ARTICLE 4. Registration [12811. - 12840.]

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC 4.

in effect

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 12811. Section 12811.

Every manufacturer of, importer of, or dealer in any pesticide, except a person that sells any raw material to a manufacturer of any pesticide or a dealer or agent that sells any pesticide that has been registered by the manufacturer or wholesaler, shall obtain a certificate of registration from the department before the pesticide is offered for sale.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 12811.2. Section 12811.2.

(a) On or before May 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, until May 2, 2028, the department shall annually report the average processing times to review and evaluate, and issue final decisions on, applications to register new pesticide products or amend existing pesticide product registrations for the prior calendar year, and post this information on its internet website. The report shall include the number of days, on average, that it took to complete an application and the number of days, on average, that an application spent in intake and in each stage of scientific evaluation. (b) On or before May 1, 2029, and annually thereafter, the department shall report the average processing times for the applications described in subdivision (a) for the prior calendar year and post this information on its internet website. This information shall include all of the following: (1) The number of applications by registration category that were completed within the timeframes specified pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 12839. This number shall be reported based on nonagricultural, agricultural, and dual use products. (2) The number of applications that exceeded the timeframes specified in each of subdivision (a), (d), or (e) of Section 12839. This number shall be reported for each respective subdivision based on nonagricultural, agricultural, and dual use products. (3) The number of days applications spent, on average, in intake and at each stage of scientific evaluation.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 12811.5. Section 12811.5.

