appointment and substituted “7” and “6” for “seven” and “six”, respectively, and inserted ninth through fourteenth sentences respecting basis for selection of members, multidisciplinary representation, appointments to fill vacancies, extension of term pending filling of vacancies, appointment for unexpired term, and request for additional set of nominees from nominating entities; and in present eighteenth, formerly twelfth sentence, extended termination date to Sept. 30, 1987, from Sept. 30, 1981.
1980—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 96–539, § 4, added par. (4).
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 96–539, § 1, inserted provisions relating to composition of subpanels and submissions to advisory panels respecting registration suspensions.
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 96–539, § 2(a), added subsec. (e).
1978—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 95–396, § 23(1), required regulations to take into account differences in environmental risk and appropriate data for evaluating such risk between agricultural and nonagricultural pesticides.
Subsec. (a)(2)(B). Pub. L. 95–396, § 23(2), required the Administrator, before taking any final action, to consider certain factors bearing on the agricultural economy and to publish an analysis of the effect in the Federal Register.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 95–396, § 23(3), (4), required the Administrator to solicit operating guidelines from the scientific advisory panel to improve scientific analyses made by personnel of the Environmental Protection Agency that lead to decisions by the Administrator in carrying out this subchapter; extended requirement of publication in the Federal Register to evaluations and recommendations of the advisory panel; authorized creation of temporary subpanels on specific projects to assist in accelerating the work of the advisory panel; set forth Sept. 30, 1981, as the termination date of the advisory panel; and required the panel to consult and coordinate its activities with the Science Advisory Board established under section 4365 of title 42.
1975—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 94–140, § 2(a)(1), (2), redesignated existing provision as subsec. (a)(1) and inserted “, in accordance with the procedure described in paragraph (2),” after “is authorized”.
Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 94–140, § 2(a)(3), added par. (2).
Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 94–140, § 6, added par. (3).
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 94–140, § 7, added subsec. (d).
heading: Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
heading: Effective Date of 1988 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 100–532 effective on expiration of 60 days after Oct. 25, 1988, see section 901 of Pub. L. 100–532, set out as a note under section 136 of this title.
Amendment by Pub. L. 100–352 effective ninety days after June 27, 1988, except that such amendment not to apply to cases pending in Supreme Court on such effective date or affect right to review or manner of reviewing judgment or decree of court which was entered before such effective date, see section 7 of Pub. L. 100–352, set out as a note under section 1254 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.
heading: Effective Date of 1984 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 98–620 not applicable to cases pending on Nov. 8, 1984, see section 403 of Pub. L. 98–620, set out as an Effective Date note under section 1657 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.
heading: Effective Date of 1980 Amendment
text: Pub. L. 96–539, § 2(b), Dec. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 3195, provided that: “The provisions of this section [amending this section] shall become effective upon publication in the Federal Register of final procedures for peer review as provided in this section, but in no event shall such provisions become effective later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 17, 1980].”
heading: Effective Date
text: For effective date of section, see section 4 of Pub. L. 92–516, set out as a note under section 136 of this title.
heading: References in Other Laws to GS–16, 17, or 18 Pay Rates
text: References in laws to the rates of pay for GS–16, 17, or 18, or to maximum rates of pay under the General Schedule, to be considered references to rates payable under specified sections of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, see section 529 [title I, § 101(c)(1)] of Pub. L. 101–509, set out in a note under section 5376 of Title 5.
heading: Information
text: Pub. L. 117–328, div. HH, title VI, § 707, Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 6082, provided that:
“Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this title [Dec. 29, 2022], the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall post on a single webpage of the website of the Environmental Protection Agency aggregated information on pesticide regulation under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.), including—
“(1) all guidance relating to risk assessment, risk mitigation, benefits assessments, and cost-benefit balancing;
“(2) hyperlinks to resources, including the Department of Agriculture’s ‘national list of allowed and prohibited substances’ for organic crop and livestock production;
“(3) biopesticides and pesticides exempt pursuant to section 25(b) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136w(b)); and
“(4) integrated pest management principles developed under section 28(c) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 136w–3(c)), including technical assistance for implementation of those principles.”
heading: Agricultural Worker Protection Standard; Certification of Pesticide Applicators
text: Pub. L. 116–8, § 7(a), (b), Mar. 8, 2019, 133 Stat. 578, provided that:
“(a) In General.—
Except as provided in subsection (b), during the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act [Mar. 8, 2019] and ending not earlier than October 1, 2021, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (referred to in this section as the ‘Administrator’)—
“(1) shall carry out—
“(A) the final rule of the Administrator entitled ‘Pesticides; Agricultural Worker Protection Standard Revisions’ (80 Fed. Reg. 67496 (November 2, 2015)); and
“(B) the final rule of the Administrator entitled ‘Pesticides; Certification of Pesticide Applicators’ (82 Fed. Reg. 952 (January 4, 2017)); and
“(2) shall not revise or develop revisions to the rules described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1).
“(b) Exceptions.—
Prior to October 1, 2021, the Administrator may propose, and after a notice and public comment period of not less than 90 days, promulgate revisions to the final rule described in subsection (a)(1)(A) addressing application exclusion zones under part 170 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, consistent with the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.).”
heading: User Fees
text: Pub. L. 101–508, title I, § 1204(e), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–11, provided that: “Notwithstanding any provision of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 [Pub. L. 101–508, see Tables for classification], nothing in this title or the other provisions of this Act shall be construed to require or authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to assess or collect any fees or charges for services and activities authorized under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.).”