Welcome to the Department of Pesticide Regulation

January 1, 2004
Pesticide Registration Branch
California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR)


POLICY AND PROCEDURAL CHANGES and OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST in 2003

(Note: The California Notices to Registrants mentioned below are found on our website at www.cdpr.ca.gov under Programs and Services, Registration Branch.)

Fee Changes for Pesticide Product Registrations. In 2003, a law was passed that allows fee amounts for product registration and mill assessments to be set by regulation. These regulations have been developed and the fee amounts are outlined in the California Notice to Registrants 2003-7. Effective January 1, 2004, the registration application fee is $750 per product and the application fee is $100 for product amendments which require scientific data. Product renewals are $750 per product.

Application Form for Pesticide Products. The DPR Application for Pesticide Registration Form # 39-030 has been revised to include the new application fee amount. The revised form and instructions are available on our website and in California Notice to Registrants 2003-7. Please begin using this new version effective January 1, 2004.

Application Form for Amending Pesticide Products. An application form was developed for for amendments to product registrations which require scientific data. This is a result of the new regulation which requires a fee for certain amendments. The form and instructions are available in California Notice to Registrants 2003-7 and may be used when submitting these types of amendments.

Workshop for Agricultural and Home/Garden Product Registrations. On June 9-10, 2003, the Registration Branch conducted the second DPR-sponsored workshop on registration requirements. This workshop emphasized requirements and procedures for registering agricultural and home/garden products in California, including enforcement and worker safety topics. The workshop was attended by over 100 company representatives and was well received. A few workbooks are still available and can be obtained for a charge by contacting Ms. Rosie Rein at rrein@cdpr.ca.gov . DPR is planning future workshops in 2004 emphasizing other types of products. Please watch our website for announcements.

Pilot Project for emails to Registrants. As a result of the Business Process Group recommendations, a pilot project for using the electronic tracking system was developed. This process will notify registrants, by automatic email, of their product's registration progess. DPR expects to complete the pilot project in early 2004 with plans to expand the program to all interested applicants.

Master Labels. Registrants are now permitted to submit a "master label" containing all uses of the product accepted by U.S. EPA, but for which the registrant intends to market only portions of the master label or which they will subregister to another registrant. For these master labels, the California registration requirements and review process are unchanged, but the registrant does not have to send a final printed, or printer's proof label. The registrant may, instead, submit a legible typed sample label, if they state in a letter that this version will not be marketed in California. The label requirements for all other types of registration actions remain unchanged.

Workload Update. The Registration Branch processes 5,000-6,000 registration actions each year. These actions include new product registrations and revisions to existing products. With this large volume of registration actions, we are pleased to see that the backlog has been reduced each year for the past several years. In 1999 the backlog was at 61%, in 2001 it was at 47%, and in mid-2003 was reduced to 38%. Meeting the time frames while reviewing for compliance and providing appropriate scientific evaluations continues to be a priority.

Reevaluation of Certain Active Ingredients. California Notices to Registrants 2003-4 and 2003-5 give the status of active ingredients which are currently in the DPR Reevaluation process.

Registration Desk Manual. Registrants are reminded that the Registration Branch Desk Manual, which is an internal working guide for the DPR Pesticide Use Specialist (Registration Specialist), is available on the Registration Branch website. Please note that updates are made as time permits. Contact your specialist and use the laws and regulations for complete information about requirements.

Information available on DPR Website (www.cdpr.ca.gov). The DPR home page contains a great deal of information, with information being added on a regular basis. The website allows access to many data bases, including a list of products registered in California, products entering the scientific evaluation process, proposed registration actions, press releases, California Notices to Registrants, proposed regulations, and more.