The director may rely on any evaluations of previously submitted data to determine whether to accept an application for registration of a new pesticide product, an amendment to the registration of a registered pesticide product, or to maintain the registration of a registered pesticide product regardless of the ownership of the data previously evaluated, if the previously submitted data fulfills current data requirements. However, effective January 1, 2006, applicants will be subject to the following provisions: (a) (1) If an applicant for registration of a pesticide product, or an amendment to the registration of a registered pesticide product, including a registrant that desires to maintain its registration of a registered pesticide product after the director makes a formal request for additional data pursuant to reevaluation or Section 12824, does not submit its own data to fulfill a current data requirement imposed by the director and relies on data that the applicant does not own or have written permission to rely on that was submitted to the director by another entity after January 1, 1991, and meets the three criteria set forth in this subdivision, the applicant shall either: (A) obtain written permission from the data owner to rely on the data; (B) formulate or obtain its product from a source that has data authorization from the data owner, or a source that complies with subdivision (c); or (C) if the data meets the criteria set forth in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (2), irrevocably offer to pay the data owner a share of the cost of producing the data and comply with subdivision (d). The director may rely on data submitted before January 1, 1991, or that does not meet the criteria set forth in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (2) to support any application or comply with any formal reevaluation request for additional data, without permission from the data owner. An offer to pay, and a payment pursuant to that offer, shall only be required as to data not submitted by the applicant that meets the criteria set forth in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (2). (2) To be eligible for cost sharing pursuant to this subdivision, the data shall meet all of the following requirements: (A) The data was required by the director in order to obtain, amend, or maintain the data owner’s California registration or registrations for uses covered by the application, amendment, or formal request for additional data pursuant to reevaluation or Section 12824. (B) There has been no arbitration award, data compensation, or data cost-sharing agreement pertaining to data supporting the product at the federal level pursuant to Section 3(c)(1)(F)(iii) or 3(c)(2)(B) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. Sec. 136a(c)(1)(F)(iii) or 136a(c)(2)(B)), or, if an award or agreement exists, the use of data in California was excluded from compensation or cost sharing on its face. (C) The data that fulfills a current requirement was submitted to the United States Environmental Protection Agency or the department no more than 15 years before the date of the applicant’s California registration, application, or amendment or the formal reevaluation request for additional data to which the registrant’s reliance responds, provided that as to data submitted to the department as of August 1, 2005, in support of the first registration of a product, the applicable period shall be 17 years from the date of submission to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. (b) If the director previously imposed a specific documented data requirement after January 1, 1991, to obtain, amend, or maintain the California registration of a pesticide product substantially similar to the applicant’s product and that data requirement is not currently imposed in California for registration, amendment, or maintenance of the applicant’s product, the applicant is further obligated to submit data to meet the requirement, obtain written permission from an owner of the data to rely on the data, formulate or obtain its product from a source that has authorization from the data owner to rely on the data or from a source that complies with subdivision (c), or, if the data meets the criteria set forth in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), irrevocably offer to pay the data owner a share in the cost of producing the data and comply with subdivision (c). An offer to pay, and a payment pursuant to that offer, shall only be required as to data not submitted by the applicant that meets the criteria set forth in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3). To be eligible for cost sharing pursuant to this subdivision, the data shall meet all of the following requirements: (1) The data met a specific, documented requirement of the director to obtain, amend, or maintain the California registration of the data owner’s pesticide product for a use covered by the applicant’s application or amendment. (2) There has been no arbitration award, data compensation, or data cost-sharing agreement pertaining to data supporting the product at the federal level pursuant to Section 3(c)(1)(F)(iii) or 3(c)(2)(B) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. Sec. 136a(c)(1)(F)(iii) or 136a(c)(2)(B)), or, if an award or agreement exists, the use of the data in California was excluded from compensation or cost sharing on its face. (3) The data was submitted to the United States Environmental Protection Agency or Department of Pesticide Regulation by the data owner after January 1, 1991, and no more than 15 years before the date of the applicant’s California application for registration or amendment or the response to a formal specific document data requirement to which the registrant’s reliance responds, provided that as to data submitted to the department as of August 1, 2005, in support of the first registration of a product, the applicable period shall be 17 years from the date of submission to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. (c) An applicant may formulate its product from a source that does not have data authorization if that source has submitted data to support the product or makes or has made an irrevocable offer to pay the data owner a share of the cost of producing the data required pursuant to subdivision (a) or (b) for the applicant’s product and complies with or has made payment in accordance with subdivision (d). If the source has already reached a data compensation or cost-sharing agreement or there has been an arbitration award under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (commencing with 7 U.S.C. Sec. 136) that excludes the right to rely on the data to satisfy the California requirement on its face, the source shall make or have made a new irrevocable offer to pay a share of the cost of producing that data to support the applicant’s product in California and comply with subdivision (d). (d) (1) If an applicant is required to offer to pay a share in the cost of producing the data pursuant to subdivision (a) or (b), or if a source of product makes an offer pursuant to subdivision (c), the applicant or source shall submit to the data owner upon application to the department an irrevocable offer to pay the data owner a share in the cost of producing the data and to comply with regulations promulgated under this subdivision to determine the amount and terms, if the parties cannot agree. If a data owner for which cost sharing is required under subdivision (a) or (b) cannot be identified from information readily available to the applicant, the applicant’s obligation under subdivision (a) or (b) will be absolved if the data owner does not identify themselves to the applicant within 12 months after registration of the pesticide product. If within 12 months of registration, the data owner identifies themselves to the applicant and the applicant has not already made an irrevocable offer to pay to the data owner, or the applicant’s source of product has not made an offer pursuant to subdivision (c), the applicant shall do so promptly. In either event, the specific terms and amount of payments to be made shall be fixed by agreement between the applicant and the data owner, but determination of those amounts and terms shall not delay approval of the applicant’s application. (2) If agreement cannot be reached about the terms and amount of payment required by this section at any time more than 90 days after issuance of an irrevocable offer to pay, either the applicant, source, or data owner may initiate, or with the consent of all parties, join a proceeding under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (commencing with 7 U.S.C. Sec. 136), pursuant to regulations promulgated by the director pursuant to this section. The purpose of this proceeding shall be to determine the amount due under this section. The director shall promulgate those regulations as emergency regulations within 60 days of the enactment of the bill that enacts this section. The regulations shall provide all of the following: (A) Allow the proceeding authorized by this subdivision, upon mutual agreement of the parties, to be consolidated with dispute resolution under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (commencing with 7 U.S.C. Sec. 136). (B) Require that the decisionmaker consider, among other factors, that the data owner’s exclusive right to sell the pesticide resulted in the data owner recovering all or part of the costs of generating the data. (C) Require that the parties to the proceeding share equally in the payment of the expenses thereof. (e) If a data owner fails to participate in a procedure for reaching an agreement or in a proceeding as required by subdivision (d), or fails to comply with the terms of an agreement or decision conducted under subdivision (d), then that data owner forfeits their right to cost recovery as a result of the use of the data at issue. (f) If the director finds that an applicant has failed to make an offer to pay as required under subdivision (a) or (b), or if its source of product has failed to make an offer pursuant to subdivision (c), or if an applicant or its source of product has failed to participate in a proceeding for reaching an agreement, has refused to participate in a proceeding pursuant to subdivision (d), or has failed to comply with an agreement or to comply with an order, or to pay an award resulting from that proceeding, the director shall cancel the registration of the pesticide product in support of which the data was used in accordance with subdivision (g), notwithstanding Section 12825. (g) If the applicant subject to subdivision (a) or (b) fails to comply with this article, the data owner shall notify the director of the specific provision of noncompliance and provide proof of notification to the applicant of its claim of noncompliance. All parties shall have 30 days from the date of receipt of notification by the director to submit written evidence or arguments to the director regarding the claim and any defenses thereto. The director shall provide a written finding within 60 days of the deadline for submission as to the claim and the resulting consequences. (h) A hearing or live testimony shall not be conducted under subdivision (g) and this proceeding shall not be used as mechanism to prevent or delay the registration or payment for cost sharing as determined by this article. The finding of the director shall be final and conclusive, except that any party aggrieved by such a finding may seek review within 30 days of the finding pursuant to Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure. (i) In lieu of seeking a determination by the director and cancellation of the registration pursuant to subdivision (f), the data owner may bring an action in any California court of competent jurisdiction against the applicant to enforce the obligations of that party set forth in this section. (j) Cost sharing as provided in subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) shall not be required to support an application for annual renewal of a pesticide product registration, provided this provision shall not authorize renewal of a product registered before the effective date of this section if that registration is declared to have been unlawfully issued by a court of competent jurisdiction. (k) The Department of Pesticide Regulation shall make available in the public domain its index of data submitted in support of registration applications, the ownership of that data, and the date it was submitted to California.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 12812. Section 12812.

