2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 19. Agriculture › Article 16A. West Virginia Pesticide Control Act › §19-16A-21. Violations

It is unlawful for any person to manufacture, distribute, sell or offer for sale, use or offer to use:
(1)
Product registration
. (A) Any pesticide which is not registered pursuant to the provisions of this article, or any pesticide if any of the claims made for it or any of the directions for its use differ in substance from the representation made in connection with its registration, or if the composition of a pesticide differs from its composition as represented in connection with its registration, in the discretion of the commissioner, a change in the labeling or formula of a pesticide may be made, within a registration period, without requiring registration of the product, however, changes are not permissible if they lower the efficiency of the product.
(B) Any pesticide sold, offered for sale, or offered for use which is not in the registrants or the manufacturers unbroken container and to which there is not affixed a label, visible to the public, bearing the following information:
(i) The name and address of the manufacturer, registrant, or person for whom manufactured;
(ii) The name, brand, or trademark under which the pesticide is sold; and
(iii) The net weight or measure of the content, subject to such reasonable variation as the commissioner may permit.
(C) Any pesticide which contains any substance or substances in quantities highly toxic to humans, unless the label bears, in addition to any other matter required by this article:
(i) A skull and crossbones;
(ii) The word "poison" prominently in red, on a background of distinctly contrasting color; and
(iii) A statement of an antidote for the pesticide.
(D) The pesticides commonly known as lead arsenate, basic lead arsenate, calcium arsenate, magnesium arsenate, zinc arsenate, sodium fluoride, sodium fluosilicate, and barium fluosilicate unless they have been distinctly colored or discolored as provided by rules issued in accordance with this article, or any other white powder pesticide which the commissioner, after investigation of and after public hearing on the necessity for such action for the protection of the public health and the feasibility of coloration or discoloration, by rules, requires to be distinctly colored or discolored, unless it has been so colored or discolored. The commissioner may exempt any pesticide to the extent that it is intended for a particular use or uses from the coloring or discoloring required or authorized by this subsection if he or she determines that such coloring or discoloring for such use or uses is not necessary for the protection of the public health.
(E) Any pesticide which is adulterated or misbranded, or any device which is misbranded.
(F) Any pesticide that is subject of a stop sale, use, or removal order provided for hereinafter in this article until such time as the provisions of that section hereafter have been met.
(2)
Business/applicator violations
. In addition to imposing civil penalties or referring certain violations for criminal prosecution the commissioner may, after providing an opportunity for a hearing, deny, suspend, modify, or revoke a license issued under this article, if he or she finds that the applicant, or licensee, or his or her employee has committed any of the following acts, each of which is declared to be a violation:
(A) Made false or fraudulent claims through any media, misrepresenting the effect of materials or methods to be utilized or sold;
(B) Used or caused to be used any pesticide in a manner inconsistent with its labeling or rules of the commissioner:
Provided
, That such deviation may include provisions set forth in section 2(ee) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136
et seq
.), as the same is in effect on the effective date of this article, disposed of containers or unused portions of pesticide inconsistent with label directions or the rules of the commissioner in the absence of label directions if those rules further restrict such disposal;
(C) Acted in a manner to exhibit negligence, incompetence, or misconduct in acting as a pesticide business;
(D) Made false or fraudulent records, invoices, or reports;
(E) Failed or refused to submit records required by the commissioner;
(F) Used fraud or misrepresentation, or presented false information in making application for a license or renewal of a license, or in selling or offering to sell pesticides;
(G) Stored or disposed of containers or pesticides by means other than those prescribed on the label or adopted rules;
(H) Provided or made available any restricted use pesticide to any person not certified under the provisions of this article or rules issued hereunder;
(I) Made application of any pesticide in a negligent manner;
(J) Neglected or, after notice, refused to comply with the provisions of this article, the rules adopted hereunder or of any lawful order of the commissioner;
(K) Refused or neglected to keep and maintain records or reports required under the provisions of this article or required pursuant to rules adopted under the provisions of this article or refused to furnish or permit access for copying by the commissioner any such records or reports;
(L) Used or caused to be used any pesticide classified for restricted use on any property unless by or under the direct supervision of a certified applicator;
(M) Made false or misleading statements during or after an inspection concerning any infestation of pests found on land;
(N) Refused or neglected to comply with any limitations or restrictions on or in a duly issued certification;
(O) Aided, abetted, or conspired with any person to violate the provisions of this article, or permitted ones certification or registration to be used by another person;
(P) Impersonated any federal, state, county, or city inspector or official;
(Q) Made any statement, declaration, or representation through any media implying that any person certified or registered under the provisions of this article is recommended or endorsed by any agency of this state;
(R) Disposed of containers or unused portions of pesticide inconsistent with label directions or the rules of the commissioner in the absence of label directions if those rules further restrict such disposal;
(S) Detach, alter, deface, or destroy, in whole or in part, any label or labeling provided for in this article or the rules promulgated under the provisions of this article;
(T) Refuse, upon a request in writing specifying the nature or kind of pesticide or device to which such request relates, to furnish to or permit any person designated by the commissioner to have access to and to copy such records of business transactions as may be essential in carrying out the purposes of this article; or
(U) Violated or been convicted or is subject to a final order assessing a penalty pursuant to 14(a) or (b) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136
et seq
.).