§ 2-16-406 - Powers of State Plant Board.

2-16-406. Powers of State Plant Board.

(a) The State Plant Board is authorized, after due notice and an opportunity for a hearing, to:

(1) Declare as a pest any form of plant or animal life, other than man and other than bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms on or in living man or other living animals, which is injurious to health or the environment;

(2) Determine whether pesticides registered under the authority of Section 24(c) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act are highly toxic to man. The definition of "highly toxic" in 40 C.F.R. 162.8, as issued or hereafter amended, shall govern the board's determination;

(3) Determine pesticides, and quantities of substances contained in pesticides, which are injurious to the environment. The board shall be guided by the United States Environmental Protection Agency regulations in this determination; and

(4) Prescribe regulations requiring any pesticide registered for special local needs to be colored or discolored if it determines that the requirement is feasible and is necessary for the protection of health and the environment.

(b) The board is authorized to inspect pesticides wherever found and may sample and analyze or cause to be analyzed samples thereof, to determine compliance with this subchapter and the regulations adopted hereunder.

(c) The board is authorized, after due notice and a public hearing, to make appropriate regulations where the regulations are necessary for the enforcement and administration of this subchapter. These regulations shall include, but not be limited to, regulations providing for:

(1) The safe handling, transportation, storage, display, distribution, and disposal of pesticides and their containers;

(2) Labeling requirements of all pesticides required to be registered under provisions of this subchapter. The regulations shall not impose any requirements for federally registered labels in addition to or different from those required pursuant to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act;

(3) Specifying those classes of devices which shall be subject to any provision of 2-16-410.

(d) For the purpose of uniformity and in order to enter into cooperative agreements, the board may:

(1) Adopt restricted-use pesticides classifications as determined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. In addition, the board may declare certain pesticides or pesticide uses as state-restricted pesticides when, after investigation and public hearing, it finds and determines the pesticide to be injurious to persons, animals, or vegetation other than the pest or vegetation which it is intended to destroy, or otherwise requires additional restrictions under the conditions set forth in 2-16-403(28). The sale or distribution of such pesticides in Arkansas or their use in pest control or other operation is prohibited, except in accordance with such rules and regulations as may be made by the board after a public hearing. The rules and regulations may include rules and regulations prescribing the time when and the conditions under which the materials may be used in different areas in the state. The board, in its rules and regulations, may charge inspection and permit fees sufficient to cover the cost of enforcement of this subdivision (d)(1); and

(2) Adopt regulations in conformity with the primary pesticide standards, particularly as to labeling and registration requirements, as established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency or other federal or state agencies.