(a) The director shall establish, by regulation, fees for the department’s registration program, as established pursuant to this division. The fees shall include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) Annual fees for each product submitted for registration. (2) Penalties for the late payment of registration fees. (3) Fees for amendments to registered products. (b) The fees established pursuant to this section may include costs for administration and overhead in connection with administering the fees. (c) The fees established pursuant to this section shall be set so that the total revenue collected each fiscal year is sufficient to support the expenditure levels for the registration program contained in the annual Budget Act. (d) Funds collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited into the Department of Pesticide Regulation Fund, and shall be available for expenditure by the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for purposes of carrying out the department’s pesticide registration program, as established pursuant to this division. (e) The regulations adopted pursuant to this section, or any amendment or readoption thereto, shall be adopted by the director in accordance with Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. However, the adoption, amendment, readoption, or repeal of these regulations shall be considered by the Office of Administrative Law as an emergency, and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, and general welfare. Notwithstanding any other law, the regulations shall remain in effect until amended by the director. (f) On or before January 31 of each year, if the department determines that it might increase the fees established pursuant to this section during the calendar year, the department shall post the determination on its internet website and send the determination through any of its relevant, registration-related email lists.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 12814. Section 12814.

Any county, state, or federal officer or employee who sells any pesticide at cost is not required to pay any fee that is imposed by this chapter.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 12815. Section 12815.

If a manufacturer, importer, or dealer in pesticides that applies for registration of pesticides has complied with this chapter and the regulations that are adopted pursuant to it, the director shall register each pesticide that is sought to be registered and issue a certificate of registration to the applicant that authorizes the manufacture and sale of the pesticide in this state.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 12816. Section 12816.

If the director finds that registration cannot be permitted due to noncompliance with this chapter or the regulations which are adopted pursuant to it, he or she may, after reasonable notice, call a hearing for the purpose of determining whether the application shall be reconsidered or denied.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 12817. Section 12817.

Every registration expires on December 31st of each year except when renewal is applied for within one month thereafter in the manner which is provided for registration.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 12818. Section 12818.

If renewal is not applied for within one calendar month after the expiration of a registration, a penalty as prescribed by the director pursuant to Section 12812 shall be added to the registration fee.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 12819. Section 12819.

