Compliance Assistance

About this sector

The Agriculture sector includes crop production, livestock production and agricultural chemicals. The Department of Commerce formerly classified this industry under the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification codes 01, 02 and 287; the sector is now classified under the 1997 North American Industry Classification System as 111, 112 and 3253.

EPA's National Strategy for Agriculture underlines the Agency’s commitment to a strong partnership with the agriculture community to assist in fulfilling its mission of protecting human health and the environment. Communication, collaboration and innovation are the basic tools emphasized in this strategy for constructing these essential partnerships.

Additional Compliance Assistance information is provided based by statute (e.g. Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act) or through compliance incentives and auditing. Note that multiple statutes may apply to your entity. Information on EPA's compliance monitoring program also is organized by statutory programs. All regulated entities may be subject to EPA's statutory and civil enforcement program.

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Tools and information on how to comply

The following list of resources focuses on federal regulations and is not exhaustive. Additional resources may be available from other parts of EPA or from other federal, state or local agencies.

The National Agriculture Compliance Assistance Center provides comprehensive, easy to understand compliance information targeted for the agriculture community. It offers information that helps you understand your environmental requirements. Available materials include plain-English guides, consolidated checklists, fact sheets, and information on ways to reduce the costs of compliance, such as best management practices.

The Profile of the Agriculture Crop Industry, the Profile of the Agriculture Livestock Production Industry, and the Profile of the Agriculture Chemical, Pesticide and Fertilizer Industry Sector Notebooks are plain language booklets that describe environmental problems associated with major U.S. industries. Information includes, but is not limited to, regulatory requirements, pollution prevention techniques, pollutant release data and innovative programs.

National Compliance Assistance Clearinghouse links to public and private compliance assistance materials. Users may post documents and interact with assistance providers, both within and outside of EPA. The Clearinghouse allows users to search for relevant material on new and existing regulations, pollution prevention opportunities, and voluntary programs that were created by other parts of EPA, other federal agencies, tribes, states and local agencies, industry and other organizations.

Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs) compliance monitoring program, through laboratory inspections and data audits, assures the quality and integrity of test data submitted to the Agency under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

Worker Protection Standard Program- Information on the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) program.

The Sale of Pesticides over the Internet - Information on EPA and the states efforts to monitor Web-based sales of pesticides and compliance assistance information for consumers and the regulated community.

Pesticide Establishment Registration and Reporting - Information on registering establishments that produce pesticides and pesticidal devices as well as the reporting requirements for such companies.

There are requirements for importing and exporting pesticides into and out of the United States, including the notice of arrival.

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