A penalty shall not be collected if the person that makes application for renewal of registration makes an affidavit that no business was done during the period of nonregistration.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 12820. Section 12820.

The payment of any renewal fee or penalty is not a bar to any prosecution for doing business without proper registry.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 12821. Section 12821.

Each applicant for a certificate of registration shall also file a statement of every brand, trademark, and kind of pesticide that the applicant intends to manufacture or sell, the correct name and percentage of each active ingredient in the pesticide, and the total percentage of inert ingredients that are contained in the pesticide. The director, whenever he or she deems it necessary for the effective administration of this chapter, may require the submission of the complete formula for the pesticide.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 12822. Section 12822.

A supplemental application for registration of any additional pesticide may be submitted at any time without payment of the penalty required by Section 12818.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 12823. Section 12823.

A change in the name or percentage, or both, of an inert ingredient is not a change in composition of the pesticide that requires a new registration unless the change in inert material results in a change in the use or application of the pesticide.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 12824. Section 12824.

(a) The director shall endeavor to eliminate from use in the state any pesticide that endangers the agricultural or nonagricultural environment, is not beneficial for the purposes for which it is sold, or is misrepresented. In carrying out this responsibility, the director shall develop an orderly program for the continuous evaluation of all pesticides actually registered. (b) Before a substance is registered as a pesticide for the first time, there shall be a thorough and timely evaluation in accordance with this section. Appropriate restrictions may be placed on its use, including, but not limited to, limitations on quantity, area, and manner of application. All pesticides for which renewal of registration is sought also shall be evaluated in accordance with this section. (c) The director may establish specific criteria to evaluate a pesticide with regard to the factors listed in Section 12825. The department may establish performance standards and tests that are to be conducted or financed, or both conducted and financed, by the registrants, applicants for registration, or parties interested in the registration of those pesticides. (d) Each pesticide registrant or applicant shall, upon request of the director, submit any data determined by the director to be necessary to carry out this section.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 12824.5. Section 12824.5.

(a) (1) On or before July 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, until July 2, 2029, the department shall annually identify and initiate the reevaluation of potential adverse effects of at least one pesticide in addition to those already under reevaluation. (2) On or before July 1, 2029, and each year thereafter, the department shall annually identify and initiate the reevaluation of potential adverse effects of at least two pesticides in addition to those already under reevaluation. (b) (1) If the department identifies potential adverse effects of a pesticide pursuant to subdivision (a), the department shall adopt any necessary mitigation measures within 24 months. (2) If the department is unable to adopt mitigation measures within 24 months, the director shall set forth the reasons this requirement has not been met in the report described in subdivision (c), and include an updated projected timeline for adopting mitigation measures, which shall not exceed an additional 6 months. (c) The department shall annually report on, and post on its internet website, its actions to identify and evaluate potential adverse effects of pesticides, and to develop mitigation measures to address those effects. The report and internet website posting shall include, but not be limited to, a list of pesticides under risk assessment, reevaluation, or mitigation development, and shall provide the current status and projected timelines associated with each of those actions and all other applicable reporting requirements in this chapter. (d) The department, on or before July 1, 2026, shall identify actions to improve the efficiency of its internal processes for reevaluating pesticides. The goal of these actions shall be to complete new reevaluations within five years of their initiation. If the department identifies any regulatory or statutory changes that would improve the efficiency of the reevaluation process, the director shall notify the respective policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature of those changes on or before July 1, 2026. (e) The department, on or before January 1, 2025, shall post on its internet website an estimated completion time for the pesticides that the department has under reevaluation as of January 1, 2024.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 12825. Section 12825.

(a) Pursuant to Section 12824, the director, after a hearing, may cancel the registration of, or refuse to register, a pesticide if any of the following conditions apply: (1) The pesticide has significant adverse environmental effects for which there is no feasible mitigation available. (2) The use of the pesticide is of less public value or greater detriment to the environment than the benefit received by its use. (3) There is a reasonable, effective, and practicable alternate material or procedure for the pesticide that is demonstrably less destructive to the environment. (4) The pesticide, when properly used, is detrimental to vegetation, except weeds, to domestic animals, or to the public health and safety. (5) The pesticide is of little or no value for the purpose for which it is intended. (6) The registrant or their agent makes or implies a false or misleading statement concerning the pesticide, either verbally or in writing, or in the form of any advertising literature, for the purpose of meeting any registration requirement under this division, or that is otherwise related in any way to the pesticide. (7) The director determines that the registrant has failed to report an adverse effect or risk for the pesticide as required by Section 12825.5. (8) The director determines that the registrant has failed to comply with the requirements of a reevaluation or to submit the data required as part of the reevaluation of the registrant’s product or pursuant to Section 12824. (9) The pesticide is required to be registered pursuant to the federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. Sec. 136 et seq.) and is not so registered. (b) In making a determination pursuant to this section, the director may require those practical demonstrations that are necessary to determine the facts.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 12825.5. Section 12825.5.

(a) If, during the registration process or at any time after the registration of a pesticide, the registrant has factual or scientific evidence of any adverse effect or risk of the pesticide to human health, livestock, crops, or the environment that has not been previously submitted to the department, the registrant shall submit the evidence to the director in a timely manner. All such information, including, but not limited to, that information required under Section 6 (a) (2) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. Sec. 136d (a) (2)), shall be submitted to the director. (b) The director may adopt regulations that are reasonably necessary to carry out this section.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 12826. Section 12826.

If the director has reason to believe that any of the conditions stated in Section 12825 are applicable to any registered pesticide and that the use or continued use of that pesticide constitutes an immediate substantial danger to persons or to the environment, the director, after notice to the registrant, may suspend the registration of that pesticide pending a hearing and final decision. If an accusation pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code is not filed within 10 days from the date of the notice, the suspension shall be terminated.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 12827. Section 12827.

The director may cancel a certificate of registration, or, refuse to issue certification to any manufacturer, importer, or dealer in any pesticide that repeatedly violates any of the provisions of this chapter or the regulations of the director. The proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. The director has all the powers that are granted therein.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 12827.5. Section 12827.5.

Whenever the director cancels the registration of, or refuses to register, any pesticide currently registered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the director shall provide the applicant or registrant with the basis for the decision and the reasons why a conclusion different from, contrary to, or inconsistent with, the conclusion and findings of the United States Environmental Protection Agency was reached.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 12828. Section 12828.

Action by the director pursuant to Sections 12824, 12825, 12826, or 12827 is not a condition precedent to the institution of any action to prosecute a violation of the chapter.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 12828.5. Section 12828.5.

(a) A registrant at any time may request that the registration of any of its pesticides be voluntarily canceled. The request shall be in writing and shall include a waiver of the registrant’s right to a hearing on the cancellation. (b) The director shall mail a notice of cancellation of registration of the pesticides to the registrant. The notice shall specify the effective date of the cancellation. (c) The pesticides for which the registration is canceled may be sold and possessed as if the product’s registration was not renewed unless the director determines that protection of human health or the environment require otherwise, in which case the cancellation notice shall specify the conditions under which the product may be sold or possessed after cancellation of its registration.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 12829. Section 12829.

If a person has a research authorization for a pesticide issued pursuant to Section 6260 of Title 3 of the California Code of Regulations for the purpose of testing the pesticide, and the produce on which the pesticide was tested is required to be destroyed, any actual costs incurred by the commissioner to investigate and confirm the destruction of the produce shall be paid for by the person who has the research authorization. The costs charged by the commissioner shall not exceed one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125) per testsite. The board of supervisors of each county may adopt a fee schedule to cover the commissioner’s costs under this section.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 12832. Section 12832.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, alfalfa and all vegetable crops, when grown for seed production, with the exception of corn, beans, pumpkin, and peas, shall be considered a nonfood and nonfeed site of pesticide use for the purpose of pesticide registration. In order to be determined to be a nonfood or nonfeed site for the purposes of this section, the following conditions shall be met: (1) All seed screenings shall be disposed of in such a way that they cannot be distributed or used for food or feed. The seed conditioner shall keep records of screenings disposal for three years from the date of disposal and shall furnish the records to the director upon request. Disposal records shall consist of documentation from a controlled waste disposal site, incinerator, cogeneration plant, composting facility, or other equivalent disposal site. (2) No portion of the seed plant, including, but not limited to, green chop, hay, pellets, meal, whole seed, cracked seed, or seed screenings shall be used or distributed for food or feed purposes. (3) All seed crops grown on a nonfood or nonfeed site in this state, or conditioned in this state, shall bear a tag or container label that forbids the use of the seed for human consumption or animal feed. (4) No seed grown on a nonfood or nonfeed site in this state, or conditioned in this state, may be distributed for human consumption or animal feed. (b) Nothing in this section prevents the department from imposing conditions for alfalfa seed sites in addition to those contained in this section, or from rescinding any current label requirements for pesticides approved for alfalfa seed production. (c) Nothing in this section exempts the department from reviewing worker safety evaluations with regard to the use of pesticides involving crops specified in subdivision (a). (d) A violation of any condition specified in subdivision (a) by the person responsible for the use of the pesticide is a violation of this chapter, and is subject to the civil and criminal penalties and injunctive relief provisions specified in Article 12 (commencing with Section 12996). A violation of any condition specified in subdivision (a) by the person responsible for the disposition of seed screenings is a violation of Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 14901) and is subject to enforcement by the Department of Food and Agriculture.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 12833. Section 12833.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the director may issue a certificate of emergency registration for a pesticide if all of the following conditions are met: (1) The pesticide is currently registered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to Section 3 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. Sec. 136a) for the use specified in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (5). (2) The active ingredient of the pesticide was previously registered under Section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. Sec. 136p) in order to respond to an emergency pest control problem. (3) The applicant demonstrates to the department that the pesticide qualifies for registration pursuant to Section 12815 and the department determines that it is probable that the pesticide will receive registration pursuant to this division within one year. (4) The applicant for emergency registration submits to the director all data required for registration pursuant to this division and the regulations adopted pursuant to this division. (5) The director makes both of the following findings based on substantial evidence: (A) The use of the pesticide during the period of emergency registration will not pose a potential significant risk to public health or safety or to the environment. In making this finding, the director shall review the risks associated with the use of the pesticide and determine if those risks are significant given the limitations that will be imposed on the use of the pesticide during the emergency registration period. (B) The emergency registration of the pesticide is necessary in order to effectively respond to an emergency pest control problem. For purposes of this subparagraph, an emergency pest control problem shall be deemed to exist if the director finds that a pest infestation is present in the state for which no feasible pest control method is available that is a reasonable alternative to the use of the pesticide for which the emergency registration is requested. In making a determination pursuant to this subparagraph, the director shall identify the pest infestation that is the subject of the emergency, describe the pest control methods that have been demonstrated as ineffective against the infestation or that are otherwise not reasonable alternatives, and summarize the evidence that demonstrates that the pesticide for which emergency registration has been requested is efficacious against the pest infestation. (b) At the same time as the director issues a certificate of emergency registration for a pesticide pursuant to this section, the director shall establish limitations on the use of the pesticide that the director determines are necessary to prevent a potential significant risk to human health or safety or the environment. The director shall limit the use of any pesticide granted a certificate of emergency registration to the control of the emergency pest infestation described in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (a). (c) A certificate of emergency registration may be issued for a period not to exceed one year and may be renewed one time only. (d) A certificate of emergency registration may not be renewed unless the director does all of the following: (1) Publishes a notice that an application for renewal of the certificate of emergency registration has been received. (2) Makes all of the following findings: (A) That the findings made by the director in support of the certificate of emergency registration pursuant to paragraph (5) of subdivision (a) remain valid. (B) That there are no indications that the pesticide, when used in accordance with applicable label instructions and the limitations established pursuant to subdivision (b), poses a significant risk to worker safety and health. The director shall base this finding on a review of the data required for registration pursuant to this division, experience with the use of the pesticide during the period the certificate of emergency registration was in effect, and any other information the director has required the applicant to submit or received from the applicant or any other person. (C) That the failure to complete the registration of the pesticide during the period the certificate of emergency registration was in effect is due to circumstances that were not under the control of the applicant, and that the data required for registration pursuant to this division is complete and meets all of the requirements of this division and the regulations adopted pursuant to this division. (3) Convenes a workshop, if one is requested by any interested or aggrieved person, concerning the reasons for the renewal of the certificate of emergency registration. The director shall review information and comments provided by persons who attend the workshop and take that information and those comments into account in determining if the certificate of emergency registration may be renewed. (e) The director shall immediately revoke any certificate of emergency registration issued pursuant to this section if either of the following occurs: (1) The United States Environmental Protection Agency suspends or cancels the registration of the pesticide or the particular use of the active ingredient in the pesticide that allows it to be used in the emergency pest infestation described in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (a). (2) The director determines during a subsequent review of data required for registration pursuant to this division that the use of the pesticide will pose a potential significant risk to the public health or safety or to the environment.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 12836. Section 12836.

(a) The director, by January 1, 1999, shall implement a program for the expedited registration of or for the expedited amendment of the registration of any pesticide classified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as a “public health pesticide” or “antimicrobial pesticide” and that is determined by the director to have human health protection benefits that warrant eligibility for expedited processing. Nothing in this section limits the director’s authority to provide expedited registration for any other pesticide product. (b) For the purposes of this section, “expedited registration” and “expedited amendment of the registration” mean that the director shall review an application for registration or for amendment of a registration concurrently in time with the review conducted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. This section shall not be construed to require or authorize modification of any guidelines, protocols, or standards applicable to the review of an application for registration.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 12836.5. Section 12836.5.

The director shall accept applications for registration of pesticide products containing a new active ingredient concurrently with the application to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The application for registration must include all data and information that meet the requirements of this chapter.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 12836.6. Section 12836.6.

The director shall, with the assistance of the Legislative Analyst, conduct a study to consider more carefully the consequences of data-sharing agreements required under Section 12811.5 and the volume of high-hazard pesticides sold in California. The report shall be submitted to the Legislature no later than December 31, 2008.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 12837. Section 12837.

(a) The director may waive the submission or review, or both, of efficacy data developed by a registrant as a prerequisite for registration for any antimicrobial pesticide product if all of the following conditions have been met with respect to each antimicrobial pesticide product: (1) The director finds that the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s guidelines, protocols, and standards of review in existence at the time the product was reviewed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency are consistent with, and no less stringent than, California guidelines, protocols, and standards and generally accepted scientific practices. (2) The director finds that, with respect to the particular antimicrobial pesticide product reviewed under this section, the United States Environmental Protection Agency actually implemented the guidelines, protocols, and standards of review for which the director made the required finding pursuant to paragraph (1). In making this finding, the director may request any relevant studies or documentation from the registrant. (b) Nothing in this section shall be construed as a limitation on the director to request or to review any efficacy data or studies or to subject any product to testing, at any time.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 12838. Section 12838.

(a) On or before July 1, 2018, the department shall issue a determination with respect to its reevaluation of neonicotinoids. (b) (1) Within two years after making the determination specified in subdivision (a), the department shall adopt any control measures necessary to protect pollinator health. (2) If the department is unable to adopt the necessary control measures within two years as required in paragraph (1), the department shall submit a report to the appropriate committees of the Legislature setting forth the reasons the requirement of paragraph (1) has not been met. (3) The department shall update the report submitted to the appropriate committees of the Legislature pursuant to paragraph (2) every year until the department adopts the necessary control measures specified in paragraph (1). (c) (1) For purposes of this subdivision, the following definitions apply: (A) “Cumulative impacts of exposure” means the collective impact of exposure to two or more neonicotinoid pesticides. (B) “Neonicotinoid pesticide” means a pesticide containing acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, or any other chemical designated by the department as belonging to the neonicotinoid class of chemicals. (2) Beginning January 1, 2025, a person shall not sell, possess, or use a pesticide containing one or more neonicotinoid pesticides for any use that is excluded from the definition of “agricultural use” in Section 11408 on nonproduction outdoor ornamental plants, trees, or turf, with the exception of use and possession by state certified applicators and sale by state licensed pest control dealers. (3) The department shall evaluate, at a minimum, the potential impacts of the neonicotinoid pesticide uses described in paragraph (2) on pollinating insects, aquatic organisms, and human health, taking into account relevant routes of exposure, as follows: (A) On or before January 1, 2024, the department shall issue a draft human health risk assessment of imidacloprid. (B) On or before July 1, 2024, the department shall initiate a reevaluation of neonicotinoid pesticides relative to pollinating insects, aquatic organisms, and human health, taking into account relevant routes of exposure. (C) On or before January 1, 2025, the department shall issue a final human health risk assessment for imidacloprid. (D) On or before January 1, 2025, the department shall issue draft human health risk assessments for the neonicotinoid chemicals described in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) other than imidacloprid. (E) On or before July 1, 2025, the department shall issue an evaluation of the impact of neonicotinoid pesticides on aquatic organisms. (F) On or before January 1, 2026, the department shall issue final human health risk assessments for the neonicotinoid chemicals described in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) other than imidacloprid. (G) On or before July 1, 2027, the department shall issue a determination with respect to the reevaluation of neonicotinoid pesticides on their impacts on pollinating insects, aquatic organisms, and human health. (4) On or before July 1, 2029, the department shall adopt any necessary control measures for the use of neonicotinoid pesticides that are determined by the department to be necessary, based on the evaluations described in paragraph (3). (5) If the department is unable to meet any deadline required in paragraph (3) or (4), the department shall submit a report to the appropriate committees of the Legislature setting forth the reasons the deadline or deadlines have not been met. (6) In performing the evaluations described in paragraph (3), the department shall consider the cumulative impacts of exposure to multiple neonicotinoid pesticides unless the department can demonstrate with substantial evidence that one or more neonicotinoid pesticides do not share a common mechanism of toxicity and do not present risk of cumulative harm. (7) The department is not required to conduct a reevaluation of any use of neonicotinoid pesticides for the protection of agricultural commodities, as defined in Section 6000 of Title 3 of the California Code of Regulations.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 12839. Section 12839.

(a) On and after July 1, 2027, the department shall meet the following timelines to review and evaluate, and issue final decisions on, applications to register new pesticide products or amend existing pesticide product registrations, as specified in this article, except as provided in subdivisions (b), (d), and (e). (1) For review and evaluation of, and issuance of a final decision on, an application for registration of a new active ingredient, 30 months from the date of submittal of a complete application. (2) For review and evaluation of, and issuance of a final decision on, an application for registration of a new product or letter of acceptance to amend an existing product registration, when previously evaluated data support registration or amendment and no supporting scientific data is required for review, six months from the date of submittal of a complete application. (3) For review and evaluation of, and issuance of a final decision on, an application for registration of a new product or letter of acceptance to amend an existing product registration, when evaluation of data is required, 12 months from the date of submittal of a complete application. (4) In cases where the submitted application for registration of a new product or amendment of an existing product registration does not include supporting scientific data for review, but the department subsequently determines that the application requires data evaluation, 12 months from the date of submittal of the required data. (b) The department may toll the applicable timeline provided in subdivision (a) under any of the following circumstances: (1) The applicant fails to correct a deficiency with the application identified by the department within a 15-business-day timeframe. (2) An application requires United States Environmental Protection Agency approval. (3) The applicant corrects a deficiency with the application, but also makes substantive changes to the product or label that exceeds correcting the deficiency. (4) Nonpayment of a registration fee by the applicant for the certificate of registration. (5) The application is reliant on data associated with another identical or substantially similar product submission undergoing registration review by the department. (c) Upon the conclusion of a circumstance that was the basis for the department tolling an applicable timeline pursuant to subdivision (b), the tolling period shall end and the applicable timeline shall resume within 15 business days after the department became aware of the conclusion of the circumstance. (d) If the department cannot meet an applicable timeline provided in subdivision (a), the director may extend the timeline for up to two 60-day periods by notifying the applicant in writing and specifying both of the following: (1) The reasons why additional time is needed. (2) The estimated number of days needed that would allow the director to complete the certificate of registration. (e) In addition to subdivision (d), the director and the applicant may mutually agree, in writing, to additionally extend an applicable timeline provided in subdivision (a).

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 12840. Section 12840.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that, when the department hires staff due to the mill increases described in Section 12841 and registration fee increases in 2024, the department prioritize hiring for positions within the pesticide registration branch. (b) Beginning in 2025, the director, when requested by the appropriate policy committees of the Assembly and Senate, but no less than once every two years, shall appear before the appropriate policy committees of the Assembly and Senate to provide an update on the department’s performance, including, but not limited to, its performance completing timely registrations and reevaluations pursuant to this chapter, and any other information that the committees request.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026